Re: [Harp-L] B. Thomas 12/10 suggestion help...

[Pierre <slavio@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The most popular harps today are Special 20s and Lee Oscars, these are 
excellent harps. Also popular is the Marine Band 1896.

The first two harps I mentioned have plastic combs (the sandwich between the 
metal plates),  the marine band has a wood comb which swells when wet and 
has rough edges. It is popular because the old pro's played these. I haven't 
tried one since I was about 12 years old so can't help you there.

I play both Special 20s and Lee Oscars but prefer the Special 20s, I find 
the Lee Oscars have a reedy sound. I suggest you buy one of each and then go 
from there.

You can buy these harps under 20.00 on the Internet. Personally I would not 
recommend anything below these harps. Harps get a lot of use so the money is 
well spent. They should last for years.

Popular keys for blues are C, D, G, Bb, F. The different keys are for 
playing along with CDs. if you don't plan on doing that you only need a C 
harp. In that case I suggest you buy a SP20 and a Lee Oscar in the key of C 
to figure out which you like best before buying others.

Most books use a C harp.

The exception is Tom Ball's Little Walter/BigWalter book which uses a Bb 
harp which is a hard harp to play. But thanks to Tom, the Bb is now my 
favorite harp. Too bad guitar players don't like the key much  ;-).

For celtic or bluegrass or folk music you might use other keys, ask the list 
if you're interested, don't want to lead you astray.

Pierre.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bry Thomas" <baddaddy_46@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, December 10, 2004 1:36 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] B. Thomas 12/10 suggestion help...


> I would like to settle on a harp, get a set (or at least several keys) and 
> really get to work.
>
> My first harp (American Ace) was pretty much junk after a week.  The harp 
> that came with the David Harp book was junk on arrival, I bought an Old 
> Standby (all they had in town) in "A" for the Portnoy set, I don't really 
> like the Bushman Delta Frost that came with the Bean Blossom seminar, and 
> the Pro Harp (D) I got at Bean Blossom (booby prize for the contest) has 
> such an awful, metallic taste it's a chore to put it in my mouth.
>
> Now, i'd like to spend some of my Christmas money on harps.  I'm looking 
> for opinions on the best buy, most durable (no working on them), bluesiest 
> sounding "out of the box" harps.  All at a reasonable price (under $20?)
>
> Around my small town there are two music stores, both catering to school 
> band and churches.  L.O. are $38, S-20 are $26, Bluesband, $28, Old 
> Standby $12, Big River $18.   Also, the key selection is quite limited and 
> if you ask a question you might as well be from Mars.  It isn't they 
> aren't good at customer service, it's that they don't know what to say. 
> Those are the reasons i'm not out buying one of each and trying them on my 
> own.
>
> I play (practice) alone w/o mic (for now) and probably won't jam (the guys 
> live a couple of hours away) until mid next year or so.  If that makes any 
> difference in harp choice.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Bryan (Huntingburg, Indiana)
>
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