Re: [Harp-L] was american chestnut, now steel

["James D Hoskins" <jameshoskinz@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

 Last time this topic was being hashed over on harpL, a young lady friend 
of mine, a non-musician was at my house. I asked her to go sit in the other 
room. I played four different model  280's, three with plastic combs, one 
with a wood comb. Each time I played the one with the wood comb she said 
"that one sounds the best, it sounds little sweeter and has more character". 
I switched back and forth, tried to trick her but she was able to pick out 
the wood combed chromatic each time. The wood combed one is older, been 
played very little, and in great condition, but the other three are in tune 
and play great also. She also did think the other three all sounded the 
same.

So I don't know, was I inspired to play better knowing I was holding  a wood 
combed harmonica? I doubt it, I'm cosistently mediocre. Maybe someone more 
knowledgable will tell me these older ones were better built or had better 
reeds, that could be.  Before reading these discussions on harpL I had 
always believed I could hear a difference, now I'm uncertain.  I find it 
difficult to believe that there wouldn't be an audible difference, when 
every little piece of a guitar makes a difference in how it sounds, even if 
it is a small one.  I do believe that when I'm playing wood comb marine 
bands I hear a difference between them and a special 20, most likely 
coverplates and comb material, I would think. I like them all, but I guess I 
prefer wood because that's mostly what I've played for 43 years.   James