[Harp-L] Re:Combs

[JON KIP <jonkip@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

seems to me, a chromatic player and a diatonic-owner, that what really matters is response. Nothing else comes close in the chain of "what makes playing easier".

Tone?... that's usually dial-able with whatever electronics you use.

But response is king.

So worrying about the instrument effecting the Tone is secondary.

Once the response is optimized for you  on your instrument, the rest is You, your body, and, of course, your ears that your parents produced in that (in my case), intimate overnight train ride in London during WW2.

At some point, expending effort on discussing materials is just Practice Avoidance.

Or, just "interesting shop talk", which is not bad, certainly. no harm there.

I spent a few days twice with Chris M. In Mesa, where my daughter was doing a show, and more than once, he mentioned his amazement at the things that players put importance on... the "look" of the instrument, the comb material....and he laughed and showed me his instruments ("Here's the piece of crap comb I use")...and he did get pretty good results. Made a pretty fair living making combs that, to his way of thinking, "made little or no difference" to the playing.
His thing was response. Made me a tool to emboss, showed me how to use it, did a few of my Golden Melody Machines and we had a fine time. Two days and it cost me a sushi dinner for four.. Good Price.... no worms, an unexpected side benefit.

Response. Once there's optimum response, the rest is up to you.

the phrase "that's a really good sounding harmonica you're playing" is on the Top of my List of kind, but silly statements from listeners.

GIve me a responsive three-octave chromatic and, within ten minutes, fortunately or unfortunately, I'll be sounding like Me.
It might be the same in the Diatonic World.

There's probably a connection between comb material and response, though.... but tone? 

jk