Re: [Harp-L] Golden Melodies

[Pierre <plavio@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Charles wrote:
> > I'd love to hear from some of the Golden Melody players out there
> > - what am I missing?

Tia added:

> I love the full-length covers on the Golden Melody, which make
> puckering up and down the full length of the harp more comfortable,
> in my opinion.  There's less to snag the facial hair.  Roudned
> bosies are easier on the hands.  I also prefer Hohner handmades,
> since their easier to make overblow-friendly.

What are Hohner handmades?

> I agree that overhanging reedplates can be uncomfortable.  I polish
> the front edges of mine with 0000 steel wool to make them smooth and
> round.  The Special 20 and Lee Oskar both avoid this problem with
> full recessed reedplates.

I hate overhanging plates on any model, although I'm sure anyone can get use 
to most anything in time. People use the old marine bands and they have a 
similar design. I think its just a question of what we are used to.

> I can't imagine that a bend on a GM is any easier or harder than on
> a Special 20, aside from just the random way the factory has
> adjusted the action.  Another sampling of two randomly chosen harps
> might swing things the other way, or have both be exceptional -- or
> unacceptable.  At least with the Golden Melody, like the Lee Oskar
> and the Special 20, you can remove the covers and easily access the
> reeds for adjustment.

I agree with Tim that you can't really judge based on one harp. I would add 
that if you are evaluating harps, you should compare harps with equal key 
harps otherwise the comparison is really unfair. The 3 hole on the Bb SP20 
harp is particularly hard to play compared to any other keyed harp, at least 
it was for me. I forced myself to practice with a Bb harp for 6 months to 
get over this. I figured if I could master this harp, I would get better on 
all harps.

With respect to bendability, I disagree with Tim, I find GM's much easier to 
bend than Special 20s. Although I only have one GM, so maybe I just got 
lucky but I don't think so. To me the GM feels almost like a LO in terms of 
playability.

One nice thing about GM's is that the reeds are arced, so its easier to set 
them up properly. I think Hohner should do this on SP20s too. On the 
downside, they are a bit too bright.

I'm seriously thinking of switching to GMs from SP20s, I'm looking for a 
harp I can play effortlessly and I find that on a C SP20 I sometimes have to 
alter my throat position to go from the 2nd bend to the 3rd bend. On the GM 
I don't seem to have any problem reaching the 3 bends. Another difference I 
find is that when bending the 3 hole, its easier to do a smoth slow 
controlled bend than on a SP20.

Anybody got any theories as to why the deep 3 hole bends on the Bb harp are 
harder than on other harp keys?

Pierre.


> -tim