Re: [Harp-L] Big River

[Lare Sattler <lmsattler@xxxxxxx>]

I recently bought a low-E big river. I normally play Manji or Olive harp, but they don't offer low-E. At the same time I got a bamboo comb from Hetrick. I noticed a difference in sound from the stock comb, but I have various wood combs in some Manjis, so I decided to get another BR in a key I use a lot. I got an A and tried a dymondwood comb for the first time. Last night we did a minimal rehearsal with no harp amp or PA and I was plugged into an acoustic amp. The tone was MUCH cleaner than I normally play throughand working on one tune, I was using a Manji on and switched to the BR and actually thought it sounded better than the Manji. I never thought that possible as I am very sold on the Manji, but I am going to keep trying the BR for further testing. I firmly believe the Hetrick combs have a great deal with the sound on the BR because I wasn't impressed with the cheesy combs they come with. The A harp was my first dymondwood and I like it a lot,
 thought it does have a taste that may turn some people off, it didn't really bother me. I am about to try another BR and get a Corian comb to see what that's like. I am anxious to see how the BR holds up. My playing style is very hard on harps. I play hard and have no mercy when it comes to bends and I have been really impressed with Manjis, so the BR has tough competition, but even with the price of the Hetrick combs they are still a fair amount cheaper.
Lare Sattler    The Little Chicago Band    Canton Ohio