Subject: [Harp-L] That Time of Year Again...

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

I've used Blistex for years...am always on the look out for good lip balms  
since I'm a dry player and need the moisture (so drink lots of water 
before,  during and after playing as well)...have tried many different types to 
prevent  my lips from peeling, and I've even played with rubbed-in lip glosses 
on top of  the balms. Tried newly bought 'Bee Balms' at this SPAH - didn't 
find them  any better than my old standby Blistex in the blue tub.  Not once 
has  anything I've used on my lips ended up inside any of my chromatics to 
'gum' up  the innards. Any residue it might leave on the outside of the 
mouthpiece is  easily wiped away with alcohol swabs after playing. 
 
 
FTR I do dismantle my chromatics regularly and have never found any  
evidence of lip balms inside. I play CX-12's and Super 64's. 
 

There are chromatic players who actually use vaseline and other  substances 
on their slides to prevent friction...to my mind any substance  which can 
attract dust and grit INside a chromatic is far more likely to gum up  the 
works than anything applied to your lips, although I haven't tried  the 
product you mention.
 
 
My .02 cents, fwiw.
 
Elizabeth
 
"Message: 10
Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2010 10:12:12 -0500
From: Deb Wind  <debseifriedwind@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] That Time of Year  Again...
To: Harp List <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

Every early spring  and early fall, chapped lips inevitably happen to me....
I won't use  ChapStick or Blistex because I am concerned that those products
would gum-up  my harps (am a student of both chromatic and diatonic).

What is a good  lip balm for harp players, that won't mess up my harps?

I searched online  for "Lip balm for harmonica players" and found a product
called  "ChopSaver".
(see: http://www.chopsaver.com/   and
http://www.chopsaver.com/purchase-online.php  )

Will this  product gum-up the slide mechanism on a chromatic (Hohner 280 and
Suzuki  SCX-64 to be specific) and/or the valves? (Or for that matter a
diatonic?) Or  is this "The Real Deal" for harmonica players with chapped
lips?

Any  advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in  advance,

Deb
EarthDogHarpin


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