[Harp-L] XB-40; Re: Harp-L Digest, Vol 95, Issue 13

"Richard Hammersley" <rhhammersley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> · Mon, 4 Jul 2011 12:56:23 +0000

Thanks for your helpful replies on this thread. It sounds as if nobody has gotten that far with the XB-40's chromaticism  without retuning it. So far, I have been playing mine more as if they were normal Richter harps with more accidentals available. I have started working on some tunes where I need to hit the right bends often to get more of the notes - hence my initial request for inspiration - it seems quite possible to me to accomplish this. It will take a bit of practice but I think less than overblows, also I like the bend sound better and I feel it is more tolerant of  less than perfect pitching - like guitar bends or slide. If I achieve anything worthwhile I'll let y'all know. Richard
Richard Hammersley
Grantshouse
Scottish Borders

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Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2011 02:34:54 
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Harp-L Digest, Vol 95, Issue 13

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Re: Bass Harmonica - advice (michael rubin)
   2. Re: tune the higher notes sharper or lower? - Richard Sleigh
      vs. Pat Missin (The Iceman)
   3. Re: Vacation "Blues" (Peter Madcat Ruth)
   4. When do get started with amplification? (Jacob Fund)
   5. Ron Sorin (charfaron@xxxxxxxxxxx)
   6. Re: When do get started with amplification? (Jacob Fund)
   7. Re: Vacation "Blues" (Robert Paparozzi)
   8. Subject: Re: [Harp-L] XB-40 recordings  (EGS1217@xxxxxxx)
   9. Re: Danny G's Harmonica Party (David M Scudamore)
  10. Re: Subject: Re: [Harp-L] XB-40 recordings (Vern)
  11. Re: best advice for a new comer? (Robert Hale)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 18:31:03 -0500
From: michael rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Re: Bass Harmonica - advice
To: Filip Jers <filip.jers@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx, Maka McMahon <makamcmahon@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID:
	<CACQv+tzSinogxNBXB7Ob8ehKN_2vhV3VSNfauThLqunjWgqOSw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Thanks Vern!

