[Harp-L] Re: Question about custom harmonicas

[Steve Baker <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

John F. Potts wrote:

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.


John, your personal preferences are your affair, but this is to put  
it mildly an extremely contentious claim. I and many other pro  
players including a substantial number of high end customizers regard  
the Hohner Marine Band as pretty much the benchmark harp for blues  
and related forms of music. Buddha works on Golden Melodies because  
he feels that for his sophisticated musical aspirations they give the  
best results. These craftsmen choose Hohner Classic harmonicas  to  
work on because they consider them to offer the best raw material  
presently available for their purposes. The reason lies mainly in the  
tone and response of the reeds. That's why I play them myself. This  
is by no means intended to denigrate Suzuki, their harmonicas are  
very well made even though they don't correspond to my personal  
taste. Tastes differ, so other players (and customizers) may have  
different preferences, but few would justify their choice by claiming  
Hohner instruments are inherently inferior. How about trying a Hohner  
Classic harp out of current production before making such absolutist  
statements in public?

Steve

Steve Baker
steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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www.bluesculture.com
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