Re: [Harp-L] XB-40

[Rick Dempster <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thank you for that post, Zombor. 
         I would hate to see the XB go out of production. I own two Cs (one needs an overhaul)
a G, D, A, an F and an Ab, and intend to purchase more. I use them probably more than the conventional harps, at least when I am playing publicly. 
        The harp world is pretty conservative; maybe that's a bit unfair, but the market for the instrument is aimed at the broader spectrum, not just people serious about the instrument, or music generally.
        Most of the people who have come and gone on harp-l over the last couple of decades just want to blow some blues, and want 'that' sound, which might mean anything from Little Walter to Magic Dick etc etc. but they want the 'blues harp' thing.
         Putting an experimental harp into commercial production is a brave venture, and I'm disappointed more people haven't given the XB more of a go. As you say, Zombor, you have to "make your own ideas on it" and this means thinking about how the sound of the XB might contribute to the music in its own way; maybe you have to imagine it sounding like another instrument, in the same way that some people might envisage other types of harps as a clarinet, a trumpet, a fiddle or a Hammond organ. 
         Personally, I see the XB as somewhere between an accordion, a Hammond, some kind of horn (though I'm not sure what - it's just that you can't really bend pitches on an accordion or Hammond) or maybe some aspects of the fiddle. I use it both through an amp and through the PA. I particularly like it in the latter instance, as it has a much fatter sound than a standard harp, and I can get a clean 'acoustic' (that is, through the PA) sound that is still loud, big and fat, with no distortion.
         I have used the XB on tunes like Doug Sahm's 'Who were you thinking of?" and "Is anybody going to San Antone?" where the Tex-Mex accordion thing is wide open, especially when there's no accordion in the band. Being able to get, in 2nd position on a C harp, the major 7th (or F#) in the middle octave (hole 6) effortlessly (once you learn how to get it and hold it -YOU GOTTA WORK AT IT!) and smoothly, with a natural flow you could never get with an overblow (yes, I do overblows) and it's a rich, DOUBLE REED fat sound on a note that is the most cantankerous of all the OBs (not counting ODs)
          Oh yeah, and it sounds 'ethnic'or rootsy, in a way that the chromatic will not.
          Then there's the wonderful 7 hole blow bend that gives you the Bb (on a C harp) that would require an OB on hole 6 (which I do all the time on conventional harps too, by the way) I could go on and on.
          What about all the note repeats you can get? From memory, there's only a couple of notes that can't be got in 2 places (A on a C harp is one of 'em) often on different breaths. 
          Even if you play only 2nd or 1st, the XB is an incredible harp. If a quarter of the effort was put into it that has been putbinto OBs, we would be hearing some amazing things.
          Oh yeah....3rd position and 5th, amplified in a blues combo settin sound wild. If Mr.Jacobs were here, I believe he'd be right onto them.
           Sometime I'll get my antiquated arse into gear and post some of mu cruddy efforts on the XB. 
           Come on all you XB supporters...lemme hear ya!
Thanks again Zombor for that very perceptive post.

RD
>>> Zombor Kovacs <zrkovacs@xxxxxxxxx> 19/05/12 7:17 PM >>>
Hi, 

Higher key harps have problems on hole ten, almost impossible to control a bend. But never mind. Buy a Bb or an A next time. People usually get stuck by the sound of it. That it does not sound like a plain 10 hole diatonic. It is not a plain 10 hole diatonic, nobody said it should sound like a normal 10 hole diatonic. This harp is based on a 10 hole chromatic as a design, that also explains the size. You must get used to a few things like size and hole spacing.
Another problem is that people don't want to regard this as another type of instrument, they are sticking to the idea that it is a 10 hole diatonic, they were just unsuccesful making it small enough and sound "good" enough.
Look at it as a different harmonica. It is not a plain 10 hole diatonic, it is not a Marine Band. It has unique abilities and it is up to you what you get out of it. Make your own ideas on it, make new music. Get off the track everybody else is trying to follow. That is what this harp is exactly for. Once you manage to make it yours you get the wings to fly. The point is not to compete with other types. It is you, who makes it sound great and work great. Hohner (or Rick Epping) did everything but supplied music with it. Do it yourself you got the tool! Not that easy? If you wanna expand, you gotta take new roads, get used to it, get control of it. It is not more difficult than a normal diatonic, it is just that you cannot use it in the same way. But it doesn't mean it is not a great harmonica.
And a last thought. Maybe some people will kill me, but I don't like overblowing and I don't think it is the way to go. An XB40 does all those things flawlessly and easy. Overblowing for me - and although it is really an ingenious invention - is a bit like using a teaspoon to dig a hole in the garden. It can be done, but there are much better ways doing it.

good luck!
Zombor





________________________________
 From: Chuck Linville <linvillec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2012 4:04 PM
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