[Harp-L] Harp-L] re: acoustic harp.

[Dan <billybudd1313@xxxxxxxxx>]

This thread awakened an old memory of Harp-l when I was a member the first time (ca.1995-1996).  The thread at the time consisted of various members trying to put a number or percent value on the 'elements of tone" as it were.  For example, a simplified system could be.  Player, Microphone, amp.  Three parts of an equation.  A more complex one might be,  Mouth, Harmonica, Hands, Mircophone, cord, effects, amplifier, amplifier location relative to the audience, room size, wall materiall. . . and on and on and on.  So, the more experienced harp-l'ers would try to guide the less experienced towards putting value on each element. One might've said  80% this, or 15% that  or whatever they felt. It was kindof fun to see.

I believe in tone.  I love my amp, buy custom mics, and try to 'dial it in' for different rooms.  I am not averse to effects, or other gadgetry used in harmonica playing.  There's some really cool stuff.  I also play acoustic publicly.  I love the sound of a more un-affected harmonica as much as a heavy amped tone.

I guess what I'm trying to say to anyone reading (the pro's might say 'amen'  I hope the newbies say 'aha')  is this:

Did rainbowjimmie need the caveat below?  Is there any reason to even make the distinction between acoustic players and electric players?   From what I've seen, a good player sounds good regardless. Why do so many guys and girls spend so MUCH MONEY on the peripherals before   getting to the root of the matter?  Read a few thousand posts of the archives and you will keep finding mentions of  "well this pro sounded good amped AND acoustic"   OH MY GOD!   Why is that?   

I think the "nice" answer is that toys are fun, and even a beginner can get a lot of carnal pleasure from gear and the possible tones.   I think the hard-to-swallow answer is because it's easier to make excuses like,  "if I only had my amp I'd knock em dead"  or "It's all the amp, I could do that with his gear"

The reason I left Harp-l in 1997 was simply because I felt I shoud stop talking about it and just go practice.  No joke.  It's like the American diet craze.  You can lose weight by cutting parts off, or with diet and exercise.  Yet Billions are made off of gimicks and pills and programs, and we're all still fat.

I will probably end every post from now on with the words:  Why are you reading this?  Go play.  Play till you can't .  Rest for five then play some more.  (Unless your'e at work for a big company and you're bored, then type away).  ha ha ha.

dan g.

 

Message: 12        
   Date: Wed,  8 Dec 2004 08:52:29 -0600
   From: rainbowjimmy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] re: acoustic harp.


After posting my comments on playing electric, I read the harp-l digest 
and
noticed a thread on acoustic harp. The Internet being a text based 
medium, I
realised my comments could be taken as anti-acoustic harp or 
disparaging to
acoustic harp players which was not my intention.


		
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