RE: [Harp-L] Blowing out a harp (was Sound of Hohner)

["Steve Shaw" <moorcot@xxxxxxx>]

> Mike Fugazzi wrote:

> >How long does the average harp last some of you guys?
> >I've read that the longevity of harps is a concern a
> >lot of players take into consideration when purchasing
> >a harp.

> Run screaming Mike.  It's going to get really geeky here.  [huge analysis 
> followed.....not reproduced to save bandwidth.....]

> Mike Holcomb

That is a pretty impressive analysis, Mike.  I guess a lot depends on the 
amount of use a harp gets.  My low F LO gets used about 5 minutes a week, 
has been going for six years without so much as a single reed retune, and I 
expect it to outlive me.  My G LO was six months old when I used it to 
record my CD exactly a year ago.  I carefully fine-tuned it for that event, 
but I haven't touched it since then and it gets a lot of regular heavy use.  
I've found SP20s to be pretty reliable OOTB, never having had a dud, though 
I retune them to 12tET and Paddy Richter, and may occasionally have to 
increase one or two gaps from the outset.  I've found that after a few 
sessions they need the occasional fine-tune of a reed or two, but they only 
show up badly in terms of longevity if compared to Lee Oskars.  A couple of 
decades ago I had a Toyota, and nothing ever changed with that car from one 
service to the next.  Totally reliable.  Lee Oskars are a bit like that.  
But I still buy SP20s because I need something to love.

Steve



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