Re: [Harp-L] RE: Beginner with harmonica quality problems!

["lil Buddha" <ltlbuddha@xxxxxxxxx>]

Ryan,

The major harmonica manufacturers, and some small ones, do produce good
harps. Right out of the box. Perfect? Nothing is perfect for everyone.
My recommendation for a beginner is buy a decent out of the box harp.
($20-$40 range. Hohner, Suzuki, Seydel, Hering, Bushman, Lee Oskar,
Bends...)
No cheapie, no custom.
Why? The cheap harps can quickly frustrate a serious player, no matter the
skill level. They are often leaky and inconsistent.  A custom harp may be
too responsive. A good, stock harmonica will be airtight enough to be
responsive and consistent enough to allow a player to concentrate on
technique.
An interesting note regarding the discussion of custom harmonicas on this
list: many have stated that a good customizer will speak to their new
customers to ascertain the players needs prior to building a harp. A
beginner will not usually know what he/she wants until that appellation no
longer applies.

 The exception to all this is a beginner with an instructor or one who is
unusually adept at gleaning content from the plethora of sources now
available.

My two cents, for what it is worth.

On Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 8:22 PM, Fire on Your Sleeve <
million_dollar_handshake@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
> I just find it strange that I haven't really touched a harmonica in over
> ten years, and now there seems that a bunch of harmonica companies that  I
> never really heard of before, have sprouted up or came "out of the
> woodwork". It's just hard to believe that after 10 years and with all this
> competition, a company has not come out with a harp that plays good out of
> the box? Isn't that what everybodys been complaining about for years?
>
> As far as a custom harmonica goes, I am pretty sure I know what I would
> like in a harp. Who are some good but not super expensive harp builders?
> Also, if played with "good" technique, a custom harp could last years right?
>
> -Ryan
>
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