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

["46long Blake" <46long@xxxxxxxxx>]

I like the straw simile. I have customs in the keys that I use most - A, C,
D.   And I do some work on my other diatonics (wouldn't know where to begin
with my chromatics). However, I like to practice with stock harps. I don't
necessarily do this to baby them (though at $55 per repair job, it's not a
bad idea) but as a long-time swimmer, I liken it to training with a drag
suit. Once you take the drag suit off, every movement is faster, more
fluid....effortless.

Yes,excellent customs do suffer reed fatigue / failure (for me, as long as
I've been playing, it's always, always, always the 4 blow reed.   Always.)
But I would agree that they last longer.  Is it because of something
material / mechanical?  Is it because they take less effort to play?   Is it
because we take better care of them? Could be a combination of the three -
at least in my case..........but the difference is fairly dramatic.  The
first thing you'll probably notice is the increased volume / brightness
along with the playability.

 - BAT

On Wed, Apr 16, 2008 at 6:40 AM, David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

> On the question of custom harps and whether it's worth it.... If you got
> Rupert Oysler's video and learned to do this stuff yourself, you would be
> out time, not money.  You get used to custom stuff, even if it is your own.
> After you play customized stuff, going back to stock harmonicas is like
> trying to drink through a straw that has a hole in it.
>
>
> Dave
> _________________
> Dave Payne Sr.
> Elk River Harmonicas
> www.elkriverharmonicas.com
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