Re: [Harp-L] overblows vs half valving

[Larry Marks <larry.marks@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Good heavens!!! The quality of Jason's music is due to his skill, not 
whether he plays overblows of valves. They are  both simply methods of 
making a diatonic into a chromatic instrument. Listen to Jason: his 
non-overblown notes are just as nice as his overblows. Same with P. T. 
Gazell who plays valved. I play both methods myself, and I don't believe 
there is a significant quality difference if you know what the hell you 
are doing.

I prefer the valved instrument because of the variability of the bends 
versus the more-or-less fixed note you get out of overblows. Also, 
valved instruments are more logical in terms of the layout of the notes. 
With overblow, you have to play a blow, then a draw and then another 
blow (overblow) in order to go through the scale.

But I also find the valves to be a real pain, as they tend to get stuck 
in the reed slots and are the most easily damaged part of the 
instrument. Also, most of the custom harps come equipped for overblow. 
To me it would be sacrilege to valve these great instruments, so I play 
them OB.

This may be the silliest argument I have seen on this list, and I have 
seen some pretty silly arguments here. Don't insult Jason or Howard or 
PT by suggesting that it is anything but their skill that produces their 
great music. I am certain that if Jason or Howard were to learn to play 
valved instruments they would still sound as good as they do on their 
OB/OD instruments.

 -LM