Re: [Harp-L] Question about custom harmonicas

["Ben Bouman" <fitgo@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I only use Seydel 1847 harps for my beta-harps because I love the sound of 
these harps with steel reeds and I believe in the longevity of the long slot 
steel reeds....but I also love the sound when a GOOD player plays on a 
Marine Band ......or a Suzuki..or....
How about this question.... when you hear a player without seeing him or 
her, can you tell what harp he/she is playing (which brand...custom harp or 
out of the box....) or is it 99 % the sound the player produces on a harp?
regards
Ben Bouman
www.beta-harps.com
www.harmonicainstituut.nl
www.marble-amps.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 1:04 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] Question about custom harmonicas


> Here's my question about custom harps:  Why do customizers only  customize 
> Hohners?  I don't like Hohners.  I'd rather play Suzukis. A  custom Hohner 
> would be an improved version of a harmonica i don't  like in the first 
> place.  Presumably, a customized Suzuki (I'm not  talking about a Fabulous 
> here) would be a better product, because the  stock harmonica that the 
> work is performed on is a better product to  start with.  A custom Hohner 
> is an improved version of an inferior  product.  A custom Suzuki should be 
> superior because the instrument  that is being customized  is superior to 
> start with.
>
> I played Hohners for 26 or 27 years before i switched to Suzuki, so i 
> have a substantial  basis for comparison.  I have a strong preference  for 
> certain characteristics of the higher end Suzukis which i  understand not 
> all players will share.  Others may not find these  characteristics 
> desirable.  But the QUALITY of the higher end Suzuki 
> instruments--compression (air tightness), depth and consistency of  tone 
> from reed to reed, responsiveness etc., is indisputably superior  to any 
> stock Hohner I've ever played, (and I've played  A LOT of  them). 
> Accordingly, i do not understand why customizers choose to  perform their 
> precision work using a Hohner platform and only a  Hohner platform as a 
> starting point, and why none of them are  customizing Suzukis.  (Or  Lee 
> Oskars for that matter).
>
>  Maybe it's because necessity is the mother of invention--Hohners  must be 
> worked on in order to perform well, while Suzukis and Lee  Oskars perform 
> reasonably well out of the box. Since  Hohners HAD to  be worked on in 
> order to be playable  and Hohners  have been around  longer,  the 
> technicians performing the precision work necessarily  started out working 
> on Hohners.  Perhaps they simply stuck with  customizing  the brand they 
> became most familiar with, and so they  now use the Hohner platform 
> exclusively by default.  It's human  nature that people tend to stick with 
> what they are familiar with.
>
> Maybe I'm only displaying my ignorance by putting up this post.  But  the 
> difference between ignorance and stupidity is that ignorance can  be cured 
> with information. Enlighten me.
>
> JP
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