Re: [Harp-L] best outta the box harp to learn over blows is ?

[Michael Rubin <michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx>]

Lee Oskars are notoriously bad for overblows.

Learn to gap, it will make it much easier.    Take a Special 20 and push
the blow reed and the draw reed close to the rivet, make the gap between
the reed and the plate smaller.  Get the blow and draw reed to have a
slight resistance, as if it doesn't want to play and you have to blow
harder.  Then back up ever so slightly to where there is no resistance.
Then try overblowing.

In my opinion, if you cannot play Jimmy Reed style high note blow bends in
a solo fluidly, you are trying to overblow too early.  Knowing your high
notes bends well will assist your overblow embouchure.
Michael Rubin
Michaelrubinharmonica.com


On Thu, Jun 6, 2013 at 10:24 PM, 46long Blake <46long@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> The thing is, once you learn how to OB, you can even do it on a $3 harp.
> mostly.
>
> So, if you don't want to spend the $200+ for a custom, there are still some
> good choices. You asked for out of the box, after all. I can only speak for
> Hohner, as I haven't played anything from another maker in a decade. For
> $30 or so, a Special 20 is a nice playing harp, and you can usually get OB
> 4,5, and 6 out of the box pretty easily. Double that price, and you get a
> Crossover, which I've become very fond of (thanks, Dave M, wherever you
> are!). Damn close to a custom, that harp.
>
>  - Blake
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 6, 2013 at 11:13 PM, Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx
> >wrote:
>
> > I'm not a very experienced player especially with over blows. I play
> > Brendan's power tunings which eliminate the need for over blows, and I'm
> > very happy with the outcome.
> >
> > In my mind the juicy blues notes that you can hit up top with the power
> > tunings using only draw bends are easier to achieve and sound better than
> > over blows.  They're also sequentially more intuitive than over blows,
> > because they are laid out in sequence instead of having to jump around. I
> > encourage you to investigate this, it's worked out very well for me.
> > Although I'm not a great player, I'd be willing to bet that my draw bends
> > up top are comparable to that of a decent overblow player, simply because
> > the notes are much easier to achieve and play cleaner, so I'm playing at
> a
> > slight advantage.
> >
> > that said, I think most overblow players might recommend the Manji or the
> > crossover for out of the box over blow performance, based on anecdotal
> > comments that I have seen here and there.
> >
> > If I were to become an over blow player however, I think I would just
> > invest in a customized harp that was set up for over blows.  There is no
> > shortage of guys here on this list who can do that kind of work
> affordably
> > on whatever harp you prefer.  I've used Greg Jones, and I am very happy
> > with what he does.
> > On Jun 6, 2013 10:48 PM, "Fran_3" <mailbox0600@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > > Just wondering what you guys suggest to get started with over blows.
> I've
> > > come close on my Lee Oskar on hole 6 but I don't know if the problem is
> > me,
> > > the harp, or both... so I thought I'd try another brand just to compare
> > and
> > > to learn.
> > >
> > > Actually I can get the blow reed to choke (some of the time :) and with
> > > the chromatic tuner I can see it popup to Bb for a fraction of a sec...
> > but
> > > so far have not been able to get it to hold...
> > >
> > > Thanks for any advice.
> > >
> >
>
>
>
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