Re: Re: Subject: [Harp-L] Harrison custom Harmonicas reply

[David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I know there has to be a considerable amount of time spent on cosmetics on those brass combs you do, Chris, with that diamond-checker cut you do. I've tried to get just a blank brass comb, no frills, done at machine shops, I've never gotten a price lower for a vanilla ice cream brass comb at a machine shop than the nice-looking stuff you offer.

Dave
___________________
Dave Payne Sr. 
Elk River Harmonicas
www.elkriverharmonicas.com 

----- Original Message ----
From: Chris Reynolds <c_reynolds2571@xxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 3:26:52 AM
Subject: Re: Re: Subject: [Harp-L] Harrison custom Harmonicas reply

I've really been enjoying this conversation. I've only been working on harps for a short time but I can say that it has really become a passion. I'm constantly learning new things, I enjoy experimenting, and I've had some really nice comments from people. Am I as good as guys like Spiers and Flisko, nope, but one day I hope to be. I can say this that the comments in the message below really brought to light some of the things that I want to strive for, like doing the absolute best I can, putting quality first and quantity second, making sure that anyone who buys a harp from me is completely satisfied with it, etc. It was never my intention to work on harps for other people, I only got into this so I could fix up some old harps, but one thing led to another and I started having people ask me to do them, and well after getting laid off I decided to focus on working on harps. But mainly I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the great info, it's really
helped me out a lot, and I really appreciate the time some of you have taken to answer specific questions that I've had. 

Chris 

http://www.builderofstuff.com/harpsforsale.html
http://www.builderofstuff.com/harpgallery.html


Just a man, his shop, and a long list of unfinished projects...
> Message: 9
> Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:28:36 -0400
> From: "James Sterett" 
> Subject: Re: Subject: [Harp-L] Harrison custom Harmonicas reply
> To: , 
> Message-ID: <4803BE750200003F00008D45@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
> 
> I've purchased a handful of harps from individuals who have made general 
> performance adjustments and full custom jobs.  Of course, if you buy the $50 
> general performance model over the $100 customized for Jim model, you simply are 
> not buying as many adjustments (time on task)... but when you do pony up that 
> $50 more... now, I've still got all my teeth... but I'd guess it's like getting 
> custom bridge work.  in my experience, the harp customizer has contacted me, 
> asked me about my playing style, what I would like in a harp, etc, etc... then 
> turned around and delivered (for no extra charge.)  And, I also know that if 
> something wasn't to my liking upon receipt of this harp, it would be 
> fixed/adjusted post haste at no cost to the customer (no shipping, etc.)  Bottom 
> line, I've never met a harp customizer I didn't like.  Be it the $50 model or 
> the $100, they've all strived for nothing less than complete customer 
> satisfaction.  A lot of time and effort goes into each harp and I'll !
>  tell you, if on some of my more oft used keys, a reed on an OTS harp may go 
> flat after a few months of gigs/rehearsals/practicing, I've played some well put 
> together custom harps that have been serving me admirably for better than a year 
> now (then, you can turn around and send them back in for maintenance/tweaking 
> for about the same price as a new OTS harp.) And those custom jobs, both the $50 
> and $100 models, to varying degrees, are so responsive and fluid... it's really 
> hard to go back to OTS (or even use one of the several OTS harps still in my kit 
> bag.)  I'm not affiliated with any customizers... I just dig a good tool... the 
> right tool for the job.  And, in my experience, that's what I've received when I 
> made the extra initial investment (that's the hard part... everything else is 
> butter.)  
> 
> Jim.
> www.mcmule.com 





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