Re: [Harp-L] The Tarnished Blossom, Plastic, and Charlie McCoy

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

What a concept, practice and play the harp your holding....
Pretty funny and I understand what your saying Greg, same conversation applies to Golf Clubs
Revolvers and Skill Saws.....it's called Passion and mans constant effort to improve..

It's all good !

Mike Wilbur


On Oct 31, 2012, at 10:21 AM, Greg Jones <greg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> One of my all time favorite You Tube videos used to be the Orange Blossom
> Special performed live by Charlie McCoy.  I used sit in amazement as I
> would listen to that guy play.  I'm sure I watched that video 200 times.
> Something happened along the way, though.  I heard something.  It was
> barely perceptible at first.  I could hardly make it out.  I slowed it down
> and replayed certain segments probably another 50 times or so.  Still
> unsure, I watched an replayed the video again and again and then right
> there before my eyes I saw and heard it!  It was as obvious as a pregnant
> nun.  Charlie tried to conceal it with advanced cupping techniques and that
> audience engaging smile, but how could anyone be fooled.  That awful sound
> I was hearing was from a plastic comb on a Special 20.
> 
> The tone it was .. well.. fat, but thin, heavy on the high but light on the
> low, just something about it.  The sound was crisp yet edgy, it lacked the
> fullness and boldness of wood.  I think I would describe it as plastic
> overtone.  Actually, worse than that.  Cheap Chinese plastic overtone.  Oh
> sure, he was playing at 1,000 beats per minute with the timing of a click
> track, but that was just the allusion to cover up that tone.   I don't know
> how I missed it in all those times I watched in pure amazement at his
> skill.  I even noticed that as the camera panned the audience, many of them
> heard it, too.  There was none of that clap and stomp usually associated
> with a show-stopping performance of OBS.  No, in fact, in a really awkward
> moment, a wife
> stared at her husband in total disgust.  Who knows what she said, but her
> look said it all.
> 
> Oh, poor Charlie.  If only he has spent less time practicing and more time
> on the forums debating the important stuff. At least he would not be
> standing in total embarrassment on that lonely stage.
> 
> 
> (For the blues players, remove your fedora and sunglasses and relax.  It is
> called a parody)
> -- 
> *Greg Jones*
> *16:23 Custom Harmonicas*
> *(210) 445-6600*
> *http://1623customharmonicas.com/* <http://1623customharmonicas.com/>