Re: [Harp-L] Custom harmonicas: Filisko method...Differing Priorities

["Chris Michalek" <Chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tone is 99.5% the player and less than 1/2% the instrument.  I used
to play Golden Melodies before the Filiskos.  I don't care which one
I use and I wasn'tabout to demand that Joey make custom GMs for me. 

I could post samples of my tone with Golden Melodies and with my
current harps.  I'll bet very few people if any could tell the
difference between harp which I'm playing.

Do the minute differences in personal tone really matter?  Any player
can pick any harp - stock or custom - and the audience would care. If
you're good you're good and people will appreciate whatever you're
doing and not care what you're doing it on.  If you're the worst
player in the world and you played a harp crafted by one of the Hindi
gods, blessed by Buddha, inspected by Allah and people would still
tell you that you suck. 


Chris - friend of Mr. Figglesby


>
>
>
>---- Original Message ----
>From: dawgawntired@xxxxxxxxxxx
>To: IcemanLE@xxxxxxx, harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Custom harmonicas: Filisko method...Differing
>Priorities
>Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2004 18:28:46 -0400
>
>>Thanks, I feel better now!!  I have been playing GM harps now for
>about 10 
>>years (previously I was a MB guy for about 20 years)  I have never
>tried a 
>>custom harp but have heard from many that I need to experience the
>joy 
>>thereof.  Thankfully (before I cashed in my life insurance policy) I
>read 
>>this post from Iceman!!
>>
>>
>>>From: IcemanLE@xxxxxxx
>>>To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>>>Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Custom harmonicas: Filisko method...Differing
>
>>>Priorities
>>>Date: Sun, 12 Sep 2004 16:55:59 -0400
>>>
>>>For whatever reason, I love Golden Melodies. It became my harmonica
>of 
>>>choice after studying w/Howard Levy at Augusta Heritage Center. It
>was what 
>>>he played exclusively and I wanted to be just like him.
>>>
>>>It was 9 months before I fully adapted to their unique shape,
>having 
>>>previously been a Lee Oskar guy. They have a tone that resonates
>within me 
>>>- a bit darker than other models/brands.
>>>
>>>I've played all the formative stages of Filisko custom jobs over
>the years, 
>>>as he really tried to convert me in the early days. While they
>played like 
>>>a dream, that introverted dark Golden Melody tone wasn't there. All
>custom 
>>>harps I've tried (even a custom built GM) have a brighter,
>brassier, 
>>>reedier tone.
>>>
>>>I chose tone as my first consideration, having to learn regulation
>in order 
>>>to make my GM's as OB friendly as possible. They aren't as
>responsive as 
>>>custom made harmonicas, but suit my artistic choice of "Tone is
>King".
>>>
>>>The Iceman
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
>>>Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
>>>http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
>>
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>>_______________________________________________
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>>

Chris Michalek
Avenger of the Downtrodden