RE: [Harp-L] Bushman Delta Frost harmonicas in bluegrass

["Steve Shaw" <moorcot@xxxxxxx>]

> "Steve Shaw" <moorcot@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> > I think the XB40 falls down quite badly in the areas Tony was talking 
> about.
> >   They are loud...but that's about it.  They have a strangely dry tone
> > (though whether listeners would pick up on that is another matter), but 
> they
> > certainly don't respond to light pressure and the reeds respond quite
> > sluggishly.  After a few minutes' practice with one of these I feel I've
> > increased my lung capacity by about a litre, and If I then pick up a 
> SP20
> > I'm in danger of blasting the reeds to kingdom come.

Bobby wrote:
> With all due respect, I disagree. I find the XB-40 to be an ideal choice
> for a live bluegrass setting that includes the harmonica. First of all,
> standard bluegrass instrumentation of fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar
> and upright bass is LOUD! I don't care how well one can project a
> harmonica, a standard diatonic has difficulty cutting through. Banjos
> can't be played soft. Fidlles have difficulty with that as well but
> more importantly their tambre is very similar to a harmonica and the
> harp gets drowned out.

I agree about the advantage of the XB40's loudness.  But in a noisy Irish 
pub session with background noise and all, you need to be amplified a tad if 
you care about being heard at all, no matter what harp you're playing.  So 
in this situation the XB40 has no particular advantage for me.

> I find the XB-40 to be very responsive. There was a learning curve
> initially but I learned I didn't have to play or bend as hard to get
> the note I wanted.  I find it can be played with a very light touch and
> still get plenty of volume.

Maybe I was unlucky with my two (G and low D).  Bending - great.  Response 
to light touch - not my two!  They are the stodgiest two harps in my 
armoury.

I have several and they all have their time
> and place but are NOT a replacement for a standard diatonic.

Exactly how I feel about them.  I wasn't trying to dismiss them out of hand.

> BTW, while many of the fiddle tunes are in the major scale and1st
> position, fiddle tunes are modal and there are lots and lots and lots
> of 'em that utilize 2nd and 3rd and positions in between all three.

For truly modal tunes I simply don't need XB40s.  I select the key of harp 
that will permit me to play the tune with as little (or no) 
bending-to-get-notes as possible.  On my CD I play tunes in 1st, 2nd,3rd and 
4th positions.  I used just a G lee Oskar, Paddy Richtered, and a SP20 low 
D.  All tunes except one modal, not one bend-to-get-note in sight.  A bit of 
bending for expression though.

> When I want to just pick up a harp and play I never reach for the XB-40
> unless I'm working on something specific.

Exactly the same for me.  I use it for the Sailors' Hornpipe...but in most 
non-modal cases I'd rather pick up my good ol' 10-hole G Chromonica.

Steve

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/trad_irish_harmonica
HEAR my CD clips: http://www.gjk2.com/steveshaw/cd.htm
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