Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Gapping/Embossing, am I doing it right?...long.

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Richard Hunter writes (snipped):
 
"Vern, we are talking here about proprietary intellectual  property -- the 
very stuff that makes the Guild's products unique and  valuable. Asking 
the Guild to give that away is liking asking  Coca-Cola corporation to 
give away the formula for Coke. Frankly, it's  unclear to me from Greg 
Hommert's questions what his intentions are --  they could easily be to 
set himself up in competition to Messrs.  Sleigh, Gordon, Filisko, etc. 
Whether that's the case or not, the  people who have spent thousands of 
hours mastering unique techniques  are under no obligation to make the 
fruits of their efforts available  to others for free.

I have also been present at more than one  seminar where Sleigh and 
Filisko have answered questions about their  techniques and findings 
related to harmonica enhancement in some  detail -- at the level of 
principles at least, if not down to the  level of tooling and tolerances. 
In other words, I think it's to say  that these masters have been 
more than reasonably generous with their  knowledge.

Thanks and regards, Richard  Hunter
hunterharp.com"
 
....and because of this I went back and re-read the posts leading  up to his 
response to Vern.  Mr. Hommert did specifically ask what  material the Filisko 
Group used to seal their combs ...as well as several  other questions about 
their tuning/gapping methods....and Vern then did in  turn refer to "the Guild" 
and "experts" who "could be much more  generous".  
 
Pardon my take on it...but it seems clear that if anyone  here wants such 
information from Joe Filisko, Richard Sleigh and  Jimmy Gordon (the Filisko 
"Guild", as they are known) they  can write to any and/or each of these gentlemen 
(they have individual  websites) and ask them just what it is they use and how 
they set up their  harps.  If they then respond that the information is 
proprietary,  then that is your answer....and what right does anyone else have to  
question that decision?  Could anyone here possibly believe  that any expert 
(Vern included) becomes wealthy working on  harmonicas?  
 
My first ever experience at a harp convention (Buckeye, 2005) was  walking 
into an early morning Filisko teach-in where Jimmy Gordon was  already slaving 
away at his teach-in table over some recalcitrant  chromatics.  He wasn't 
having fun, but this is part of what's  expected at the teach-ins.  When we got our 
signals crossed initially  (with my brand-new Super 64), Jimmy was quick to 
seek me out to assure me  (a first-timer newbie!) that a Hohner Rep would 
arrive the next  day to resolve my question. When that didn't happen, he took it 
upon  himself to make sure that at least my old 10-hole chromatic's slide was  
functioning perfectly (a difficult enterprise), even though his time could  
have been better spent with far more advanced players.  
 
I've since watched him demonstrate in excruciating  detail harp-tuning, 
demonstrating and discussing the tools used, and  windsaver replacement, passing a 
harp around for each attendee to examine  at each step and then answering 
every question asked about gapping  and tuning.... at SPAH, 2005.  I have nothing 
but absolute respect  for the Filisko group as a whole, and for each member 
individually.   They go out of their way to help harmonica players whenever 
possible, with  grace and goodwill. 
 
 However..customizing harmonicas is their livelihood.   Suggesting they give 
away proprietary "secrets" is exactly as Richard  says:  "expecting Coca-cola 
to give away the formula for Coke".  My .02 cents.
 
Elizabeth