Re: [Harp-L] Harmonicas available today

[shawn chain <spolcyc@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

As a beginner whose tried many harps myself, i'd recommend starting with Ian Chadwick's Harmonica reviews.
This will give you a good idea of some of the qualities of the intruments available.  then you need to buy
a few harps with qualities you like and try them out.  the truth is that variations in manufacture
mean that most harps will need to be modified to be any good and most opinions on harmonicas are based
on experience.  this is good and bad.  most harp players in america love hohner's at least in part
because that's where they started.  hohner harps are the most readily available in the US and most US
players are used to the way they play.  unfortunately, most of this is subjective.  you have to find
out what you like from the options available.  from my own experience, Bushman Delta Frosts and Suzuki
Promasters play the best out of the box, but neither is my favorite harp.  Frankly, i like Hering 
Delta Blues for the hefty weight and wood comb (and the brass covers on the 1923's taste bad), but
i had to regap (gap was way too high for me) and round the corners, then i sealed the comb with beeswax
because while it's sealed on the outside, the inside is open to moisture.  these are just my opinions
and i guarantee you will find a hundred much better players who disagree (opinions are like a**holes after all).
the effect of comb material on sound has been debated for a while, so far tests done show that any variation 
caused by this will not likely be noticeable to a beginner, so look for what you like not what someone else does.
as for the reason for such
variation in out of the box harps from each manufacturer, this happens with most musical instruments.  
even the slightest variation in metal composition and elasticity can change the way
a harp plays and responds, and the way harmonicas are machine gapped in the factory means there's quite
a variation in what comes out.  So if you have time.  practice your gapping now (Winslow Yerxa's harmonica
for dummies has a pretty good chapter on mods for beginners and there's plenty of info on the net.  good luck.

siklopz


Tony thank your for your open and honest view.
If you have the chance and still have that article I would enjoy reading it.

As some one new to the music sound, I have found it very hard to decide 
on what brand/ model I should spend my hard cash on.
Since I am learning I don't want cheap. And I was advised to stay away from custom for now. ( getting the clean notes, and learning the bending, no over blows )
But that still leaves that question on what harp to buy. Trust me I want a custom harp.
In music stores, you can touch and play with many instruments.  Most of the sales guys can give you some pointers.
But when it comes to a harmonicas your S.O.L.  Because of health reasons they will let you use an blow box and the very limited supply they have.... and the sales person has no idea about the harps....
One guy wanted to sell me a set of Piedmont Blues (in all 12 keys) for about $114.00..and ot came with a case. I don't know anything about That brand except from what I've been reading lately on this post.

I also cant understand the difference of strong opinion on different brands and model in these brands.
One brand (model) out of the box cant be a piece of Crap to one group and great to another.

I almost wish there was a Consumer Reports on Harps.  
So how about it all members on Harp L, how about giving it a chance and be clean honest factual accounts on Brands and models even customizing......

I'm sure the guys that do the customizing can tell what Brands and Models are good... You can even change your name so the innocent wont be harmed.....

The other day I open up my many harps to clean and I wrote down each Brand / model, and wrote how many screw they had.  Now I'm thinking the more screws a reed plate had the better.  That's as far as I can go. 
I'm sure just like anything else the material and how its put together show the quality of the harp...

The tuning is another thing that is out of my league. I watch some You Tube that was mention on this site.  And opening Cleaning, I got. embrossing, plucking,filing, I understand, tuning I'm lost once again S.O.L for a beginner when we buy harps if their out of tune.  But I'm sure this is something that can be learned thru VIDS.

So, finally I'm asking Harp L the members to help us un fortunate beginners out there who are reading this site but are afraid to ask questions and get confused.

1) what Brands and Model do you like and why ?
2) What to look for in a Brand and Model ?
3) what keys should I get, in what order ?
4) When ordering from an on line site, what kind of warranty should we look for?
5) Combs: wood,plastic,marble,gold,silver,paper,leather,bone,skin, how do they change the sound or do they ?
6) Reeds: Brass,steel,aluminum,plastic, paper, how does the material change the sound ?
7) Screws on reeds: the more the better and if so why?
8) Reed cover: Nails that look like screws  making one  a fool trying to unscrew them, screws I have seen 2 or     
9) Cover Plate: Material will this make a difference ?

You can help out by answering or not , and adding to the list or not... I do plead with you that if you are incline to make fun or put down this list leave it alone and add to the bottom.    

 I'm sure I will get good answers and I know I will get rude answers bring it on I'm use to some of you.


	  
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