Re: [Harp-L] what's the best harp

[Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well....I think it all comes down to time. Time in grade, so to speak. Let's use me for an example. I bought my first diatonic when I was 9. It was 1951. 
There weren't a whole lot of harps available back then. Basically Hohners. Maybe some others IF the store was huge enough to bother with them. 

BUT..and this is a BIG issue. It isn't so much the number of years you have been playing. It is the number of HOURS. So, let me explain. I lost my first 
diatonic in about a weak. It fell from my pocket and was run over by a street car. I didn't suffer from the loss because..it didn't really do what I wanted
to do. Oh, I could play 'Poly Wolly Doodle' immediately. But I needed more. So, at 12 1/2, I bought a chromatic. Another Hohner. So about age 16 (1958)
I tried the diatonic again. I played hot and heavy on both types for a few years and at 19 I suddenly stopped being active. And I pretty much inactive for
the next 30 or so years. In 91 I went to my first spah and started back on harmonica. So my TOTAL time on harmonica is maybe 28 years. And at 28 
years, I only consider myself to be a 'middlin to journeyman' player.  

So what I'm saying is that at this point in time, I will soon be 71 and (technically) playing about 58 1/2 years. BUT..how MUCH have I played? In hours?
See, there are people like myself whom play a few hours a week, and then there are people whom play several hours a DAY. So, I would logic it this way.
One person may be at a very high level in a few years while others will still be beginners. But using the average of players:

IF you are 'starting' to play diatonic and/or playing for less than 1 1/2 years, you need THE best possible harp you can afford. Reason? Anything less will lead
to frustration, disappointment, dismay. BeCAUSE from a starting position, you need a harp that will work WITH you, not against you. So using my grandfather's
 old adage "YOU only get what you pay for..and even then maybe not", anything less then $65.oo is going to be (basically) junk.

If you are being sincere and dedicated and are playing 4 1/2 to 5 years, you could probably get away with a $43.oo diatonic. 

By the time you're up to 16 years, you could probably make a $29.oo diatonic sound decent. 

So, I meant no disrespect to anyone who advocates giving cheaper harmonicas to youngsters..to get them interested or started. I just don't believe in it.
I shined shoes on the Staten Is. ferry, had newspaper routes, and collected scrap from the dump. But I GOT my harps. I worked at it. I appreciated them
for that reason. 

I used to get what was available. American Ace, Old Standby, Marine Band. I have tried them all. We are SO very lucky today to have such a plethora of harps 
to choose from. I wonder if ya'all realize how lucky we truly are. I used to take the diatonics apart, soak the combs in a melted thin dilute solution of  Vick's
Vapo Rub & Baby Oil. I used to ease the sharp corners of the comb tines with emory boards I would steal from my older sisters. I got tired of the little taste buds
 on my tongue getting abraded from those cheese grater tines.  I would bull nose the sharp edges of the reed plates so I wouldn't cut my lips. I would run a 
bead of Elmer's glue along the seams to tighten things up.  I currently play spl-20s exclusively. I know there are better diatonics, but at my level, they're just
fine. 

I have tried the Folkmaster and the Silvertone. I consider them inferior. But that's only my opinion. What's the best harp? Well not a CHEAP one, that's for sure. 
lolol

smokey-joe.   




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