Re: [Harp-L] Howard Levy overblows out of the box
Just because Howard can overblow ANY harp doesn't mean that everyone else has
the potential and if they can't, they need to work more on their technique.
Howard could probably overblow a tin whistle. But then he's HOWARD.
Harps that work for overblows and overdraws have the "right" set up or reed
adjustment. It's not all pilot error if the technique doesn't work on a given
harp. I've got a box of new cheap harps (for a class) that just barely bend on
the first or second holes. I have a Hohner Bluesband -- Hohner's least
expensive harmonica in the U.S. It plays and bends effortlessly.
A properly set up hamonica overblows better than one that is not. And
nowadays, some firms make harps that work right out of the box.
That's the sense I got from several people who responded to my question who
are overblowers and know the difference. This explains why people who overblow
on a regular basis send their harps off to be tweaked. Their existing harps
will overblow; they just want them to overblow better.
These are what the experts from the Harp List said:
One said: Another said: "The 1847 overblows decently on Holes 4, 5, and 6 out
of the box. For a harp that both overblows and overdraws out of the box,
Suzuki Fire Breath or Pure Harp might be better choices."
Another said: " Besides the 1847 I can overblow 4,5 and 6 on a Solist Pro and
Favorite and I'm not that good an overblower. The Seydel Big Six overblows 4
5 and 6. I can get some Marine Bands to do the same...."
A third said: "The Suzuki Fire Breath is IMHO the best stock harp when it
comes to
overbends. All OBs and all ODs work pretty good out of the box. The
Seydel 1847 is also pretty good with overblows.... Herings 1923 vintage harp
does not allow overbends as easily as the two mentioned above, but still it
works, same with the Hohner Classic
harps (MB/MBDL, SP20, Golden Melody)."
My buddy was in a car accident and asked his doctor if he would be able to
overblow a harmonica after his recovery. The doctor assured him he could. "Hey
doc, that's great," my buddy said. "I couldn't even PLAY harmonica before the
accident."
As always, both individual technique and the adjustment of individual harps
play a part.
In a message dated 3/28/08 4:31:04 AM, Ansel.Barnum@xxxxxxx writes:
> Every flummoxed overblower wants to believe itâs the harp (dammit!) which
> is defectiveâ-not the
> player. Believe me, I know! I wish a pro would pick up my harp and struggle
> as much as I, confirming
> what certainly must be the source of the problem: the gear. Well, last
> weekend I got my wish,
> although the outcome was not what Iâd hoped.
>
> During a break at Howard Levyâs workshop in NYC, a student came up to him
> and asked the perennial
> question: Is it possible to overblow an out of the box harmonica? Howard
> looked down at the suspect
> Marine Band in the clutches of the humble inquirer, asked if it was new (â
> almostâ came the earnest
> answer), rolled his eyes with a what-the-hell, and extended a trusting hand
> to accept the instrument
> in question. To an audience of incredulous ears and jaws agape, he ran up
> and down the ten holes of
> the stock Marine Band like it was a custom Filisko. Well, almost. After
> blowing musical brilliance
> through the $20 toy, he declared, âNot bad, although it doesnât overdraw.â
> Of course, at the speed
> he played the fusillade of notes, youâd never know.
>
> When he handed back the harp to its owner, there was smoke pouring from the
> vents in the cover
> plates. The wooden comb surprisingly hadnât caught fire, but the equipment
> excuse long blamed by
> frustrated overblowers had been burned to ashes.
>
>
> Ansel
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