Re: [Harp-L] Cheap harps

[Dennis Michael Montgomery <gaulay2@xxxxxxxxx>]

In my harmonica experience on of the things I found interesting and maybe amusing is the good cheap harp.  Before I really new better I once bought two Chicago Blues harps (at different times).  The first one I bought was in G and it was a piece of crap I hardly could get anything out of it.  A little later (I was harp hungry then, low on money, but I needed one) I bought another Chicago Blues this time time in C.  This one turned out to be a jewel and it lasted a long time and was a little sad to see it go kaput.
 
In my collection I have a couple of Bluesbands that aren't too bad.  I also have a few Heavey Metals by Hohner a few of them are workable, but most are pieces of junk.
 
One of my pet sorrows/peeves are music stores that sell these super cheap harps especially the Johnsons.  My newly founded suspicion is: stores are aimimg for parents that have bad taste for good tone, and that do not want to spend the time, the effort, and especially the money to encourage their children on a musical quest.  These stores are being counter-productive for music and can only think of making a fast buck.  The ironic thing here is these same stores are also selling edpensive guitars and keyboards.  My other suspicion is that these store people don't have the proper respect for harmonicas.
 
Dennis
From: Tom Martin <tomdmartin@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Timothy Kane <hawkeyekane@xxxxxxxxx> 
Cc: Harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 12:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Cheap harps


never scrimp on your tools!


On Tue, Jun 25, 2013 at 3:03 PM, Timothy Kane <hawkeyekane@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Don't get me wrong here. I'm not saying that a cheap harp is a
> particularly GOOD thing to learn on. I'm saying they're a good thing to
> have for practice or backup during a gig. Yes, a beginner should learn on
> something better than a Silvertone. A MB, SP20, or Harpmaster would be
> ideal. And then when progressed enough and a full key-set of good harps has
> been acquired, use the cheapies for practice.
>
> And I think I should define my perceived differences between a cheap harp
> and an inferior harp. Cheap harp in my description would include harps like
> Silvertones and maybe Big Rivers. Under 30 bucks for the most part,
> reliable, decent tone and bendability, and not too leaky.
>
> An inferior harp would include things like Folkmasters, Blues Bands,
> Pocket Pals, and any of the Hohner harps with plastic cover plates.
> Jambones, LoDucas, and Pantheons would fall in there as well. They're leaky
> as a sift, don't bend, and are often out of tune. They're pretty much
> worthless for any purpose.
>
>                          Hawkeye Kane
>
>
> hawkeyekane@xxxxxxxxx
>
> Cell: (217)-741-7183
>
> http://www.hawkeyekane.com/
>