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

[Matthew Smart <matthewsmart@xxxxxxxxx>]

Ben is a great customizer and we are pleased to be his provider of Corian combs! 

Ben where is my beta harp? Ha ha kidding.

Matthew

Www.hetrickharmonica.com

Sent from my iPhone

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
>