On Sun, Jul 3, 2011 at 4:32 PM, Filip Jers <filip.jers@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi
>
> I have played bass harmonica for 3 years, and played harmonica for harmonica (diatonic) for 10 years.
> The bass harp is a tough beast to master, but its very nice if one does. I am working on it a lot.
>
> I started playing cello when I was 8, then i played bass part in school orchestras and read music on F-clav.
> I also played electric bass for several years, jazz, pop, rock.
>
> I learned all the bass harps things I know, by myself. If you read music its great to check out beginners electric bass books,
> there you learn the fundementals of how to act as a bass musician in different situations. How to use notes and which. There
> are tones of books availeble.
>
> Technical aspect of bass harmonica is pretty complex. Since its only played on blowing, we harmonica players have to get used to that.
> Its good to use a lot of air and to play soft, and use a good microphone when you play live so you dont have to blow so hard. The instruments
> works best with "medium type" of airstream. Always blow some air, like half a second before you plan the note to come. Its a big experience to learn when
> the notes comes out on this instrument. The metronome is a good friend.
>
> Check my myspace, http://www.myspace.com/filipjers, on the song "Rosa Da noite" and in a video in the end of the page I play bass harp.
>
> There is a great bass harmonica player from Finland, called Pasi Leno. He plays in a band called "Sväng".
> Pasi is the best contemporary bass harmonica player I have heard on live gigs and records.
>
> Here is a link to youtube clip where I play some solo bass harmonica on a live gig
>
> http://youtu.be/AMqaIM1VCRI
>
> All the best and good luck
>
> / Filip Jers
>
>
>
> 3 jul 2011 kl. 00.55 skrev michael rubin:
>
>> I have been playing bass harp for around 4 years.  It is conceptually
>> easy, difficult to play well.  I ran a harp band and learned a lot.
>> For the last three months I have joined a band that plays East
>> European music with banjo, flute, accordion, trombone, flute and
>> vocals.  Some of the music is fast and furious.  I joined them during
>> SOuth by Southwest in Austin and therefore had to learn 30 songs in
>> less than a week for around 8 gigs right away.  We have been playing
>> around two shows a week since then.  I can say for sure that trial by
>> fire has been the best method for learning and my playing has improved
>> more in three months than in all four years prior to that.
>>
>> For amplification I use Richard Smith's Harmonix pickup which took
>> lots of tweaking to work well.  Since Richard lives in England, it was
>> hard to find machinists in Austin to take on the job of really making
>> it work, plus the original item was expensive and you have to live
>> without your harp for months while he implants the picks into your
>> harp.  If I had two thousand dollars lying around I would buy a Suzuki
>> Bass and pickup, both semen great.
>>
>> I teach bass harp by Skype.  Although I am not one of the world's best
>> bass players, I am an experienced teacher who understands what the of
>> a bass player.
>>
>> Contact me off list if you are interested.
>> Michael Rubin
>> Michaelrubinharmonica.com
>>
>> On Friday, July 1, 2011, Maka McMahon <makamcmahon@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> &gt; Blunt,
>> &gt;
>> &gt; There's not much around for the Bass harp.  The Smith's book is
>> the easiest to get hold of - one of the specialist music stores still
>> sells it (Google should find which one - my memory is not helping
>> today).
>> &gt;
>> &gt; I went cheap to start with as I wasn't sure how useful the Bass
>> would be. I've got a Swan  - two rows, two octaves in C.  It is of
>> course all blow and takes a lot of air to shift those long reeds at
>> the low end.  Not much cutting power, so you need to be amplified in
>> anything but the smallest, quietest of rooms, and you have to use a
>> mic on a stand.  The layout is pretty easy to get the hang of - like a
>> piano keyboard with the white keys on the bottom row and the black
>> (plus fillers) on the top row.
>> &gt;
>> &gt; The Swan is not the sturdiest of Basses (its OK), but it is
>> significantly less expensive than the Hohners or Suzukis and does a
>> reasonable job (or a very good job on a 'bangs for the buck' basis).
>> &gt;
>> &gt; But there is another option......
>> &gt;
>> &gt; The Digitech RP series of effects pedals have a great two octave
>> step down and that lets you play bass lines with a normal diatonic.  A
>> new RP355 and Richard Hunter's patch set for harmonica will cost less
>> than a Hohner Bass and open a whole new world of harp effects.  I've
>> got a slightly older RP350, but it makes some great bass noises.  I
>> use 4 x 8&quot; bass quad boxes as the speaker(s) for my PAs, so
>> either the mono (35w) or stereo (200w/side) PAs make bass (and harp)
>> via the RP sound good.
>> &gt;
>> &gt; Not sure if the Harmonicats would freak at the thought of 'bass
>> by effects' (George Miklas may be reading this!) and it certainly
>> lacks the visual impact of a Bass harp, but the RP355 would be my
>> recommendation, if only because making a diatonic into a bass is one
>> of the myriad of clever things it can do.
>> &gt;
>> &gt; Richard Hunter knows much more about this than me and I'd
>> recommend seeking him out if you're interested in the RP option
>> &gt;
>> &gt; Cheers
>> &gt; Maka
>> &gt;
>> &gt;
>> &gt;
>>
>
> Filip Jers
>
>
> www.filipjers.com
>
> phone: 0046 768 08 25 50
> filip.jers@xxxxxxxxx
>
> www.myspace.com/filipjers
>
>
>
>

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 19:45:54 -0400 (EDT)
From: The Iceman <icemanle@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] tune the higher notes sharper or lower? -
	Richard Sleigh	vs. Pat Missin
To: robertpcoble@xxxxxxxxxxx, harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <8CE07F27B9B125A-EF4-34729@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

human ear can not determine a difference in tones until they are at least 3 cents apart. this is based on info I learned as a piano tuner and based on laboratory type testing.

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Coble <robertpcoble@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sun, Jul 3, 2011 8:50 am
Subject: [Harp-L] tune the higher notes sharper or lower? - Richard Sleigh vs. Pat Missin

Search the Harp-L archives for "stretch", "octave" "tuning." There has been a 
discussion in the past about
the reason for "stretching" octaves for a harmonica, based on piano tuning.

I'm personally not too sure if I can distinguish a "stretched" octave from one 
tuned dead on; 2 cents is
a small amount to MY ears.

Regards,
Crazy Bob

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 20:54:57 -0400
From: Peter Madcat Ruth <madcat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Vacation "Blues"
To: bassharp <bassharp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <80455476-DDF2-4120-B36D-ACA5B39D474C@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset=us-ascii

Dear Danny

Enjoy your vacation!

No apologies necessary. 

