[Harp-L] Meisterklasse

[William Jennings <will@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Loved the originals, hate the 'improved-system'/current design.

Used to be tight, responsive, expressive.  I don't have huge hands,  
so I found
their size and heft to be perfect for playing acoustic AND with a  
variety of mics.
I especially loved the lower keys...I mourn the demise of my A...the  
high end was
so responsive to blow bends, and the sensitivity was such that it  
could also be nimble
at the bottom end for fiddle tunes.

Used to get replacement reedplates direct from Hohner, stocked up on  
some,
nursed the ones I had, but eventually couldn't keep them in playable  
tune...etc.
Eventually replacing individual reeds, etc. just didn't do the trick.
Bartered and scrounged for spare plates, but those sources just dried  
up.
So, after ten years,  had to retire them.  I save them,thinking  
someday, someone
will find a 'lost stash' of reedplates.....ah, eBay....  I even tried  
modding various
new reedplates to fit, but this still didn't quite nail the original.

The 'new' or current design befuddled me. Why take a harp that was  
great and make
it instantly mediocre? It was a costly harp that sounded great out of  
the box, and became
an expensive harp you had to spent time and money to modify to play  
almost well.

I switched to Lee Oskars for a few years, and still play them. But  
Tim Moyer makes a
great modified harp, and I've been really happy with his work.   
Others make great
modded harps, too.  But, man, I truly miss those original MKs from  
the early to mid 80's.

If any one has old, original MK reedplates...I'm still  
interested....contact me off list.
I have a few in higher keys I might be willing to barter for exchange.

Will