Re: [Harp-L] Re: Review of the Beta-Harp

["mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Nice write up Sam

Mike Wilbur


On Oct 19, 2012, at 7:26 AM, "Sam Jones" <samjones@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Custom Beta-harp upgrade review
> 
> 
> 
> I'd like to share my Beta-harp experience, as I've been playing them almost
> exclusively for nearly 4 years. I'd consider myself an upper-intermediate
> player who practises a lot and still has a way to go.
> 
> 
> 
> In 2008 I ordered my first two Beta-harps to try them out. In comparison to
> the various harp models I'd played before (including some other custom
> harps) I found that the tuning and playability of the Beta-harps was better
> than any harp I'd played before - what really impressed me was how perfectly
> the chords and octaves were tuned. I had the X-treme models, and all
> overblows and overdraws were available. In 2009 I bought five more
> Beta-harps and I played those 7 harps constantly for the next 3-4 years.
> 
> 
> 
> In 2012 I ordered a new Beta-harp, and when it arrived I noticed that it was
> even better (louder and more responsive) than my original 7 harps when they
> were new. Over the years Ben had raised the bar again by developing new ways
> to set up the harp and using new tools. So I asked him to give my original 7
> harps a checking over and bring them up to his latest standards, which he
> did at no charge and they came back sounding better than ever!
> 
> 
> 
> I have had less than a handful of reeds go flat over three years (I play my
> harps constantly / daily), all repairs and retunings have been carried out
> well within Ben's 3 week turnaround target, and all at no cost, even if I
> blow a reed flat over 3 years after buying the harp. All questions and
> queries over the years have been answered fully and promptly.
> 
> 
> 
> I find the value for money of Beta-harps excellent - when you buy one you
> have a top-quality instrument for life, with retunings, repairs and the
> benefit of future innovations all at no extra cost for years afterwards, so
> although the initial cost was higher than I would have paid for other harps,
> when I look back at how much money I've spent on harps over the last 4 years
> I'm sure it's a lot less than many players who have to replace their harps
> or have them repaired at their own expense.
> 
> 
> 
> A few weeks ago I ordered a pair of the new beta-Harp cover plates and a
> corian comb just to try them out. I found the cover plates to be a little
> "slidier" than the original Seydel cover plates, and as every increase in
> "slidiness" helps I now have them on all my harps.
> 
> 
> 
> The real surprise for me was the effect of the 5mm corian comb. First I
> tried it on my low D harp, which became noticeably more responsive and
> needed less air to play. I found the new comb made some Irish Em tunes
> possible for me on the Low D that I had previously only been able to play on
> my normal D, because for the faster tunes the low D used to need too much
> air and the reeds took too long to respond.
> 
> 
> 
> I then switched the new comb and cover plates to my normal D harp, and found
> that the combination of increased slidiness and more importantly needing
> less air made a big difference when playing eg a fast jig 3x round for 2
> minutes without many chances of a break to breathe, and decided it was
> really worth upgrading all my harps to the new combs. When I play the same
> tunes I've been playing for over a year on my upgraded harp I really notice
> the difference, for example I can now play Swallowtail jig 5x round and
> still be quite relaxed and have enough air for a big wailing finish, whereas
> before I was fairly breathless after 3x round.
> 
> 
> 
> I've also found that the blues sounds better with the corian combs. The
> notes sound clearer and brighter, so for example I now find it easier to
> imitate the sound of a John Lee Williamson turnaround where he plays 1-hole
> draw brightly, but my harps haven't lost the ability to get a big fat tone
> (holding a full 2-hole draw bend sounds at least as good as it did before,
> except that I don't fill up with so much air and is a little clearer). In my
> very subjective opinion I suspect that the corian comb will make it easier
> for a Seydel 1847 to imitate the tone of some of the old masters (sonny
> Terry, John Lee Williamson) who sometimes played brightly on their Hohners,
> if that's what you want to do.
> 
> 
> 
> At band practise other band members have noticed the difference the corian
> combs make and without me soliciting comments have said that my notes sound
> clearer and my playing generally sounds better. So I am happy to thoroughly
> recommend Ben's Beta-harps to any level of player, over the last 4 years I
> have always found the quality of his harps and his service to be
> outstanding.
> 
> 
> 
> Sam Jones
>