[Harp-L] Comb material



Sensational comment pending:
I need convincing that there is anything in the idea that the material a comb is made from will greatly effect the sound, as I believe the fingers of the comb, being similar size in sectional area compared to the voids they create, inflexible, and simply making up the sidewalls of the sound chambers with a slot and reed as the only escape for airflow, can have any effect on the tone of the note. So, all you guys out there including my very experienced teacher who believe wood is the only option, even if you seal it in such a fashion that the timber cannot breath, please explain yourselves at your leisure. I am a sceptic, and don't at this stage see the point in paying double for a tricked up marine band, with all the additional cost in a comb that, sofar, I don't see any benefit in having. Yes, it is still wood, and guitars are still made from this material, but to create voids only, I simply don't get it. The statement is that "I will never get tricked up Special 20s to sound like tricked up Marine Bands"
Standing by...................and any input greatly appreciated



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Today's Topics:


   1. RE: Trying to assemble the largest harmonica band ever
      toperform-goes for Guinness world record  (Dennis Alters, MD)
   2. Re: The Passing of Mindy Jostyn (Robert Paparozzi)
   3. Feed Back elimination (Jason R)
   4. Review of Carlos del Junco's "Big Boy" (Planet Harmonica)
   5. Re: Change in Yahoo archive - bad news (Fernando Bresslau)
   6. Re: [Harp-L]Low bends - More On Reed Problems (michael harp)
   7. Re: [Harp-L]Low bends - More On Reed Problems (ben bouman)
   8. Re: More On Reed Problems (now harp techs) (michael harp)
   9. Re: More On Reed Problems (now harp techs) (Joe and Cass Leone)
  10. Re: Change in Yahoo archive (G)
  11. Re: Low Z to Hi - Z - DI Box? (Mark Crowley)
  12. Re: Boss DM-2 (AV1901@xxxxxxx)


----------------------------------------------------------------------


Message: 1
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 11:23:45 -0800
From: "Dennis Alters, MD" <dennisaltersmd@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Trying to assemble the largest harmonica band
        ever    toperform-goes for Guinness world record
To: "'randysinger'" <randy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <200503281923.j2SJNumx012956@xxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="us-ascii"

I think we did this at the Anaheim Jam Camp with Jon Gindick, Winslow,
Dennis Gruenling and Alan Holmes and of course Mark Wilson. It was fun

Dennis B. Alters, MD
Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Diplomate, American Board of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Neurology
-----Original Message-----
From: randysinger [mailto:randy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 2:33 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Trying to assemble the largest harmonica band ever
toperform-goes for Guinness world record

> Mackie goes for Guinness world record
> Port Townsend Leader - Port Townsend,WA,USA
> Mackie is trying to assemble the largest harmonica band ever to
> perform. ... At 6 pm Sunday, the harmonica band will assemble to try
> to break the record. ...

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Mackie goes for Guinness world record

By Martha Worthley
  Leader Staff Writer


What began for Andy Mackie as a simple desire to bring music into the lives of children has grown to a bid for three titles in the Guinness Book of World Records. Mackie is trying to assemble the largest harmonica band ever to perform. It will be staged at Seattle's Folklife Festival over Memorial Day weekend. He also wants to break the record for the largest "virtual" harmonica band, and the record for longest playing time. He is aiming for 20 minutes of continuous playing time, although six will do.

The Northwest Folklife Festival, working with the Andy Mackie Music
Foundation, Washington State University (WSU) Extension and Washington
State 4-H, will feature the event as part of the festival. The festival
takes place May 27-29. At 6 p.m. Sunday, the harmonica band will
assemble to try to break the record.

Approaching the Guinness Book

Mackie has worked with Robert Force at WSU in designing instruments for
kids to build and on various other aspects of his community work.
Mackie is also a Jefferson County 4-H leader. Force had two friends who
set a Guinness record and had some knowledge of how to make a proposal
to the Guinness book. He also wants to connect WSU students and 4-H
with the project as volunteers.

