Re: [Harp-L] The Shadowy World of Harmonica Deceit

[Ryan Bannister <ryanmbannister00@xxxxxxxxx>]

Yep....it always leads back to customizers
On Nov 27, 2012 6:08 PM, "Greg Jones" <greg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Read this interesting article below in the
>
> *.............. Ball Street Urinal*
>
>
>
>
>
> *The Harp World and its Dirty Little Secrets*
>
> *It seems blues harpers in the U.S. have started living a little too much
> of their own music lately in what has apparently become the black mark of
> the harmonica world.  A massive $10,000 industry has sprung up in recent
> years with secret email accounts, mail drops, and fake billing. The cause?
> Players concealing harmonica purchases from their wives. *
>
> * *
>
> *The BSU caught up with famous Idaho bluesman Little Big Jake Walter Boy
> Johnny Sonny at his suburban Westerville home.  Now barely recognizable
> without his signature sunglasses and fedora, Walter Boy has been trying to
> mend things with his wife who discovered his habit recently and froze his
> Paypal account.  She started getting suspicious a few months ago when his
> behavior became so erratic she thought he was battling substance abuse or
> maybe even worse.  Walter Boy doesn't know how she figured it all out, but
> when confronted after a gig one night, he confessed to her that he had
> secretly bought fifteen harmonicas in the past year without her approval. *
>
> * *
>
> *On this very disheartening topic, Walter Boy said "It's all handled
> through these guys that call themselves customizers, you know? They're just
> a front.  They don't customize nothin', they help smuggle harps".  Walter
> Boy explained “It works like this, you shoot the guy an email and ask him
> couple questions about his stuff,  maybe drop a few hints about needing to
> come up with the cash and how he ships his stuff, etc.  You're just easing
> into it.  Testing him out, seeing if he's a player.  But he's kind of
> feeling you out, too  seeing if you're real.  You tell him you might need
> to have the harp shipped to you on the road because you're traveling to
> some gigs.  Yeah, right, on the road, ya know"?  *
>
> * *
>
> *Walter Boy said the customizer  usually suggests payment by money order so
> there are no Paypal fees.  “You know, when they say THAT everyone is on
> board " Walter Boy said he  just had his stuff shipped to his office where
> he works as an insurance salesman.  He was living a lie"*
>
> * *
>
> *"Nobody's is really talkin' right now but I think my wife got tipped off
> from our lead guitar player Stevie Ray Lightning Chet Fender Blaster.  That
> guy never really liked me".*
>
> * *
>
> *According to Walter Boy the real losers are the fans down at Stinky’s
> Place.  "He was only charging us $100 to play and we actually had a
> following” *
>
> * *
>
> *Meanwhile, Water Boy said he plans to use his time away from the stage to
> play Monopoly with his grandson and maybe even push his musical limits to
> blues in D or maybe even more radical 3rd position.   *
>
> * *
>
>
>
> --
> *Greg Jones*
> *16:23 Custom Harmonicas*
> *(210) 445-6600*
> *http://1623customharmonicas.com/* <http://1623customharmonicas.com/>
>