Re: [Harp-L] Huge achievement! Who's buying me drinks?

["Tim Moyer" <wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Pierre wrote:
> Tim is right, but I really wonder if its worth the trouble, you 
> just set up your harps and this (I believe) will completely undo 
> all your work. Also you may need to retune as embossing may 
> scratch the reeds (not sure?). My teacher plays OB/OD style 
> professionally and does not emboss, he sounds great.

The point I was trying to make was that embossing should be 
considered for reasons other than reed responsiveness.  It may be 
necessary on older harps (say, those made before the Hohner 
retooling of the handmade line in the late 90s) to get the 
responsiveness required for agile overbending, but on well-made 
harps embossing, for me, is primarily a tone-effect technique, not a 
responsiveness technique.  

> I am wondering how well set up your harps are by the way, if they 
> are well set up you should be able to play OB hole and non OB note 
> quickly and with the same length note for both blow and draw 
> notes. Until you can do this, your work is not complete.

Not being too accomlished an overblow player, my experience so far 
is that it takes me a trifle longer to conjure an overblow than a 
regular bent note.  I can't quite hit them in passing the same way I 
would another note.  I think this is some further refinement of 
playing technique and not harmonica adjustment.  Once I hit the 
note, it is no problem to hold it, bend it, etc.  I don't think my 
work will ever be complete!

> PS: I hate doing OB setup, hope you're better or more patient than 
> me. I am now using Turbo AXs Special 20s from Antakamatics, they 
> just need a light tweeking to get right. No embossing required. 
> Saves a lot of hours. I'm not hard on my harps so they last a long 
> time.

My understanding is that the AX-S20s are available only in the lower 
(long slot) keys, which I assume means there's only one TurboLiner 
available (no short slot model).  Also there is only one harmonica 
configuration, the Special 20.  If you want a different intonation, 
different covers or comb, or a higher key, you will need to find 
another choice.  Like, say, using a customizer!  I also have 
wondered what benefits might come from doing some reed arc 
adjustments to the AX-S20...

-tim

Tim Moyer
Working Man's Harps
http://www.workingmansharps.com/