Re: [Harp-L] Harp Soaking

[Arthur Jennings <timeistight@xxxxxxxxx>]

Harmonicology is a young science. I remember when people believed that reeds
actually bent like guitar strings and that thinner reeds (like thinner
strings) would therefore bend more easily.

Also: it seems to me the whole codification of harmonica positions didn't
happen until the late sixties. Prior to that, most people spoke of straight
harp and cross harp.

On Thu, Jan 28, 2010 at 9:00 AM, Bill <bill.eborn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Something I've often wondered about is whether people were customising
> harps before Joe Filisko et al - I really can't believe they weren't to be
> honest, just like I can't believe that Blues Birdhead was the only person
> overblowing in the pre-war period.
>
> Is ther an unwritten history of harp customisation that we should know
> about?
>
> Bill
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "JohnnieHarp" <johnnieharp@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: "harp-l" <Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 3:23 PM
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Harp Soaking
>
>
>
>  God knows, putting them in fluid MADE THEM WORSE...
>>> Perhaps I simply disliked having my lips ripped to shreds?
>>>
>>
>> Hi John
>>
>> My understanding is that some of our harp forefathers, when faced with
>> what you describe, would trim back the swollen comb so that it would
>> again be flush with the front of the harp. Likely they smoothed sharp
>> edges at the same time. Then they could continue to play with
>> increased comfort.
>>
>> Once the wood dried out, the comb shrunk back inwards and was hard to
>> play unless rehydrated to expand the comb to be flush with the front
>> of the harp. To facilitate this, the harp wold be placed in water for
>> as long as necessary.
>>
>>  From a historical perspective, to me the most interesting aspect of
>>>
>> this relates directly to your experiences:
>>
>> Given that wood combed harps have a propensity to swell and harps with
>> these were around for a long time, how did a poor musician busking on
>> the street for hours with only one harp, deal with a an uncomfortable
>> to play harp, with a swollen comb?
>>
>> Did they usually trim and smooth the sharp edges and swollen tines?
>>
>> Did they play regardless?
>>
>> Did they seal the combs? With what?
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>
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-- 
Arthur Jennings
http://www.timeistight.com