Peace & Joy,
Peter Madcat Ruth

On Jul 3, 2011, at 4:50 PM, bassharp <bassharp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> To all my friends at Harp-L:
> 
> I am currently on vacation with family until mid-July, so am unable to
> maintain/update the Harpers' Giglist, for which I apologize. I expect to
> return home by mid-month July, and intend to maintain the giglist up
> dates from that time on.  I look forward to getting my listings updated,
> so please continue sending your updates to me.
> 
> Best regards to all,
> Danny Wilson

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2011 10:08:57 +0900
From: Jacob Fund <jeikuman@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] When do get started with amplification?
To: harp-l harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID:
	<CAHYSSLU8GFa2=J5nYhXnj9Od4h4fp0iyEJHhrmk8MwutOXo=Lg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I have been playing harmonica for about a year now, I have been doing a
little bit of research of mics and amps and I am really interested in
getting an amplified Chicago bluesy kind of sound. But I also believe it
might be too early to start doing that as I am sure my acoustic sound still
needs improvement. How far were you in your harmonica adventure before your
harmonica sound was devirginized with amplification? Was it a sudden
epiphany of readiness? "Now is the time to amplify." permission from a wise
harmonica sensei? "You are ready, young harpling." or a simple curiosity?
"That sounds purty" or some sort of mixture of reasons? "gonna do this."
What are some important techniques I should need before diving into
amplification?  Much appreciated.

Sorry for the silliness, no one is talking to me at work.

~Jake

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2011 01:11:11 +0000 (UTC)
From: charfaron@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] Ron Sorin
To: harpl  <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID:
	<667453617.152417.1309741871756.JavaMail.root@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

Great news , thanks Mick. Some real classy playing from Ron , along with primo Chicago blues musicianship from Billy Flynn , Bob Stroeger, Ken Saydak, et al can be found on an album recorded live from Switzerland called Bob Stroger and His Chicago Blues Legends. Also his more "recent " work with Ken Saydak is well worth tracking down. Some great non-cliched playing. 

------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2011 10:11:20 +0900
From: Jacob Fund <jeikuman@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: When do get started with amplification?
To: harp-l harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID:
	<CAHYSSLWq1iV6H6-YCP7PjjYtYV8yqZMs0kFVgZPmqsg5uwsJbw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

sorry, you can read the title asWhen should I get started with
amplification?

if that helps to clear things up for you

On Mon, Jul 4, 2011 at 10:08 AM, Jacob Fund <jeikuman@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I have been playing harmonica for about a year now, I have been doing a
> little bit of research of mics and amps and I am really interested in
> getting an amplified Chicago bluesy kind of sound. But I also believe it
> might be too early to start doing that as I am sure my acoustic sound still
> needs improvement. How far were you in your harmonica adventure before your
> harmonica sound was devirginized with amplification? Was it a sudden
> epiphany of readiness? "Now is the time to amplify." permission from a wise
> harmonica sensei? "You are ready, young harpling." or a simple curiosity?
> "That sounds purty" or some sort of mixture of reasons? "gonna do this."
> What are some important techniques I should need before diving into
> amplification?  Much appreciated.
>
> Sorry for the silliness, no one is talking to me at work.
>
> ~Jake
>

------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Sun, 03 Jul 2011 21:12:21 -0400
From: Robert Paparozzi <chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Vacation "Blues"
To: Peter Madcat Ruth <madcat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,	Danny Wilson
	<bassharp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <CA368BB5.BCB4%chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="US-ASCII"

Yes Danny you deserve it, enjoy.... chill Mr. Wilson,-) We Love all you
do....
Rob Paparozzi

On 7/3/11 8:54 PM, "Peter Madcat Ruth" <madcat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> 
>> To all my friends at Harp-L:
>> 
>> I am currently on vacation with family until mid-July, so am unable to
>> maintain/update the Harpers' Giglist, for which I apologize. I expect to
>> return home by mid-month July, and intend to maintain the giglist up
>> dates from that time on.  I look forward to getting my listings updated,
>> so please continue sending your updates to me.
>> 
>> Best regards to all,
>> Danny Wilson

------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 22:13:56 -0400 (EDT)
From: EGS1217@xxxxxxx
Subject: Subject: Re: [Harp-L] XB-40 recordings 
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <3840f.4439bd80.3b427be4@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Rick:

I'm not so sure I agree about the XB-40 being a major disappointment for  
Hohner, since I have seen so many of them being played at, shown  around by, 
or in players' harp cases at various  conventions...those players, though 
(for the most part) just weren't people who  post on harmonica lists or make a 
huge distinction between their xb-40's and  other diatonics. They just may 
not look at them as something all that  differently, since other diatonics 
have come along which have nearly caught up  in price?

To Winslow - how about Marv Munroe who plays two (in a specially  rigged 
rack) routinely, while he accompanies primarily chromatic players on his  
guitar at every convention? I'm assuming C, C# but that might not be the case at 
 all? I might have once asked him what keys he plays but don't now  
remember.

I'm now quite curious about just how many have been sold  since their 
inception. Distinctly remember Winslow demonstrating his  at a Filisko table at 
one of my first SPAH's (it sounded great)....

I like Jazmaan's playing on his vids of the xb. I've heard them before but  
not sure I realized that's the instrument he was playing. Very cool.

Your discussion has quite intrigued me - again. Just might pick one up. It  
might prove to be 'the' diatonic for this chromatic player, after all.