"The Guinness people may only approve one proposal and seldom accept a
proposal in a new category," explained Force. "Although the virtual
category is new, it parallels an existing one - largest number of
people to participate in a simulcast.

"Guinness offered to send out an invigilator to verify the outcome, but
we would have to pay to bring him out," continued Force. He plans
instead to carefully set up registration, cameras and take videotape.
Force expects the Seattle media such as KING and KOMO to be there as
well.

Force explained that the virtual concert participants will play along
with a live online broadcast. There is a 4-H van that has the capacity
to uplink to a satellite to videostream the scene at the festival.
"Someone with Internet access can view the live event and blow along on
their own harmonica. The only time that they can confirm that they are
there [virtually] is at the end of the broadcast, when cameras scan to
reveal an e-mail address. By sending an e-mail, they can confirm that
they were there to play along," says Force.

At the festival

Mackie plans to set up instrument-building tables as part of the
Children's Music Village at the festival. He will help children to
build and learn how to play harmonicas, just as he's done in Jefferson
County over the last few years. Representatives from high school shop
programs learning to build string instruments are coming to demonstrate
their skills and help kids make instruments. Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo
and Port Townsend high school shop programs have committed to be at the
festival.

Also on tap are students in the Quilcene and Chimacum high school
bands. Mackie hopes to raise the $350 per busload to send local
students to the festival for the day. He seeks sponsors to help him buy
more harmonicas, which he sells to children for $2.50 and to adults for
$5. On Sunday, May 29, he will need about 40 volunteers to help with
registration when the group is going for the title.

Money, volunteers needed

Mackie is buying 3,000 harmonicas and says: "If I have to, I'll pay for
them myself. I will be broke when I get done, but what else can I do
with my money?"

Hohner makes harmonica kits that are simple to put together. "I gave
one to a 6-year-old and within 15 minutes she had it together and was
playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. There's something about the child
putting it together - it's just one more piece where they have some
ownership of it," says Mackie.

Tax-deductible donations can be made to the Andy Mackie Foundation
through the Friends of Brinnon, P.O. Box 323, Brinnon, WA 98320, or
www.friendsofbrinnon.org.









------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 15:07:36 -0500
From: "Robert Paparozzi" <chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: The Passing of Mindy Jostyn
To: <harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <004d01c533d1$cb4ed5d0$2251fa04@LaptopPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
        reply-type=response

Last 2 week have been tough in NY, we lost two GREAT Musicians.....one was a
Harp Player who really got around,-)

1) Wayne Pedzewater (Bass) (Buddy Rich, Carole King, John & Yoko and many
more) I did many recording sessions with Wayne who the consummate PRO! If
any of you have my instrumental version of "The Christmas Song"...that's
Wayne on Bass...

2) Mindy Jostyn - HARMONICA, Vocals, Violin, Gtr
played with Cyndi Lauper, John Mellencamp, Billy Joel, Carole King, Donald
Fagen, The Hooters and many More........she was a sweet and VERY talented
person!

You can send a condolence note to her web-site for her family to
view....from the guestbook
www.mindyjostyn.com

Love & Peace
Rob Paparozzi



------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 14:42:19 -0600
From: "Jason R" <jason@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Feed Back elimination
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <200503282042.j2SKgNmx013040@xxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="iso-8859-1"

Hey everyone

Here is a private e-mail gone public! I thought some one else might like
this so I decided to post it here. Rock and Roll
Jason Ricci www.jasonricci.com


First of thanks for writing and great to hear from you guys! Hope all is well. Not all gear is right for everyone but I feel ok talking on the subject of feedback elimination. Here?s the operator part of the equasion (from my experience)

First: Turn all your tone knobs to 0.

Second: Crank the amp till it feedbacks?.than back off just a little.

