Re: [Harp-L] Custom Harmonicas - Worth It?

["Rick Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

You're talking wood combed harps only, I take it? or do you 'seal' plastic combs as well?
RD


>>> "scooter" <10hole@xxxxxxxxxxx> 16/04/2008 5:26 >>>
I do all of my own harps myself. I'm certainly not nearly as good at it as 
many of the rest of these guys but
here's what I notice. If you only smooth off the sharp edges on  the comb, 
seal it and use screws, you'll have a longer lasting
harp. Why ??  Because you'll play much lighter without even noticing it. The 
stock harps to me are a bitch to play.
They require so much air because they leak like crazy. The nuances and 
pressure required are amazing just with
sealing the comb alone. If you get into gapping the reeds, you'll also 
notice a big difference in the playability and pressure
required. If nothing else, try to get a harp with a sealed comb. With that 
alone I get a couple years from a harp that would last
a couple months before.

Scooter




>I read the discussions about custom harmonicas, and
> custom harmonica patents, with interest.  Here's a new
> related topic, something I've always wondered about
> and not seen asked or answered.  Feel free to correct
> any of my assumptions.
>
> I would love to have customized harmonicas.  However,
> I assume the reeds get fatigued at the the same rate
> as those in stock harmonicas. I replace my harmonicas
> regularly, after extending each harmonica's life
> somewhat by filing a reed when it first goes flat.
> Eventually, as we all know, that reed is gone forever.
>
>
> 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?
>
> Some of you, if you respond to this topic, will be
> tempted to talk about changing one's playing style to
> lengthen the life of the harmonica.  That's fine, but
> my musical/bluesical style over the last 30 years has
> incorporated plenty of hard blowing and drawing, and I
> would rather keep that style than change it to save
> money.
>
> No disrespect is intended to the excellent customizers
> out there; it's great you're doing it and great
> there's a market for your work.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Wolf Kristiansen
>
>
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