Re: [Harp-L] Bob Dylan Signature Harmonica Gripe

[David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I thought the Andy Griffith D-18 was a really good idea, because it was a recreation of something unique. Andy got his from his debut movie, "A Face in the Crowd," made in the mid 1950s, where he plays this evil media star corrupted with power. The prop department needed a guitar, so they got this new Martin D-18, SPRAY painted it black and glued sequins on it to spell "Lonesome" and "Mama" Andy was appalled by what they did to this guitar, so he spent quite a few hours sanding off the paint, he actually wound up sanding through the pickguard, he carefully removed the sequins and gave it to an archtop guitar builder in New York (DiAngleo?) to refinish. Anytime you see a guitar on the show that does not have a pickguard, it is that guitar... as seen here: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvYDpXfiDuQ
The Andy D-18 signature has no pickguard, etc. 
So, my point is, if you have a signature instrument, it ought to be something specific and unique. That original guitar of Andy's was one of a kind, because of its story and because of what Andy did and had done to it. 
Now the Dylan series is an MS with Dylan's name on it. That's quite a bit different. 
If I were to make a Joe Leone signature diatonic, I'd probably make a 7-hole Marine Band, to recreate the one Joe made from the one that was run over by a train, or bus, or streetcar, whatever it was. But it would be unique, it would tell a story. That's what a good signature product ought to be. 
Another example, If there were a Dave Payne signature harp, it would have a nailed, sealed wood comb. It might be just-intonation tuned.
Dave 
___________________
Dave Payne Sr. 
Elk River Harmonicas
www.elkriverharmonicas.com 



----- Original Message ----
From: Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>
To: Cara Cooke <cyberharp@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, September 8, 2008 6:20:50 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Bob Dylan Signature Harmonica Gripe


On Sep 8, 2008, at 5:49 PM, Cara Cooke wrote:

> FYI: Like Andy Griffith, Steve Martin and Jack Benny actually play/ 
> played.
> It is/was the perception they create(d) as comedians that would  
> make it
> ludicrous to market a special instrument with their name attached  
> -- unless,
> of course, the instrument itself was ludicrous.
>
I have to agree with Cara on this. When I was 10 (1952), the only  
harmonica players I knew about were:
1... The Harmonica Rascals of Borrah Minevitch.  Because of the short  
subjects that one would see at the cinema.
2... Blackie Schackner.  Whom I saw at a stage show at New York's  
Roxy theater.

By age 20 (1962) I added:
1... The Harmonicats
2... Rice Miller
3... Lazy Lester
4... Wilhelmina Mae Thornton
5... L'il Walt
6... Sonny Terry
7... Paul Butterfield
8... Stevie Wonder

By age 30 (1972) I added
1... Charley McCoy (T.V.s Hee Haw)
2... Richard Hayman
3... Toots Thielemans (kids watched Sesame St.)
4... Jr. Wells

By age 40 (1982) I added
?
By age 50 (1992) I added
Most of the people we talk about today.

What's my point? Well, I think I am like most people in that I hadn't  
heard about most harmonica players till I was already too old to  
care. I think the general public wouldn't be able to name a half  
dozen players if they tried, BUT names like Dylan, Lewis, Popper,  
Young, and like that WILL occasionally pop up.

As for naming a harp after a particular player. I (personally) think  
it's silly. What the manufacturers SHOULD have done (all along) was  
to make a 'Premium' models. That way, there would be a market for  
them. You could say "I just bought a Suzuki model #3  
Excelsior...ain't she a beauty?"

smo-joe


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