Re: [Harp-L] "Yup, whoever did this did it themselves..."

[Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

This wonderful story should be picked up and published in Harmonica Happenings......so we don't loose it. THIS is what it's all about. 
smo-joe

On Mar 23, 2013, at 1:26 PM, Michelle LeFree wrote:

> Speaking of half valving...
> 
> I once had a plumber fix a problem under my kitchen sink. He opened the doors of the cabinet and stood back rubbing his chin for a moment and then said, "Yup, whoever did this did it themselves." Of course he was referring to the hack job some "do it yourselfer" had applied to the under-sink plumbing. And by that, of course, he meant that it was going to cost a pretty penny to fix it right.
> 
> So it goes with half-valving a diatonic.
> 
> I was at a harp fest 7-8 years ago as PT Gazell was debuting his landmark "Swingin' Easy, Hitting Hard" CD and knocking folks out with his beautiful chromatic jazz. I was bowled over by PT's playing and even more stunned by his generosity in teaching me and others in attendance just how he makes and applies his valves. So impressed I purchased a set of Suzuki Promaster harps right at the fest and went outside to find a local source of PT's valve material. Came back just in time to sit down with PT when he was giving a little "Masterclass" on installing valves and playing a half-valved diatonic.
> 
> I judiciously went about half-valving those 12 Suzuki's (great harps, BTW) and ~trying~ to play some simple chromatic tunes. I achieved some degree of success but soon realized that chromaticism PT Gazell-style was going to be a very long haul indeed. However... I did discover how fun it is to be able to bend those "unbendable" notes, principally for me those in the lower and middle registers. The tonal color thus afforded is significant for me.
> 
> Wind forward to a couple years ago.
> 
> When PT heartily endorsed Seydel Harmonicas and spoke so highly of their stainless reeds I asked Suzuki's Rupert Oysler to make me up an equal-tuned 1847 Silver with Blues Favorite coverplates (this was before Seydel was offering Gazell Method diatonics). Yes, exactly the configuration PT was playing then and as far as I know he plays still.
> 
> Now comes the bump in the road. I had hoped to make my new Rupert-Special harp my constant companion, especially given the reported longevity of the SS reeds and the enthusiasm of so many respected players. I immediately half-valved it the way I thought PT had taught me years before, but unfortunately mine turned out to be a difficult marriage with my new Seydel. I had a hard time adjusting my playing to the new SS environment. I tried with limited success adjusting reed gaps and profiles, but was afraid of damaging the reeds in some way. After a period of frustration and wonderment (about all the good press the Seydel reed system was getting) my enthusiasm over the new harp slowly diminished.
> 
> That was until I saw a video that PT recodred with the Grateful Dead cover project recently posted that knocked me plumb out. Reinvigorated, I contacted PT and he kindly agreed to take a look at my harp. After a few days he returned the instrument fully upgraded to "Gazell Method" status, complete with his stylish sticker proudly announcing its new configuration.
> 
> PT, in his typical gentle, low key style essentially told me, "Yup, whoever did this did it themselves." I thought I knew the essentials of half-valving a diatonic, having studied under the Master and applied several dozen valves myself. I don't know the details of what PT does to when he transforms a normal, everyday harmonica into a Gazell Method instrument, but I think a good deal of it must be Mojo. Yes, my "new" harp has definite Mojo. It plays so differently and so much better that I am now re-infused with the interest and excitement I discovered at that harpfest years ago. And now scope of my enthusiasm has widened to include the Seydel SS reed system. I now realize that I just shot myself in the foot with my first. It will not be my last Gazell Method harmonica!
> 
> Thank You, PT Gazell! (And Rupert Oysler, too!)
> 
> Michelle
> 
>