RE: [Harp-L] XB-40 disappointment

[Zombor Kovacs <zrkovacs@xxxxxxxxx>]

No, the gaps are fine. At least they look fine. I
cannot say that the quality is not good. It is good or
at least not bad. I thing the design is problematic,
at least in the key C it does not work well. 
And okay, if you play hard it is a bit better, but the
high pitched noises NEVER disappear. I would not think
it is acceptable in case of a 90 euro harp advertised
as a fantastic invention. Theory is one thing,
practice is another. On paper, everything works fine.
The lower keys might work better for sure, in this
respect I was not lucky but I did not have the time to
run after other purchasing sources and I did not want
to miss buying one once I am in a place where I can
get it. But certainly I was expecting something better
for the price. If a 10 euro harp behaves like this, I
say okay 10 euros is 10 euros, next time I buy one for
20 euros. But I cannot say that next time I well be
more careful and buy one for 180 euros.

Z


 

> You might just find that the harp needs extensive
> regapping.  This is 
> certainly what I found with both my XB40s, and my
> gapping needs are normally 
> middle-of-the-road in nature.  I found in both mine
> that several auxiliary 
> reeds were gapped like normal reeds.  When I set
> these to zero offset all 
> was well.  Some other regular reeds were
> badly-gapped too.  I now play both 
> my XB40s and I enjoy them, but I agree with what you
> say about loss of 
> control.  Unless you play them hard you do not get
> good responsiveness, and 
> you don't always want to play hard.  You can't help
> feeling that if Lee 
> Oskar had developed the XB40 and imposed their
> legendary quality control 
> this list would have been flooded with ecstatic
> praise for them instead of 
> the mixed messages we are getting.
> 
> Steve
> 
>
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/trad_irish_harmonica
> HEAR my CD clips:
> http://www.gjk2.com/steveshaw/cd.htm
> READ review of my CD:
> http://www.irishmusicreview.com/sshaw.htm
> 
> 
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