Re: [Harp-L] OBs on hering harps

["Tim Moyer" <wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

drori hammer wrote:
> Are there any of you OB players out there that use 
> Hering "vintage1923" harps? I am trying to master 
> overblowing and have a lot of these harps in my case. 
> Is there any point in trying to set them up for OBs, 
> or are they unsuitable?

It's possible to set any harp up for overblows, but it takes more or 
less work, depending on where you start.  Herings are closer out of the 
box than Oskars or Suzukis, but not as close as Hohners.  

For one thing, the Vintage 1923 is tuned to 7-limit just, and has 
deeply flatted 5 and 9 draws, as well as other notes flatted for 
chording.  This isn't really optimal for single-note playing.  If 
you're just tossing a couple of overblows into your 2nd position 
playing they might work okay.  If you're using overblows to achieve 
other modes and positions, or if you're doing a lot of melody work 
accompanying other instruments, you'll want something closer to equal 
tempered.  

I have one 1923 that's set up for overblowing, and it sounds a little 
too shrill for my taste.  I'm sticking with my Golden Melodies.

-tim