Re: [Harp-L] harp-tech, where to start

[David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Eric, I see  you are in Columbus.  I have heard the Huntington Harmonica Club might do the Harmonicollege event this spring.  It's a weekend of all kinds of harmonica seminars and stuff. Part of that is me spending part of the day working on harmonicas, talking to people about it and answering questions. You could sit all day and watch me, I wouldn't care.

 
David Payne
www.elkriverharmonicas.com
www.hetrickharmonica.com


________________________________
 From: Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 9:02 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] harp-tech, where to start
 
I have your book winslow (an earlier ed.) I'll check to see if it has that
chapter.

I guess what might be helpful is a short list of "important topics".  As a
beginner, we don't really know what tasks are super important, and which
ones are just "icing on the cake".  I don't know if gapping is critical
and/or flat sanding reed plates is trivial (or vice versa), half valving,
reed embossing, etc etc.

Like for guitar players I would say "the main four things  you need to know
to adjust your guitar are
-how to tune it,
-how to adjust the action
- how to adjust the intonation
- and how adjust the truss rod

If you can do those four things, the other stuff is small potatoes.  Don't
worry about dressing frets, graphite saddles, or locking tuners...that
stuff is details compared to those four things.

what are "the big four" (or two or 11) for the harmonica (and what
techniques should be steered clear of due to complexity or lack of real
benefit)


On Tue, Jan 8, 2013 at 8:08 PM, Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:

> My book, Harmonica For Dummies, has a chapter on basic repair and
> customization, geared toward the novice at taking a harmonica apart and
> doing things to it.
>
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Harmonica-For-Dummies-Winslow-Yerxa/dp/047033729X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y
>
> Harp tech Richard Sleigh sells a set of harmonica tools and a book on
> tuning, with some basic advice on gapping:
>
> http://rsleigh.com/turbocharge-your-harmonica/
>
>
>
> Winslow Yerxa
> Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
>             Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
>             Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
> Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
> Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance
>
>
> ________________________________
>  From: Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 12:38 PM
> Subject: [Harp-L] harp-tech, where to start
>
> For someone who wants to educate themselves on the requisite harp tech
> concepts/skills, where is a good place (website/book/etc) to start?
>
> I don't want to become an expert or customizer, right now I'm focusing on
> practicing and developing my playing/repertoire.  That said, I'd  like to
> be able to maintain my own instruments, and tweak them as needed.  For
> example, I can get consistent overblows on the 7 and 8, but the 9 and 10
> are elusive...I'm thinking there's something I can do to make those holes
> bend to my will a bit more.
>
> It's becoming apparent to me with all the jargon (half-valving, ebossing,
> etc.) that gets thrown around in casual harp conversation, that learning
> these things isn't really an option....so I might as well start learnin'.
>