RE: [Harp-L] Breaking in harps

["Steve Shaw" <moorcot@xxxxxxx>]

> OK, I am confused. I have never played a Marine Band
> (or any other wood body harp) so I am not sure what
> people are talking about when they say they are
> "breaking in" a new harp. I own Bushman Delta Frost,
> Suzuki Promaster, Lee Oskar, Hohner Cross Harp and
> Dannecker Blues. The harps themselves sound no
> different from the first day till now.
> If you are referring to the reeds, there is no
> scientific evidence for a "breaking in" period, quite
> the opposite.
> Playing gently All the time will increase the life of
> your harps, but do we really need to play even More
> gently at first?
> I am honestly not writing to be a smart A$$, I am
> genuinely curious. What am I missing here?
>
> Chris

Personally, Chris, I don't think you're missing anything.  When you get a 
new harmonica you want it to last as long as possible so you naturally go at 
it fairly gently at first.  This may lead you to think that it's responding 
differently to a well-used machine that you honk away on with gay abandon, 
and so needs the kid-glove treatment, but I honestly think it's all in the 
mind.  The only changes I can think of that may occur as a new harp is 
played is that the wood (if applicable) may swell a bit, which may or may 
not be desirable, and that the whole shebang will get dirtier as time goes 
on unless you clean it.  As for parts "bedding in," tell me which parts need 
to and how they're supposed to do this.  I can't remember which eminent 
list-member once said it (may have been in connection with XB40s), but it's 
perhaps more a case of the new harmonica breaking YOU in.

Steve

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