re: [Harp-L] XB-40

[burket@xxxxxxx]

 I like the XB 40 and have several of them.  

I have to thank Winslow Yerxa for inspiration and playing some tunes on the XB for me showing what it is capable of.

For live playing in traditional sessions, its super loud,  which is one if it's appeals.  I frequently use it racked while playing guitar for octave backing, chords, and bendable melodies to keep up with fiddles, accordions, drums, flutes, and other un amplified session instruments.  My regular 10 hole diatonics  get swallowed by the music and bar crowd walla without any mics for help.  It also can kick pretty well on blues and more up tempo songs.

The tone has taken me some time to get used to, and I try to approach it more like a chromatic and be aware of how hard I'm playing in order not to bend un intentionally.  

I agree with David that the ET tuning sounds a bit sour for chords, but retuning would be an option.
I also tend to think of it as a hybrid instrument, almost like a loud accorda-horn.  

I realize its not everybody's cup of tea, but I'm going to continue working with it and hope to tame it some day.   I am disappointed Hohner will be discontinuing the line.

If anyone has a lightly played XB 40 Key of low "D" or "A" they might be interested in selling or trading for, feel free to contact me off list.  

Thanks
Burke T. 


 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

End of Harp-L Digest, Vol 105, Issue 31