Re: [Harp-L] auto-valve harp

[philharpn@xxxxxxx]

without soaking it, you could air it out for a week. You might try rinsing you mouth with a minty mouth-wash and blowing through every few hours. This might eliminate the musty aroma.


I own one I bought in 1970 ($6.25) and played it about 10 times -- not really knowing what I had. Later, I realized it had the Richter layout just like the standard 10 hole Marine Band and played in octaves. I don't have mine in front of me but Pat Missin reminds me that the top row has the low octave note and the bottom row has the high octave note.


As you may know by now, harmonica players almost never play harmonicas in the key intended or in the manner born. In this case, the autovalve offers diatonic octave playing which is much louder than the standard diatonic. 


But some people take advantage of the two octaves by playing them separately -- tilting the harp  to play the notes in the top row alone or the bottom row alone instead of together the way Hohner intended.


Each channel contains a blow and draw reed side-by-side.  But this may prevent bending like in the standard Richter tuned harps. 


Some people use them for Cajun, Old Timey and Irish music -- but they are fun for folksongs, too!








Check out Pat Missin's page:




<http://www.patmissin.com/ffaq/q15.html>


Hope this helps
Phil


________________________________
 From: Tom Martin <tomdmartin@xxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2013 6:56 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] auto-valve harp
 

Hey,
Awhile back when I was starting to learn harmonica was cleaning out an old
desk and found an auto valve harp. Not sure where it came from, I think
somebody gave it to one of my sons but it is old with some dents and has
picked up the smell of the desk. ugh!

In the meantime, I've gotten better at playing and picked this thing up
again. Love the sound but it of course needs to be replaced as soon as
funds allow.

Question: does anybody on the list play one. What are your thoughts, tips
and tricks? Also, a good place to pick one up at a good price?

Thanks,

Tom