[Harp-L] Re: Harp-L Digest, Vol 127, Issue 26

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dan Hazen wrote:
<But I think I realize that the audience could care less and doesn't discern the
<difference between a $125 Fender Squier and a $4000 Custom Shop job. Only a
<musician who is really really in it all the time can hear and discern any
<difference.

I think there's a point where the inherent playability of the instrument makes it sound different in practically anyone's hands, and the audience can tell.  They don't perceive the instrument as expensive or not; they perceive the sound as good or not.  Most audiences don't hear any given band often enough to detect a switch in instruments as easily as other musicians in the band; but they know what they like, and better instruments sound better.

Musicians can of course hear differences clearly.  In the 1980s I led a band playing original rock music; instrumentation included drums, bass, synth, and harmonica.  As noted recently on this list, in those days Marine Bands were nearly unplayable instruments.  When I switched to Lee Oskars, whose quality and playability were miles ahead of Marine bands in that era, the other musicians heard it immediately and asked what was different.

An interesting fact is that even instruments at the lower end of current pricing play pretty well out of the box now and last pretty long if they're treated well.  I'm still impressed by Susuki Bluesmasters, Lee Oskars and Special 20s.  But there's certainly a difference in playability in terms of responsiveness, volume, etc. between more-expensive and less-expensive instruments, and a big difference in durability as well.  Some of the Manjis I've played made me a faster player instantly, and I have an Eb 1847 that's an amazingly powerful and responsive instrument--it lets you play as precisely as you like, and it makes big sounds. 

Some instruments make you sound like a better player.  Some actually make you a better player by making it possible to pull off stuff you can't do on other instruments.  It's often worth it to pay a little more.  

Thanks, Richard Hunter  
 

author, "Jazz Harp" (Oak Publications, NYC)
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