[Harp-L] Re: Was Majic Dick - Horn sound

"Splash!" <celtiac@xxxxxxxxx> · Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:17:03 -0500

I have been told I have a horn sound.  I just thought that was because for a 
number of years I did play a horn.  My advice... (not entirely 
tongue-in-cheek)  is to get a horn and play the horn for a while.  Then the 
whole attitude will follow you as a harp player.  It's not just the tone, 
it's the playing of the harp like a horn.
Tone?      You will have to find your own sweet spot in your emboucher, oral 
cavity & chest resonance.  And when you do, you will get the fabled "Tone." 
It will probably happen by accident one day and then you will go, "Wow. 
Where did that come from?"
To the Woodshed!
Oh, IIRC Adam Gussow does one of his very early Youtube lesson on it.  Go to 
Youtube and search kudzurunner for his blues harmonica lessons.
Splash!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Grant Walters" <grant@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 11:30 AM

Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Help with Majic Dick

First of all..In my opinion, Michael knows what he is talking about
and he usually does from my observations here and at his website.
However, I would note the link here to at least try to break down the 
Whammer Jammer

solo we all have heard...it is an interview with the man himself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKsd2Nc14UU

I met him at one of David Barrett's workshops (one of the first0

in San Jose...Majic Dick was very cool...I mean is very cool. ..Love the 
horn like sound.

I attended a handful of J. Geils gigs in the good old days...

You know, I cannot recall another harmonica player who inspired the young

women in the crowd to whip their tops off......(did butterfield?)
But I digress from the important stuff...
Went to see Mark Ford around the same time.
Saw the impact on the dance floor....that sound.
figured it was the amplification unit.
Went out and bought a Lab Series amp......
yes ...he was playing through a lab series...what the...
I had to look everywhere to find one...(actually got two)
Got the same shure bullet...
tried every setting under the sun...
could not get the sound that he had...
not even close...not even if I bought the same harps.....
I was stuck with a lab series amp and tone envy.
It is not the amp.....
I do like the fast punchy blow notes Majic gets. (in fast repetition)
As a trumpet player, I here him using a horn tonguing technique.
if whammer Jammer is your thing..."Cotton Creeper" is a great tune by James 
Cotton...

That guy uses the whole diaphram...
For true Majic Dick...I love the intro to " Where did our love go".  That is 
a horn.
His comp work in the background on "Gonna find me a new love" says is all.

Too bad the j. Geils band greatest hits collections don't feature their best 
stuff..( love stinks...?..well...you know.)

In his early recordings, I am sure he has a tear in the speaker...just 
enough to be tough....tore up.
He also does some nasty First position work...Nothing fancy..just nasty.
Blow your face out
Grant Walters

It is an
On Mar 26, 2010, at 8:24 AM, michael rubin wrote:
Todd,
As much as we would all love to say buy the Magic Dick amp harp,
microphone and pedals combination and you will sound just like him,
that is not accurate.
Magic Dick gets that horn sound without any amplification.  It has to
do with how nicely you can get a single note and the bends and how
well you can play a variety of techniques acoustically.  I would start
by spending a lot of time getting a very clean single note and getting
ALL of the bends to a reasonably on pitch place.
Michael Rubin
Michaelrubinharmonica.com
On 3/26/10, Todd Allen <ironhead603@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Any Majic Dick fanatics out there, i'm just starting out on the harp and 
need some info on how to get his sound as far as equipment goes. I know 
the notes will come in time but i cant figure out how to get is Horn 
sound.
thx
Todd
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