[Harp-L] Custom Harmonicas - Worth It?

[captron100@xxxxxxx]

Wolf wrote:

> I'm not well off.  I can't justify buying expensive customized harmonicas that I will eventually
>throw away. I'm too frugal. (I assume they eventually get thrown away, like stock harmonicas). Are
>the customized harmonica users richer than the rest of us? Am I missing something?

  Custom harps are not throw away instruments!
  At least 2 customizers that i know of (and 2 of the best)offer inexpensive tuning and reed 
replacement services -- Joe Spiers (who is building an inventory as opposed to taking orders which 
keep people anxiously waiting) and Brad Harrison, who recently made some sales announcements on harp-L.  
  IF you are a dedicated harp player and IF your playing is advanced enough, your playing will
benefit by using custom harmonicas.  From my own personal experience, mine does and they are worth the 
costs to me. 
  I also tweak my own harps and greatly improve their playability, but i don't come close to what
?these pros can do.  And it takes me 5 hours or more to do the best job i can.  Occasionally I'll 
slip and ruin a reed too, necessitating reed replacement and even more time and frustration than 
expected.
  Btw, if you are a hard player, u might want to try a custom Seydel Beta Harp from fellow lister Ben
Bouman. With their stainless reeds, they seem to be able to take alot of abuse. I don't know if Ben
offers the tuning and reed replacement service.  Also, he is not in the US, so shipping is a little 
more complicated and expensive.
ron - FL Keys