Re: [Harp-L] More Hohner News!

[MundHarp@xxxxxxx]

I USE HOHNER HARMONICAS.. Mostly.
All my working kit of diatonics are Hohner... Why? because they suite my  
style of playing...
BUT I CAN NEVER FORGIVE HOHNER...
For refusing to sell me their harmonicas wholesale.... 40 odd years ago. 
I used to buy 12 hole Marine Bands... Called "Echo Vamper" With Bell Metal  
Reeds back in the early '60's Over here in England..
I BOUGHT THEM BY THE CASE!
I bought more than ANY local music shop! I WAS A PRO MUSICIAN!
I bought 12 in every key...  On a monthly basis... I was playing every  
night and... Back then I'd "blow out" 2 or 3 harps every night... I used to  
chuck them away... The "pear wood" combs were RUBBISH.
Hohner then REFUSED to sell them to me wholesale.... How STUPID was  that! 
They said "Buy them in future from your local  music shop... After  all 
there are no other harmonicas available in England.".. BACK IN 1964
That put my career back for YEARS... It stopped me acquiring the musical  
instruments that I NEEDED! To be a successful musician.
How can I ever forgive them?
EXCEPT
They still build (probably) the best NON CUSTOM harmonicas that I have  
tried.
I have NEVER been a Honher endorsee...
I used to be an ILUS endorsee for Renaissance chromatics. For Doug Tate...  
The best chrom player I ever heard!
WHY?
Because the "Renny" is the greatest harp that have EVER played.  Including 
Yamaha's "Larry Adler Special"... " The Hohner Silver Concerto"... Or  Tony 
Dannekers custom "Genevieve"... I have played them all.
If you have six Grand... Buy a Renny!
Your playing is likely to reach the NEXT LEVEL.
OK
I also use Hohner diatonics and 270 chroms...
DESPITE Hohners "stupidity" !
I use them because they suite my style of playing.
John "Whiteboy" Walden
London
England