[Harp-L] harp experience

["steve@xxxxxxxxxxxx" <swebb@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Had an interesting experience last night. Two friends of mine were 
playing in a little place close to home, so my wife and I went out to 
eat and listen to them.
A guitar player, certainly one of the top guys in town (he teaches 
guitar at a music store and had his own rock band on the road for years) 
and  his girlfriend, a really good singer. I have played with them 
before a little bit, but my harp playing has been mostly non-existent 
for the past year for various reasons. (I have had a couple of major 
surgeries and some other family stuff to deal with.)
I brought along some harps, because they always have me play a couple 
songs.
When I do this, I use a Harmonica Honker. It's easy to carry, I bring a 
mic cord and it sets up in less than a minute.
Anyway, I played and it went rather well. Good musicians, I have found, 
are much easier to play with.
Afterward, on their next break, the guitar player gave me a nice, 
sincere compliment on my playing on a song called Dream a Little Dream 
(Mommas and Poppas song, maybe?) All improvised and first time I have 
played it.
Later, after I got home, he sent a note on Facebook, again with some 
praise and also telling me that some people were there for whom they are 
going to play a private party in July. "They said to invite the 
harmonica player."
That pretty much made my year.
I have been reading with interest, the threads lately about pedals and 
various ways to play without an amp.
I am not claiming the Honker is the solution to everything, but it sure 
is easy to deal with and if you get the eq set right on the PA system, 
it does a pretty good job. I have recorded with it and I liked the 
result just fine. I have bullet mics and a Blues Jr. I have a Harp 
Commander. I have downsized considerably, but still have too much stuff.
I think we get a little obsessed with all this gear stuff. I doubt the 
average person can tell any real difference, as long as you have some 
kind of natural tone and you don't play off-key.
just my ramblings for the night. I haven't posted in a long time.
Steve in Minn. (where it snowed about an inch at my house yesterday).