Re: Calling all piggyback players!

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Apr 16, 2004, at 1:19 PM, Scorcher wrote:

>
>>   Wed nite, I did something that normally would need a second harp, 
>> but
>> I used a "Gimmicked" spl-20 and between the gimmicks and bendability,
>> was able to "squeeze" out the tune without anyone noticing too much?.
>> Yeah, I know, ain't the way a purist would do it, but we're not 
>> talking
>> Carnegie Hall here either. :)
>>
>> smokey-joe
>
> Jeez, Joe - you're such a TEASE!
> So, what kind of "gimmick", and what was the song?
> I'm no purist by a long shot - I may NEED that information some day.
> -Scorcher
>

  In 1958 (just about the time I first quit playing harmonica), I had to 
replace a reed in a Marine Band. I put the reed in and then when I went 
to tune it, I started tuning the wrong reed. (The #5 draw instead of 
the #4). I kept trying the #4 and it wasn't coming up to pitch, and I 
kept "trashing away" till, quite by accident, I discovered the mistake. 
By then the #5 was up a whole pitch. I liked it when I found I could do 
things I never could before. Lots of pop tunes became possible, (Walkin 
my Baby Back Home, Sunny Side of the Street, My Little Penthouse, 
Charade.

  I liked it so much I left it that way and a week later took the #9 UP 
also. Londonderry Aire (Danny Boy) is usually played with 2 harps. A 
lot of Charlie McCoy stuff used 2 harps (OR 4, IF key change), but I 
only use one (or 2).

  The Tune was ( I think) Georgia. That was LAST Wed. THIS Wed was so 
amazing I don't even want to talk about it. :) .............smo-j