Re: [Harp-L] Re: New 30 Reed Harp from Suzuki: SUB30 UltraBend

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

The XB-40 does have a huge volume advantage (at least compared to Brendan's prototype for the SUB30, which I played 15 years ago).

The volume of the XB - and the fact that it comes in Low D - makes it brilliant for celtic playing and fiddle tunes. Rick Epping (the designer), Steve Shaw, myself, Burke T., James Conway - all Celtic players who really value the XB.

But the XB was always marketed to the folks least likely to accept it, because it's so different from the standard 10-hole, in size, shape, response, and sound. It's a unique beast with its own virtues, but being just like a standard diatonic isn't one of those virtues.

I treasure my XB-40s and hope to keep them running even though Hohner is planning to discontinue them.

But I welcome Brendan's new SUB30; it's a different take on the design that promises to deliver added dual reed bends while coming as close to the standard 10-hole diatonic form as humanly possible.

I woner what PT Gazell would sound like playing the SUB30 . . . 

Winslow
 
Winslow Yerxa
President-elect, SPAH, the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
            Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
            Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance


________________________________
 From: Steve Shaw <moorcot@xxxxxxx>
To: harp-l harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Friday, August 3, 2012 2:06 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] Re:  New 30 Reed Harp from Suzuki: SUB30 UltraBend
 

Apologies, Winslow, for inadvertently sending the message to just you... :-(  Trying again:





For me, playing in Irish sessions, one of the great side-effects of the Hohner XB-40 was its sheer loudness, meaning it could live with the fiddles, mandolins and guitars and cut through. And the fact that it came in low D. I'm guessing that this harp is about as loud as the regular 10-hole Suzukis, which I love but which have me reaching for the Mobile Cube. Anyway, I suppose I'll have to start saving up.