[Harp-L] Richard Sleigh is now a Hohner Affiliated Customizer

[Gary Lehmann]

Richard –
That’s great!
Will you be coming to spah this year, and will you have some of these harmonicas with you?

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 5, 2018, at 12:23 PM, Richard Sleigh <rrsleigh at xxxxx> wrote:
> 
> Hi Everyone!
> 
> 
> I was accepted into the Hohner Affilated Customizer (HAC) program earlier
> this year. The Hohner company created this program as a way to promote and
> support the art of high end customizing. Joe Filisko is the inspiration for
> the program and evaluates and approves people for the program.
> 
> 
> If you are aware of my background, you know that I worked closely with Joe
> Filisko in the 90s developing the customizing methods that became known as
> the "Filisko Method". I've been building high end Marine Band harps for
> over two decades, and have written a book on the topic of customizing
> harmonicas as well as a series of videos that go into great detail on
> exactly how to set up and tune reeds for world class performance.
> 
> 
> However, it was not a slam dunk that I would get into the program. I
> submitted harmonicas to Joe Filisko for approval just like everyone else
> and we ended up having a lively back and forth about exactly what 19 limit
> just intonation is and how to dial in for the ultimate blues harmonica.
> 
> 
> I ended up reviewing every aspect of how I build and tune harmonicas. I
> questioned everything I thought I knew about customizing and tuning
> harmonicas. After I got into the program and ordered my first shipment of
> parts, I re-invented how I build harmonicas by challenging myself to find
> better ways to do everything I do, including re-designing some of the tools
> I use and creating new tools for the process.
> 
> 
> I now have a flagship model of the Marine Band Deluxe harmonica that has a
> modified top cover plate that calls to mind the original "mouse ear" Marine
> Band cover plates. It also has a black acrylic comb that is smooth to the
> lips and super easy to clean.
> 
> 
> I also build Special 20s and can special order and build other Hohner
> models like the Thunderbird, including double thick reed plate versions of
> the T-bird and other harps.
> 
> 
> I wanted to wait until I got all of these elements into place before before
> making any of my own announcements about being in the HAC program.
> 
> 
> You can get a look at the new harmonicas at: https://hotrodharmonicas.com/
> 
> 
> I feel grateful and honored to be included in this program and I intend to
> build the best harps I can build and keep on learning as I do. Thanks for
> reading this!
> 
> 
> -- 
> Richard Sleigh
> rrsleigh at xxxxx
> http://hotrodharmonicas.com
> http://rsleigh.com