Re: [Harp-L] More XB-40 (the case will never be closed :-)

Conrad Gleich <radconradlleyire@xxxxxxxxx> · Sun, 11 Dec 2005 13:09:11 -0800 (PST)

Zombor, 
        What did you do to seal the harp?

Conrad

--- Zombor Kovacs <zrkovacs@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Meanwhile I got a little familiar with my XB40. 
> I have adjusted reed gaps and sealed the comb
> COMPLETELY. It is 100% sealed everywhere. Luckily I
> do
> not have to send it back to Hohner. Now I can tell
> you, it is significantly more responsive than an
> ordinary harp out of the box. So much more, that now
> that I have been messing around with the XB40 with
> this modification, i had to readjust my normal harps
> as well (I sealed some of them completely as well).
> So
> now it works almost as it should work out of the 
> box.
> It is right, that the XB40 is different and the
> control has to be adjusted to this new construction.
> Different amounts of bending are needed to get the
> same notes. However it is still a bit "slippery".
> Sure
> it takes time to learn, but I could imagine a harp
> with the same bending abilities with more control
> and
> with a  sound of a diatonic.
> 
> Z
> 
> 
> --- Colin Fulton <justcolin@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> > I don't get all this mess with the XB-40. Sure it
> > can't do all that a
> > diatonic can, neither can a chromatic. It is just
> a
> > different animal.
> > The a lot (not all) of the people who have trouble
> > with the blow bends
> > are people who haven't learned to do them, or
> don't
> > use them much
> > since for most pieces of music it is never needed.
> > Also seeing as you
> > never do draw bends on high notes on a diatonic,
> you
> > will have to
> > learn how to do it. It is harder to play and takes
> a
> > lot of attention
> > to control some parts, but hey, when you all were
> > first learning to
> > play a diatonic harp you had trouble controlling
> it
> > and it took a
> > while to learn everything so take some time with
> the
> > XB-40. It is NOT
> > a normal diatonic so don't treat it like one.
> Since
> > it is new
> > technology, much like when the chromatic first
> came
> > out I remind you,
> > that has yet to find it's niche, so screw around
> > with it, try it on
> > different songs. I'm sure the ridiculous amount of
> > bending it allows
> > for you can do some neat creative stuff with it.
> > 
> > 
> > > On 12/8/05, Fernando Bresslau
> <ferbress@xxxxxxxxx>
> > wrote:
> > > > Some time ago Zombor wrote about his
> experience
> > with an XB-40 in C. I told
> > > > him that I would talk to Rick Epping about
> that.
> > > >
> > > > Well, I did. Basically, he reinforces what I
> > have stated previously. In his
> > > > statement which he made public some year ago,
> he
> > goes into full detail, and
> > > > a link is appropriate in this case:
> > > >
> >
>
http://www.planetharmonica.com/ph5/VE/XB_40HighNotesUK.htm
> > (thanks Planet
> > > > Harmonica).
> > > >
> > > > The XB-40 reaches the physical borders of
> > accoustics, and, as you get near
> > > > these borders, it gets more and more difficult
> > to control the instrument.
> > > > This is something you can observe in other
> > instruments, where some notes in
> > > > the higher or lower ranges are almost
> impossible
> > to get.
> > > > Nevertheless, the possibility is there, and
> thus
> > it makes sense to market
> > > > XB-40s in difficult keys (C, C#, Low D). All
> > notes on the XB-40 in C are
> > > > obtainable. The notes on the highest two holes
> > are difficult to get at
> > > > first, and the bends are very difficult.
> Getting
> > the higher notes is not so
> > > > difficult, once the issue is understood and
> > proper technique is applied
> > > > (please refer to Rick's text for details).
> > Getting the bends is definetely
> > > > more difficult. Rick admits that he needed
> about
> > two years of practice to
> > > > achieve the skills necessary for this. It is
> > important to remember that the
> > > > XB-40 is a different instrument and therefore
> > needs different technique.
> > > > Although a lot of the diatonic technique can
> be
> > incorporated, it is an
> > > > instrument which requires extra training in
> some
> > situations.
> > > >
> > > > Maybe it would make more sense to sell the
> XB-40
> > in C major with only 8
> > > > holes, since the two top holes need special
> > attention to be played properly.
> > > > But then, we don't have a 8 hole body, nor
> would
> > it make sense to rob
> > > > advanced players the extra range. So we make
> the
> > XB in C in 10 hole version.
> > > > Notwithstanding the fact that the two top
> holes
> > are difficult, the normal
> > > > range of the harmonica is very useful, and not
> > making a XB in C because of
> > > > the 2 holes would not make sense either.
> > > >
> > > > So, Zambor, yes, there is a greater level of
> > difficulty in using the full
> > > > range of high (or very low) keyed XBs. As
> there
> > is a greater difficulty to
> > > > bend the first 2 holes of a low D harmonica.
> But
> > with proper technique it IS
> > > > possible and practical. I'm afraid there
> aren't
> > many shortcuts.
> > > >
> > > > Regarding the improvement suggestions (reed
> > gapping, sealing, etc.), all
> > > > harmonicas produced by any manufacturer can
> have
> > their performance improved
> > > > with carefull adjustment and customization.
> But
> > this involves costs, and a
> > > > quality level has to be set by the factory so
> > that a reasonable price can be
> > > > obtained. We could produce 5 times tuned slot
> > embossed XBs. The possibility
> > > > is there. But nobody here would be willing to
> > pay the price of such a
> > > > product. So a manufacturer has to use a
> > compromise, and we at Hohner make
> > > > everything possible so that this compromise is
> > set at a very high quality
> > > > level, which will be acceptable by the
> majority
> > of the players. For extra
> > > > wishes, there are thankfully several
> customizers
> > out there offering a high
> > > > value service.
> > > >
> > > > I want to thank Zambor for sharing his
> > impressions and the results of his
> > > > efforts in improving technique and the
> > instrument, since it gave me the
> > > > opportunity to analize our product better and
> to
> > talk to Rick about it.
> > > >
> > > > I am travelling to Brazil this weekend, for a
> > month of vacation. So I guess
> > > > that I will not read the lists as frequently,
> > and if I leave any questions
> > > > unanswered, you know why. I wish you all happy
> > holidays.
> > > >
> > > > All the best,
> > > > Fernando, from snowy Trossingen.
> > > >
> _______________________________________________
> > > > Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH,
> http://www.spah.org
> 
=== message truncated ===

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