Re: [Harp-L] Hohner reeds

["Bob Maglinte" <bbqbob917@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nicolas Fouquet" <bbhcfr@xxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2005 1:05 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Hohner reeds


> Hi ben,
>
> I agree with you, but that my comments were more about that:
>
> 1: talking about stock harp: Customized harmonicas are customized. So, I 
> changes the rules...
> Meanwhile, when you customize your Hering, don't you put any products to 
> avoid the annoying sound you get when ovenbending?
>
> 2: I am still persuaded that Hohner is using for its reed a different 
> alloy than other brands. You do not have these parasit noise on a Golden 
> Melody or a Special 20 (unless you've just learn how to overbend)

Besides the reed material, Hering uses a somewhat longer reed, and a good 
guess is that the reed slot tolerances are a lot different, and my guess 
that any brand will have pops and squeals during the overblow process if the 
slot tolerances are too tight.

> So, my comment on the sound is more reffering on the material in which is 
> made the reed.
> As most of the list can guess, I am pretty keen of Seydel Favorit, but, 
> though their reed are very very strong and last for ever and are 
> comfortable and flexible, Hohner still have a little thing that makes 
> Hohner harps harmonica more attractive. I have been using Hering Blues, 
> Tombo Ultimo, Golden Melody and Meisterklasse, Silvertone, Star Performer, 
> Marine Band, Lee Oskar, Favorit.
> My sound is the same on any of these harmonicas. Right. But my comfort and 
> my pleasure to play them is slightly different.
> I do not say that other are bad, I just say how I do feel with hamronicas. 
> I am not talking about durability or pitch or setting I am just talking 
> about the material. I do not say that you can recognize which harps does 
> use the performer but I say that I can recognize a hohner from any other 
> harp when I play it.
>
> Moreover, I have put some Marine Band reeds on some of my Favorit because 
> the original reed were ko and I can feel the difference. I am used to have 
> most of my harmonicas three times: one set at home, one set at the 
> workshop, one set in my bagpack. Now, let's make a blind test: take my 3 
> Eb harps and ask me to tell which one has some Hohner reeds: I'll be able 
> to tell you exactely.
>
> I do not say that YOU will know which reed I play, I say that I (ME) will 
> know. That's very different. I am talking about what the player feel, not 
> about what audience do.

That's a good point as well as a good observation because, as a player, you 
get hear your own sound split seconds sooner than the audience does. Also, 
if every company used the exact same reeds, there'd be some serious patent 
infringement lawsuits happening because of each companies' own "signature or 
trademarked sound!" To the average listener in the audience, more often, as 
an example, a guitar is a guitar, a harmonica is a harmonica, but as a 
player when it is right there in front of you and you have developed a very 
critical ear, you WILL know the difference as well as FEEL a difference.

Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
MP3's: http://music.mp3lizard.com/barbequebob/