RE: [Harp-L] re:was harp as a toy now set up

[nonidesign@xxxxxxx]

I agree. Let's look at it from another angle: 
Most of the old players were guys. Guys putz around with, dissect, tear apart, put back together, modify, customize, and generally sniff around everything we own that is even remotely mechanical. If for no other reason than this, I would still bet that the old guys did some kind of surgery on their harps.

-------------- Original message from "Eric Neumann" <eneumann@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>: -------------- 


> Pierre wrote: 
> "I kind of doubt the old Chicago players tweaked harps." 
> 
> Maybe not - but I would not count them out yet. I think that it's 
> because of lists like this one, and communities revolving around playing 
> the harmonica well, that have probably made this seem more of a 
> contemporary practice. 
> 
> I found out through this list, that Jerry Murad used to repair and 
> adjust his onw harps. Heck even Smo Jo clipped his 5 reed back when 
> bread didn't come sliced in a package. 
> 
> Let alone the fact that a lot of the Old Chicago players used to out 
> right lie, and mislead everyone regarding their gear, technique, 
> background, et cetera. I just think it is in fact possible that early, 
> early harp players that were being recorded may well have made 
> adjustments to their harps. 
> 
> I ask, when was the first time you tore a harp apart trying to fix a bad 
> reed... maybe not even knowing what to look for... I've seen used harps 
> on ebay for instance where the covers were attached with bailing wire 
> after somebody looked under the covers for some reason. 
> 
> To me, I would feel it's likely that any old recording harp player that 
> traveled a lot to do gigs, eat, have some drinkin money, may, or may not 
> have had the five bucks to spend on a new harp after figuring out how to 
> fix one. 
> 
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