Re: [Harp-L] Customizers

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

Warning! The following may be construed by some to be an unusually  
long plethora of bovine excretia.

On Jun 28, 2009, at 1:07 PM, Jonathan Ross wrote:

> > Anyone can be the best...given the right set of circumstances.
> > smo-joe
>
> I don't think so.

I didn't think you would. But if you look at the wording, you will  
notice that this statement of mine is ver open ended and in reality,  
amounts to nothing tangible being said.
For example: I could say "Nicole Kidman might go out on a date with  
me...IF the right set of circumstances exist". Duuuuuh. Which begs  
the question: WHAT set of circumstances?

>   It takes a fairly small set of natural skills (decent hearing,  
> manual dexterity, decent vision, intelligence) coupled with some  
> personal abilities (attention to detail, a high threshold for  
> repetition, a very strong and self-motivated work ethic) all  
> channeled into decades of effort learning the basics of the craft,  
> the logic, theories and ideas behind how the instruments work.

You are correct..as usual. But I was thinking more of attitude. So,  
in effect, we are talking about apples and pomegranates (Indian  
apples). Let's say (for example) that one customizer is really easy  
going, laid back and, what with coming from a country that has been  
bombed, takes the attitude that "It's not the end of the world".

Ok, then YOU, yourself, are easy going, timid, a masochististic self  
depricating self concious type. So you order something and it comes  
in correctly. But wait. What if it doesn't? Well, THAT customizer  
will work with you until it is right. And it doesn't matter what the  
problem IS. YOUR fault, HIS fault, NO ONE's fault. Doesn't matter.

Now let's say there is another customizer who is moody. One minute he  
can be the nicest guy in the world, and then the next minute, he  
blows his top, and is given to fits of bad temper. He knows what you  
need better than YOU do. While (admittedly) he is the one with the  
expertise, you are the one paying. Hmmm, hard guy to work with.

Case in point. One night I had to go to a club and play with a  
keyboardist who thinks he is Emperor of the freaking North Pole. This  
guy is good. I mean really really good. BUT, he has the personality  
of a pile of dog poop. I knew it was going to be a bad night. And I  
wasn't disappointed.

THIS Thursday I got a call to play with a blues band. Other than  
Jason, I have never played with a blues band. THIS keyboardist was  
interested in playing what 'I' wanted to play. If there was something  
he wasn't sure of, we would go over it. I wound up playing 3 full  
sets, almost every tune, all blues, nothing BUT blues. I wish it had  
been recorded because it may never happen again.

>   It also requires the technical ability as a player to test the  
> instruments to the highest level so that you know what is needed to  
> attain that type of physical performance.  All three I mentioned  
> are top-notch players, which is a big factor in the equation, IMO  
> (for similar reasons, Joe Fillisko, Doug Tate, Blackie Shackner and  
> Cham Ber Huang have also been amongst the finest technicians and  
> customizers).

Right, and Dick Gardner, Jerry Murad, Bill Romel, Mike Easton, and a  
number of others. What I'm saying is attitude is also a big factor.
> Perhaps anyone with the basic physical and mental skills could do  
> all this, but the fact that very few have would seem to indicate  
> the opposite.

I have worked on my own harps since the beginning. It's  a grueling  
drudge. I can do it, but my hands are no longer any good, and I need  
a LOT of magnification. I don't generally do work for anyone  
else...because:
1... If they sound really good, it's because they are so great.
2... If they sound bad, it's because of your lousy harp work.

   In conclusion, I knew when I posted my statement that you would  
disagree with me. But, all things considered, we're not actually  
disagreeing. That's what I love about you. Many times over the last 9  
years, I have considered leaving the list, but you keep dragging me  
back.
TI have been a little down in the dumps lately, You have been quiet  
and I miss getting up at 10 am, turning on the computer and finding  
one of your (logical) posts.

When they're rolling me into the crematorium, the last electric beam  
running through my brain is going to be:

"Man, wasn't that Harp-l a trip.....especially that Jonathan guy".  
p.s. I also miss BBQ Bob, Mike Curtis, and that Barry Bean guy. The  
fireworks coming off you guys was better than T.V.

smokey-joe
> JRu
>
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