[Harp-L] Re: custom harps

[SONNYTONE@xxxxxxx]

Since Joe came out with his customized harps in around 1992, that is all I  
have wanted to play. I have to play two styles which require different air  
technique to be proficient at. So not playing as full time hard as I used to  
while playing both styles allowed me to back off on Sonny's style, which in turn  
helped me back off tongue blocking. Sonny's was all pucker. To get a sweet  
responsive harp out of the box is to me making me a better player. I can adjust 
 my own special 20's if I chose one but I have about 30 - 40 custom harps, 
many  Joe Spiers retuned and made sound just as good as new from the builder. 
Sonny  played Golden Melodies when I was with him, not sure when he started 
playing  those. So I played them at that time, 1977 - 78. I know most pros play  
custom harps, there are some that may play Special 20's or GM out of the box,  
probably not the heavy blues guys. Dave Barrett could get a deep sound through 
 anything. If anyone wants to try a great vocal and acoustic harp mic, pick  
yourself up an Audix OM5, can usually get one for less than the $159 list most 
 put on. Great wamth, I have a brand new SM58 if anyone wants it. Just 
thought I  would pass along this tip for duo and trio players. 
Back to Harps, I was glad to watch Joe Spiers in his growth into becoming a  
great builder. I was his biggest pain in the butt perfectionist player that  
pushed his envelope towards perfection. His whole time I have known him he has  
done some great things in harps and life, I know him very personally and 
think  he is doing great, the right thing if he wants to stop building,  whatever 
he chooses, he deserves it. So for me, my harp is hopefully going  to be my 
full time profession, so I justify the cost that way, and know what it  takes to 
build a high quality instrument. 



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