[Harp-L] Spirit harmonica

[Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Spirit harp seems to be something that Planetone is still  
developing and not yet on the market.  The most interesting part on  
their website is the comb, the design of which allows any set of reed- 
plates to be swapped in.  I'm sure the specifics will be such that  
not "any" set will work (for instance, Marine Bands would probably  
need to be tapped for screws, Seydels have a different reed-to-reed  
spacing so might not work) but it is a very interesting idea, sort of  
taking Lee Oskar's modular approach a step further.

For now, Planetone has a line-up of fairly standard harmonicas which  
they are selling, reviews of which can be found here:


http://www.patmissin.com/reviews/planetone.html

These appear to be fairly typical Chinese-made harps, with some  
specific features differentiating them from others, though nothing  
Earth-shattering.  There are some nice features, for instance the  
tremolo has enclosed reed-plates so if you don't like the feel (or  
all too often the sharp edges) of exposed reed-plates in your mouth  
this would be worth checking out.  Basically they are going for the  
lower end of the market traditionally served by people like Huang and  
Seydel/Weltmeister (who seem to be moving upmarket in terms of  
quality control lately), a logical place to start.

The Spirit harp would seem to be something different, a truly new  
design which would be aimed more at the mid to high range of the  
market.  I hope it comes to market soon, as it sounds like an  
interesting idea.

Dave Payne writes:

"Words 7-9 in paragraph No. 2 will ensure I will never buy one."

Those words are "made in China".  If this is political, then that's  
your choice.  If this is because you think that high quality  
harmonicas (or even average quality) cannot be made in China, than  
you have already been proven wrong.  The company which makes the  
Golden Cup range of lower-end harmonicas also produces the excellent  
Leo Shi Bass (actually a baritone, and now sadly hard to find).  This  
is as well made and designed a harmonica as any stock model I own,  
and the quality control was excellent, better by far than many  
instruments I've bought from Seydel or Hohner, for instance (and  
that's not in the distant past), certainly on par with Suzuki or Lee  
Oskar (though I have a sample of one Leo Shi, and desperately want  
more, compared to many of these others so it's possible I got an  
exceptional example, but I doubt that from talking with others who  
have Leo Shi harps).

For the most part harmonica production in China is aimed at the lower- 
end of the market right now, with the idea of making instruments to  
be sold at the lowest price possible.  But there is no reason to  
think that an average or better quality instrument could not be made  
in China (and, again, it has been shown to be possible) given the  
desire and opportunity.  Let's not forget that ten years ago the idea  
that Seydel could produce a top-end, innovative instrument with  
consistent quality would have been laughable.




 ()()    JR "Bulldogge" Ross
()  ()
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