Re: [Harp-L] FW: xb 40

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

Brent;
           I have two XBs and will get more when funds permit. I find them easy to take apart and tune, though till recently I haven't had much need. I have had my C for about three years and my A for about two, play them at gigs 2-3 times a week. I lean pretty heavily on them, and it's taken a while for any problems top appear. I have changed two reeds, robbing them from MBs or whatever and cutting them to fit.
          The valves need attention from time to time, though usually Rick Epping's advice to soak them in a detergent /warm water solution followed by a squirt under the tap seems to do the trick. I have replaced the odd faulty valve too.
          The main criticism I hear of the XB is that it 'doesn't sound like a blues harp' (you there Ian?)
          I wonder if guitar players in the twenties complained that the new National Tri Cone resonator guitar 'didn't sound like a Martin' or whatever?
          I doubt it. The XB has a wonderful sound of its own; I still use standard harps, and would continue to do so even if I could afford to replace all of them with XBs.
          But the XB is the best thing to happen to diatonic harmonica, at least in my lifetime.
          Oh yes; if you play 3rd, then the XB really feels half way between a chrom in 3rd and a standard model - amazing!
Cheers,
RD


>>> "Brent Lambert" <brent@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 29/04/2008 5:17 >>>


From: Brent Lambert [mailto:brent@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 1:03 PM
To: 'harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx'
Subject: xb 40

I am an intermediate level player, 10 hole diatonic in  3 positions,  and
have some questions for those that have purchased an xb 40. Over the years I
have experimented different harps and found that the Lee Oskar gives me the
volume and control I need as I play acoustically. I can afford to try a new
kind of harp for $20-$30 and run the risk of not liking it, but
experimenting with a $100 harp is difficult.  Having said all this here are
my questions.
What are the pros and cons of the xb 40?
Do they hold up under hard use?
Are they serviceable?
Because of the number of reeds and their placement in these chambers how
difficult is tuning the reeds once they go flat or sharp?
Will this harp give someone with my level of playing more versatility or is
it for those that find bending and overblowing difficult?


Brent Lambert
Work 731-664-8443
Cell     731-616-2993
email brent@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 




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