Elizabeth

"Message: 12
Date: Sun, 03 Jul 2011 12:20:40 +1000
From: "Rick  Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] XB-40  recordings
To: <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc:  harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID:  <4E105E980200006600085A8E@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type:  text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

I think the failure of players to take up  the chromatic potential of the 
XB must be a big disappointment for Hohner.
I  have used the XB for it's richness, and applied it's bending potential 
mainly in  conventional diatonic and pentatonic scales.
So I'm getting the same notes in  all octaves.
The first step away from conventional single reed harp comes  where you can 
get the major third of the V chord in the middle octave, ie the  note 
sought by people who sharpen draw 5.
Then the Bb (talking C harp here)  at the hole 7 blow bend, instead of 
overblowing 6.
Then probably the Eb notes  in the first two octaves....etc. etc.
I really think the XB is a wonderful  instrument,and that we, as players 
who depend on the manufacturers of  this
post industrial age instrument, should make a little more effort with  it.
We all seem keen enough to struggle on with overblowing, half-valving,  
re-tuning, custom harps etc. etc.
The XB deserves at least as much  attention.

RD

>>> Winslow Yerxa  <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx> 03/07/11 7:57 AM >>>
No-one seems to  have taken up the XB-40 for its chromatic potential. 
Perhaps 
it's because  pitch control is difficult for reeds with a wide bending 
range. I 
know that  David Fairweather (aka jazmaan) was experimenting with tunings 
that  
restricted all bends to a semitone in order to make pitch control easier,  
but I 
don't recall that he reported any positive  results.

Winslow

Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies  ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
Harmonica instructor, The Jazzschool for Music Study  and Performance
Resident expert, bluesharmonica.com
Columnist,  harmonicasessions.com

________________________________
From: Richard  Hammersley <rhhammersley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent:  Fri, July 1, 2011 9:26:15 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] XB-40 recordings

Can  anyone recommend any recordings of anyone using the XB-40 to its full  
chromatic potential? Winslow Yerxa has done some good stuff, but otherwise 
I  
can't really find anything - or maybe I am not hearing and recognising the  
XB's 
use.

Thanks
Richard
Richard  Hammersley
Grantshouse
Scottish  Borders

------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 21:08:55 -0700 (PDT)
From: David M Scudamore <aroundtoithandyman@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Danny G's Harmonica Party
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID:
	<1309752535.39909.YahooMailClassic@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Dream bigger Smo-Joe, add the landing strip.

Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 17:34:46 -0400
From: Joe Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Danny G's Harmonica Party

Everyone in Fla is too old. And I don't know anyone who has a large enough piece of property. Danny's is a campground. My dream was always to have a combination campground/marina/motel/general store/music hall. At which there would be continual entertainment all year. A veritable 'Smo-Joe-World'.  loll  
smo-joe

------------------------------

Message: 10
Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 22:07:44 -0700
From: Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Subject: Re: [Harp-L] XB-40 recordings
To: EGS1217@xxxxxxx
Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <75035B2D-6DD4-40AE-B066-B9EBBAFDBC08@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I seem to remember Marv telling me that his XB-40s are in F and F#.  He plays them cross-harp with many hall musicians who play their chromatics in C.  I think that his guitar is a Baby Taylor.

What a musician he is! He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the chords that accompany almost any song that you can play.  He plays the fast part of  Wm Tell Overture.

Ver

On Jul 3, 2011, at 7:13 PM, EGS1217@xxxxxxx wrote:

> 
> To Winslow - how about Marv Munroe who plays two (in a specially  rigged 
> rack) routinely, while he accompanies primarily chromatic players on his  
> guitar at every convention? I'm assuming C, C# but that might not be the case at 
> all? I might have once asked him what keys he plays but don't now  
> remember.
> 
> Elizabeth
> 

------------------------------

Message: 11
Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 23:59:12 -0700
From: Robert Hale <robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] best advice for a new comer?
To: joe hagins <joe_hagins@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Harp L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID:
	<CAMLFfH5=jFdBhpdafOyFO=Duv7C9sV-sVjmnndvgzGCduyon5w@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On Sun, Jul 3, 2011 at 4:17 PM, joe hagins <joe_hagins@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I use a custom wood comb with LO plate and Hohner MS Blues covers

Welcome Joe!
How did you arrive at the combination described? (comb, plates, and covers)

Stay well
Play well

Robert Hale is the DUKE of WAIL
Distance Learning via Webcam
http://www.youtube.com/
<http://www.youtube.com/dukeofwail>dukeofwail<http://www.youtube.com/dukeofwail>
Gilbert AZ (Phoenix)

End of Harp-L Digest, Vol 95, Issue 13
**************************************