Re: [Harp-L] Re: The Future of Blues Harmonica?

[Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sep 12, 2012, at 7:52 AM, mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> 
> Wouldn't be surprised that a Dutchman was messing with that idea in his work shop back in the 30's
> Forgetaboutit !
> 
> Mike Wilbur 
> 
I have to agree with you Mike. Sorry folks. :)
Here's a little story to back up what you wrote. I bought a diatonic in a px in Trieste Italy in 1951. Within a week it was run over by a school streetcar. 
End of that story..for now. In 1956 I bought a chromatic in a px in Naples Italy. I practiced very hard for a year and a half and then started playing at a restaurant in the Luna Park in Naples. Shortly thereafter, I got a diatonic again. 

Immediately I found that I needed the 5th draw reed to be raised a half tone. Why? Because there were 3 types of music you could listen to in Italy. #1 was the armed forces station radio out of Heidelberg Ger. Now since the occupation forces that stayed behind were older career soldiers, the music was all 30s and 40s swing. This required the 5th reed to be raised. #2 was Italian music. That definitely needed the raised 5. #3 was music from eastern Europe. That definitely required a raised 5. Sooo, I raised the 5 draw reed. A week later I raised the 9 draw to correspond. Keep in mind that while I accidentaly discovered how to bend, I did NOT do over blows nor draws. 

Upon returning home to Staten Is. I wanted to do doo-wop with our high school group. That definitely required the raised 5..and I eventually put a wind saver on the 5 draw so as to be able to bend the 5 blow DOWN. I did it on my own and knew no other harmonica players. AND I have a feeling I wasn't the first to do this? This is why I have a hard time accepting that something is totally new in the harmonica world. Off hand though I am willing to accept that there are some people who ARE innovators. They have name recognition, are highly respected, and I am willing to take their word for whatever they say..until proven otherwise.  

So here's the deal. 'I' (and I could be way off base here) feel that people have been messing with harmonicas since they were invented. Someone somewhere in a basement could be working on something right now. Just because we're on this list doesn't mean that everyone is. There have been 'show' or 'stage' tunings since the beginning. Harmonicas that have been altered to do specific things. I know for a fact that some players (Don Les comes to mind) would alter a harmonica for ONE tune. And NOWadays we have a virtual plethora of altered tunings. 

smokey-joe