RE: [Harp-L] Out of the box vs customising

["Steve Shaw" <moorcot@xxxxxxx>]

> The list has had several threads dealing with customising harps. All of you 
> pros know the works: Replacing or filing reeds, tightening the flow of air, 
> replacing metal materials etc.
>
> My question as an amateur is how much better can the tone, volume and 
> control get after a redo. I have been happy with out of the box, eg Marine 
> Bands.
>
> Don't know for sure but I believe a good part of classic harp has been 
> performed with instruments out of the box (if even that).
>
> Harri

If you're happy with out-of-the-box harps then so be it.  If you're 
wealthy-ish the customisers do a really great job.  But there is a middle 
way, and that is to invest in a few tools and a tuner and open up the harps 
and meddle.  If a customiser opened up any of my harps and observed my 
"work," he or she would splutter and thigh-slap uncontrollably.   My 
application of technology and my manual skills belong to the dark ages.   
But the bottom line is that I can sort out the gapping and fine-tuning to 
make a harp that plays just fine for me, and I can fix little things that go 
wrong.  I haven't a clue about the finer points of arcing the reeds or 
embossing the slots etc., things I read about here with awe and admiration, 
so I can't match the customisers, but I can get OOTB harps to play the way I 
want 'em to!  More or less anyway... ;-)

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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