  Third: The tone will already start sounding good with no treble, presence,
bass etc?believe it or not sheer volume has a way of producing these tones?

  Forth: begin to add a LITTLE at a time the tone controls: treble,
presence, bass etc?to your liking then stop.

  Fifth: The AMP may feed back a little again back off the tone control that
seems to be causing it, example: Low hum= Bass, High= treb.

  STUFF
1.) Lo-z mics feed back less than bullets and go louder?It?s true (this may
be the part that?s not for you lots of great players still use bullets.
2.) I use also a boss oc-2 pedal which adds a sort of compressed sound and
seems to help a hair in feed back elimination.
3.) I also use a box made by a company called Kinder called?.ready?Dun, dun,
dah ?.THE KINDER ANTI-FEEDBACK BOX! It works, you may or may not like it?s
side effects. It?s also really expensive
4.) Now you can tell the guitar player to TURN UP.

Love always Jason Hope this helps also see my gear page:
http://www.jasonricci.com/gear.html



________________________________________
From: Underdog Productions [mailto:underdogpro@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 1:07 PM
To: jason@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: HELP!

Hey Jason,
I?m Stacie Collins? husband Allen
We met at the 5-spot in Nashville awhile back
Stacie is not a tech-gal so I?m trying to help her with her gear
She has issues (feed back issues)
Do you have an amp person that you can refer me to?
Any help or input that you can give would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
from: Allen Collins <collinsallen@xxxxxxxxxxx>






------------------------------


Message: 4
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 00:06:59 +0200
From: "Planet Harmonica" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Review of Carlos del Junco's "Big Boy"
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <00cc01c533e2$769949b0$0a6f790a@generic>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="iso-8859-1"

I have posted the first review from the historical Planet Harmonica site on my weblog at http://harmonica.typepad.com. It's a review of Carlos del Junco's "Big Boy" that I originally wrote in 1999. I have made some alterations due to six years of opportunity for repeated listening, but on the whole my position has remained the same. Here's the first paragraph :

"For quite a while now those who had been lucky enough to hear Just Your Fool, Carlos del Junco's first solo album had been hoping for a new release. For my part, even though I liked the above mentioned live recording, I felt a little frustrated by the choice of repertoire, too conventional in perspective with Carlos' capabilities . I was waiting for something more open musically, and with Big Boy, I wasn't disappointed."

Ben FELTEN
http://harmonica.typepad.com

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 00:05:50 +0200
From: Fernando Bresslau <bresslau@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Change in Yahoo archive - bad news
To: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <42487FBE.8060606@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Try clicking on the linkg "thread", next to the link "date", above the
messages on the left. It might suit you better this way.
All the best,
Fernando

Smith, Richard wrote:

>I agree - - the new Yahoo format is a pain.
>On the Group Website, is a link entitiled "Send Feedback" on the
>new format.  Send your complaint to Yahoo that way.  I did.
>Perhaps if enough of us complain, they'll fix it.
>
>Richard J. Smith
>Wormleysburg, PA
>
>



------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 18:32:30 -0500
From: michael harp <diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L]Low bends - More On Reed Problems
To: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <BE6DFE3D.37E8%diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

adding to what Fernando said... the method I use to get difficult low bends
is to cup the harp tight thus creating compression within the hands. This is
true of Marine Bands with the open side coverplates.  Controllable open hand
bends seem more difficult on some of the low tuned.
You not only want to be able to deep  bend but be able to bend the notes in
between the deep bends where available.

mike


on 3/27/05 1:55 PM, Fernando Bresslau at bresslau@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:


> Hi Sam.
>
> The problem with the low bends are not the reeds or deep secrets that
> Tim does not want to make public.
> It is a simple physics question. For lower notes one needs bigger
> ressonance rooms. That is, your mouth/respiratory tract. And it becomes
> impossible to make such big ressonance rooms, after you get lower than
> one certain point.
> But you can get better with practice, if you open up your throat wide
> enough.
> All the best,
> Fernando
>
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l



