Fwd: [Harp-L] XB-40 Extreme Bender Pros and Cons query - and answers

["Winslow Yerxa" <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

--- In harp-l-archives@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Nate Taiapa 
<huffa.puffa@xxxx> wrote:

Hi people,Keith from www.jt30.com gives the pros and cons for the 
XB40 ExtremeBender harmonica...is he on the button? Are there any 
other pros andcons you would add. I'm thinking of getting me one.
Thanks for your time.Nate

==WInslow replies===


XB-40 ProsLoud!Big holes are a pleasure to play through.Interesting 
possibilities in bending ? especially First Position.New low end and 
high end possibilities for cross harp players.Cool toy to fool around 
with.It will make other harpers jealous.

==All true===


XB-40 ConsToo easy to bend.Difficult to control bends.

====It's a new tool and you ahve to learn how to sue it. It does 
things you never knew how to do before.===


Wide variation in bending ability.

===Note sure what this means. The whole instrument bends more than 
you will expect.===

Will need to be adjusted by expert for real usefulness.

===Nonsense. I played mine out of the box for 18 months before 
divciding to make adjustments. ONce again, it's a new tool. Learn to 
use it. Then figure out what changes might be useful.


Light reeds may not last long for a player who is hard in his harps.

====UTTER NONSENSE - and speculation based on no experience. Reeds 
are not "light" - they're the same consistency as other reeds, and 
longer than the reeds in standard diatonics. My actual experience: 
After two years of hard playing on only three harps, no reed 
failures, and no going out of tune. Only thing I've needed to repair 
are a couple of plastic valve flaps that fell out and needed to be 
glued back in.====

At $79.95US plus shipping, I can only afford one or two keys

===NO argument about the price - though you can find them about $10 
cheaper if you shop.===

Winslow