[Harp-L] Re: Hohner Price Increase

[fjm <bad_hat@xxxxxxxx>]

On 1/22/10 5:17 AM, John F. Potts wrote:
> As i understand it, the entire harmonica customization trade originally
> developed from the need to make MBs more playable.


One way of looking at it.  I believe Joe Filisko started out making Lee 
Oskar customs.  I tend to think that the reason the Hohner handmade 
plates are the platform for many customised harmonicas is that they have 
a lot to offer and not in terms of deficits.  Kind of the same reason so 
many people use 350 Chevy engines for hot rods.  I have a tweaked 
Seydel.  It's not the same as a hand made plate.  In general the pattern 
is if the reed profiles etc resemble the MB plates then I am happy with 
the results of a customisation of the plate.  I have several MB knockoff 
customs that I adore.  There is a certain style of playing that is 
facilitated by the MB plates.

You can look at it at least 2 ways.  Virtually all customs are based on 
a Marine Band plate because the stock product has so many deficits or 
you could think that the other brands just don't end up in the same 
place once they are customised.  And by the way I have no love for 
Hohner.  fjm