------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 01:52:54 +0200
From: "ben bouman" <fitgo@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L]Low bends - More On Reed Problems
To: "michael harp" <diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx>, <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <005c01c533f1$42e27740$0100000a@lan>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="iso-8859-1"

One more (very important ) thing....lots of players tend to breath in
through their nose as well during draw bends.
When bending low keyed harps it's more difficult to bend when you loose air
by breathing in through your nose.
At his moment I can bend all draw bends on a low G harp but my low/low F is
still a challenge. I can bend hole 2 and 3 (not precisely controlled ) but
hole 1 is the real challenge.

Ben Bouman
www.marbletones.com
www.marble-amps.com
www.harmonicainstituut.nl



------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 18:48:57 -0500
From: michael harp <diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] More On Reed Problems (now harp techs)
To: HARP-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <BE6E0219.37E9%diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

on 3/28/05 12:17 PM, Tim Moyer at wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> There really aren't any secrets in this business, and I don't know
> anything about harmonicas that I wouldn't tell or show another
> person.  That said, there are a lot of things that you learn about
> building harmonicas from doing lots and lots of them that you can't
> really tell someone, it's a feel thing that's hard to quantify.

 Tim is correct. There are no secrets. We learn this craft through patience
and perseverance, and at times, from fellow technicians.  There is no big
payday either. Any one of us would be glad to make more then minimum wage
when a repair or custom harp is completed.  The benefits can only be added
up through small rewards throughout the years.

Any chance we can make 2005 the "Year of the Harp Tech." :-)

mike



------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 21:07:06 -0500
From: Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] More On Reed Problems (now harp techs)
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <4034ADB6-9FF7-11D9-BBDC-000A95DE5A16@xxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed


On Mar 28, 2005, at 6:48 PM, michael harp wrote: > Tim is correct. There are no secrets. We learn this craft through > patience > and perseverance, and at times, from fellow technicians.

Soooo, you're a bunch of 'snitchers' eh?

>   There is no big
> payday either.

Amen amen, I say unto you.

>  Any one of us would be glad to make more then minimum wage
> when a repair or custom harp is completed.  The benefits can only be
> added
> up through small rewards throughout the years.

  I think I figured it out that if a harp tech was very VERY fast, it
worked out to $4.77.15 per hour. AND, that hour was 69 minutes long.
Realistically, about $3-3.25 is all you can figure on. Take it from me,
it's way way more cost effective to have a harp tech do your work for
you, unless, of course, you like that sort of thing (beating your face
against a piece of expanded metal grating, that is).. :)
>
> Any chance we can make 2005 the "Year of the Harp Tech." :-)
>
> mike
>
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
>



------------------------------

Message: 10
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 18:41:35 +1200
From: G <gigs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Change in Yahoo archive
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <3.0.3.32.20050329184135.006f966c@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Doug Schroer wrote:
> I have been a "friend of Harp-L"  for quite a while, preferring to read
the Yahoo archive and occasionally post.  I like this group a lot.  With
the change in the Yahoo Groups, about 20% of the messages I click on are
empty, except for ads.  Harp talk is the same...  What is up with this, are
they trying to fix it , or should I switch to receive the list in email?  I
have always liked being able to read the list on line...
>
> Doug

Hi Doug,
  When you hit an email in Yahoo archives that is nothing but an
advertisement, look for: "Yahoo! Groups is an advertising supported
service. Continue to message." usually found just above the ad.   Click on
the "Continue to message." to read the actual email.

I don't like the new interface, its almost as bad as what Google have done
to the newsgroup front end.  :(
Free email services are a dying breed.
-- G.




