Re: [Harp-L] XB-40

[David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Do not forget David Payne's No. 1 rule of harmonicas: Harmonicas are like lovemaking. No matter what unique way you can think of making it, somebody is going to be REALLY into it and somebody is going to think that it's most revolting thing they've ever heard of. If you seriously try to get a consensus on anything about harmonicas, you'll realize what a futile request that is. There can be no consensus on anything. 
The truth is, we all have stuff we like and it's all different. Anybody can approach any instrument and make it their forte. Take the Polyphonia. It, in my opinion, is the most unplayable chromatic ever. Cappy Lafelle, however, elevated the polyphonia to a new level of mastery. take valveless chromatics. I think they are unplayable air hogs. Yet, there are many people who sware by them and will play nothing else. 

On the XB-40, it will be fine if you can control it. I used to have one. I didn't like it. Why? Chords sounded like crap- that's because it wasn't made for chords and it's equal temperment tuning and I never bothered to tune it (I wish I had tried that, though). Most of those notes you get from the extra bending are redundant, you can find those notes elsewhere. My thoughts were hey, I can play a chromatic. I can overblow a diatonic and I want my good chords. I don't need this. I sold it. 

So, it's all going to depend on you. I can't tell you whether a higher key will help you. Everybody has their sweet key for bending - mine is A, but when I was five years old, it was D - this is due to the resonance of your innards, but I think your experience with the one you have will be representative of what you'll be able to do with the XB-40.
Take this one from Igor Flach on the XB-40. He's using the XB40 to play some kind of Middle Eastern stuff with a few of Igor's regular riffs thrown in. In my opinion, this is the kind of thing the XB 40 is most suited for. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKtAja3q590 ;


You can always devote yourself to some special instrument and find new ways of playing it. The mandolin was a weak rhythm instrument until Bill Monroe got hold of it, the banjo was quite limited before Earl Scruggs got hold of it, the diatonic was pretty much non-chromatic before Howard Levy, etc. 

See what you can do with the one you have.  Who knows what will happen next. You might be the Cappy Lafelle of the XB-40 for all we know.

 
David Payne
www.elkriverharmonicas.com


Elk River Harmonicas Forum now available via Iphone app, www.elkriverharmonicas.com/forum


________________________________
 From: Chuck Linville <linvillec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2012 10:04 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] XB-40
 
Howdy gang, I'm new. Been at it for about 3 years, and deciding to try to get serious (oops, there went my life. LOL) I bought an XB-40 from Ebay awhile back 'cuz it was relatively cheap. It's an F# low. I've been playing it for awhile, and I'm just not sure what to think. I will say that although it's interesting to be able to bend every note, I am having trouble controlling it. It's like it's almost TOO easy to bend, at least for me and my ability at this time. So I'm just wondering if there is a general consensus on these instruments. Do you think a "higher" key would be more controllable? Ultimately I am wondering if I should invest the time necessary to get control of this thing. Thanks a bunch for any advice. -chuck