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

[Larry Sandy <slyou65@xxxxxxxxx>]

Eric, I sat with David there last spring watching him repair and adjust harmonicas for anyone asking, without remuneration, just gratitude and thanks. I learned a great deal that day. He certainly has a great ear for tuning.  In fact, I have asked him to tune a couple of my favorite units.  I hope Jim Rumbaugh and the Huntington Harmonica Club are successful in hosting another great weekend this spring.

Thanks David,
Lockjaw Larry 

--- On Wed, 1/9/13, David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> From: David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] harp-tech, where to start
> To: "Harp L Harp L" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Wednesday, January 9, 2013, 1:55 PM
> 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'.
> >
>