------------------------------


Message: 11
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 17:46:08 +1000
From: Mark Crowley <Mark.Crowley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Low Z to Hi - Z - DI Box?
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <s249946d.038@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Hi,

in an effort to squeeze as much juice out of the orange as possible i
was trying to chase up an inline Low Z to Hi Z transformer - (as I have
read most people use for vocal mics going to amps - had been using a
lead that had XLR at one edn and 1/4 jack but am sure that's just an
adaptor, not a line transformer)


for an SM 57 going through an effects box to amp.....


have been told I should have the transformer between the effects and
mic...

somebody has given me use of a LEEM NDR40 Direct Box.

Has three 1/4 sockets in one side:

IN - Inst High Z

OUT - Inst High Z

IN - GND LIFT

Has 1 XLR socket on other side:

LOW Z Output.


I have looked at some instructions and it doesn't say anything about being able to go "back" IN thru the LOW Z Output - as I presume thats the only place to plug the Mic and then OUT thru either one of the HIGH Z Input/Output mentioned above...

The instructions say basically to plug an instrument/effects thru the IN
- Inst High Z and then can go to an amp thru the OUT - Inst High Z (for
my own monitor) and OUT to pa mixer thru the LOW Z Output.

It will be useful for that alone (no need to mic my crappy amp when
everybody around powers up) but it is not going to allow me go backwards
is it?  -- for mic to go thru it to effects box...

I can't try it myself as I have to grab a female to female XLR lead
first - and worried i may damage the amp anyway...

also - advice on a pc myth(?) - if trying to record onto pc you should
only go thru the line in unless using a pc mic - going thru the pc mic
line will send a power signal back to your source (guitar, minidisc,
walkman etc) -  if yr line in isn't sucking up enough signal you should
send yr source thru a stereo amp or something first(?) as thru the mic
line may damage yr source equpment..... is this true?

and thanks for those guys got back to me on my modes chart - great
advice all

crowley






------------------------------


Message: 12
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 10:47:29 EST
From: AV1901@xxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Boss DM-2
To: Harpmac01@xxxxxxx, harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <1c7.2554f8ec.2f7ad291@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

mac asked about the lowdown on the Boss DM-2 analogue delay pedal.

I know 3 harp players that use(d) the Boss DM-2: William Clarke, Jason  Ricci
and me. OK, 2 outta 3 ain't bad....

William Clarke (may he rest in peace) used one to great advantage. The last
time I saw him he was playing a Shure 57 mic through a low to hi Z transformer
through the Boss DM-2 into an original 4 hole Bassman amp.


Jason Ricci uses almost the same setup at times except his Bassman is a
reissue.

I use an ElectroVoice 605 mic with a Shure CR element through the Boss DM-2
into a Sonny Junior 410 amp.

I bought my DM-2 @ 2 years ago on EBAY for $135 (to replace a digital delay
that was too cold and exacting) and have loved it ever since. I've never liked
reverb. The best delay I ever played through was a vintage tube EchoPlex. I
just can't see spending $700-$800+ or more for something I'd be afraid to gig
with due to age and value. The Boss DM-2 is pretty indestructible, smaller &
lighter to carry, and comes close to the warmth of tape delay. For
transport I put it in a plastic box meant for 3x5 index cards and toss it in the gig
bag with no worries.


I dial in a very small amount of delay (the DM-2 is analogue and doesn't
allow for huge/long delays anyway) and this rounds out my sound in a way I like.
Sometimes on a Dminor blues using a Chromatic harp I'll lengthen the delay a
bit and sometimes it is off all together. The pedal doesn't rob tone when its
on and doesn't seem to do so when its in the line but off.


My only beef? It goes through the 9 volt batteries pretty quickly (I've
never tried a 9 volt transformer with it). I have to try hard to remember to turn
it off *and* unplug the mic cord between sets so it is completely off and
saving juice.


I would HIGHLY recommend the DM-2. Prices have been rising pretty steeply,
but unlike tubes and harps and guitar strings, once you buy the DM-2 it should
last a long time.


Andy Vincent




------------------------------


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