Martin
118 posts
Aug 14, 2012
11:34 AM
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Any ideas for something low budget, easily manufactured at home? (I can´t sew for the life of me but there are lady acquaintances who can help wih that.)
I own the Lee Oskar harmonica case, but I rarely use it: it´s somehow a bit to "gay" for my taste to go swinging around a small handbag. (Nothing against you gay harmonica players there, but it ain´t my style.)
Instead I load a few harps in an old shaving machine leather pouch; or just put them individually in my jacket.
But a small belt, for four or five harps, that can be discreetly worn under a jacket (I always wear jackets) without being to visible, would be nice to have. I emphasize "discreetly": the things I see some players wear around their waist, or gun belt like, is completely outside my preferences.
The net yielded very little here, except for factory made stuff (with sometimes wild prices), and I´m kinda curiuos how you people have solved it, if you have attempted to.
Briefcases etc is quite all right (I have one) but just for going to a jam it´s a bit of an overkill.
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Noodles
249 posts
Aug 14, 2012
11:53 AM
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Do the LO cases still interlock together? I suppose you could interlock them to make them a solid unit.(you may need to glue them)
Then, put a couple of belt loops on the back side of the assembly. Now, just put on a regular belt (around your pants) and loop the (now joined cases) onto your belt. Need a harp? Pop open one of the cases. When done, put the back in its case and snap it shut. Harps stay clean, protected and organized.
You can remove the LO labels to get a uniform color (black) - or paint them.
We'll have to call you Batman!
Last Edited by on Aug 14, 2012 11:57 AM
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HawkeyeKane
1134 posts
Aug 14, 2012
12:23 PM
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There are quite a few products that come ready-made that aren't all that costly. I wear the Seydel Smart-Belt myself...holds 8 diatonics on one side, and then I keep a few more on the other side in a digital camera pouch and a Hohner single harp pouch. But the Smart-Belt is kinda pricey for only holding 8 harps. The new Seydel Beltbags look pretty good to me, and far less costly. Rockin Ron's got a variety of items.
Rockin Ron's Music 4 Less - Harmonica Cases, Belts, and Pouches
My buddy Bill Robinson actually wears one that he made out of an old leather guitar strap, and then he sewed on pouches made of nylon strap material. I'm considering doing something similar to an old Western-style gunbelt I have laying around. Maybe use the holster on it for a stick mic or something...
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Hawkeye Kane
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MP
2404 posts
Aug 14, 2012
12:59 PM
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good ideas so far. if you go to an Army/Navy store
you might find amunition pouches (Vietnam era and before). i forgot the caliber-large caliber-
but you can fit two harps per pouch. just loop six of these on a belt and you've got a twelve harp belt.
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name for info-
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Noodles
250 posts
Aug 14, 2012
1:30 PM
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I had two leather harp belts made for me in the late 70's by a leather-crafter. They were beautiful - all carved up, etc. One was across the chest like Sugar Blue's and the other hung off my pants' belt, ran down the outside of my right leg and was tied off around my leg just above the knew - like a six shooter. The problem with belts is that they're heavy and cumbersome. I loved to look at them but I hated wearing them when I played. Belts used to be cool. But, I'd wager that they're not as popular as they used to be.
Now, it's seems that custom harp cases are popular. But, you still have to contend with mics, cables and pedals. More STUFF.
So, I ended up with just one suitcase-style gig box. I carry about 30 harps, a 16 hole chromatic, 3 mics with cords, two pedals and some tools in that one box, with pleennnty of room to spare. When I jam, I bring a folding tray table, set it up next to where I'll be standing and put the box on top of it. Everything is in one opened box and at my fingertips, especially the harps.
Last Edited by on Aug 14, 2012 1:39 PM
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Martin
119 posts
Aug 14, 2012
4:31 PM
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Many thanks guys, several great ideas.
@Noodles: Not long ago I threw away a few dozen or so LO cases (and other brands as well) that had been gathering dust for many years. Bad idea, I now realize. But -- your suggestion made me think of some Seydel and Hering pouches that I have saved, and it would probably not be impossible to fit them to a belt.
@MJ and MP: The ammo belt seems workable (although it may make me look a tad fat under the jacket ...), very nice price, but I´m not sure this kind of thing can be picked up here in Sweden. (Im severly burned doing Trans-Atlantic purchases.) Swedish gun culture isn´t much to write about -- we mainly use them gadgets to kill a few thousand moose in the autumn -- but there may still be some army surplus stores around, and I´ll check.
@Hawkeye: Hohner´s belt pouch for three harps looked fairly discreet. Should be obtainable even here. If three harps are enough for a jam is another question: I tend to bring four and that has me covered, but things should be doable even with three.
The thing against bringing a case, or a greater pouch, is that frankly I like to get fairly plastered after those saturday jams and I would hate it if I forgot a case of harps in some bar. So therefore it´s also as a precaution I´d like something attached to my belt.
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eharp
1951 posts
Aug 14, 2012
4:43 PM
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http://s445.photobucket.com/albums/qq176/eharphyde/4harpcase/
i took a case from lowes hardware and made 4 of these.
they need a bit of tweaking, but they work.
Last Edited by on Aug 14, 2012 4:45 PM
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didjcripey
365 posts
Aug 14, 2012
4:52 PM
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The shotgun shell belts look like they could be good. Does anyone know if a harps fit in them?
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Lucky Lester
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MP
2408 posts
Aug 15, 2012
2:36 PM
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cripey,
there is another thread somewhere and a fellow said shotgun shell pouches will fit harps. i think he got 'em at wallmart or something.
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name for info-
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Rick Davis
617 posts
Aug 15, 2012
3:42 PM
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Jay, what the heck.... I ordered the shotgun shell belt. Only $7.00. I'll report back later how it works as a harp belt. I've never had a harp belt or bandolier... I always thought they were kinda lame, but for seven bucks why not, eh?
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-Rick Davis
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MJ
449 posts
Aug 15, 2012
4:50 PM
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Cool Rick. I don't have one but let me know how it works. If all else fails you can fill it with power bars when you go to the health club.
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paulbunyn
40 posts
Aug 15, 2012
6:08 PM
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I have been looking at the vests that have the gun hide in them a few have pouches for extra magazines that look to be the right size and the gun pocket could hold several more without notice.
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Joe_L
1981 posts
Aug 15, 2012
7:34 PM
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Mojo Buford made the bandolier look as cool as it gets. Not lame at all.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
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Rick Davis
619 posts
Aug 16, 2012
6:13 AM
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Joe, do you ever wear a bandolier? Now, that would convince me they are way cool.
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-Rick Davis
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Frank
1005 posts
Aug 16, 2012
6:49 AM
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Here is John in his Glory Days...
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Jim Rumbaugh
774 posts
Aug 16, 2012
10:38 AM
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I ALLWAYS wear my belt. If it looks lame, I don't care, it works for me.
People say I look like terrorist with bombs strapped to my waist.
I use to use the Honer 8 harp belt. A member of the club made a 9 harp belt for himself and one for me as a gift.
Me and my belt from last Tuesday night
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theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
Last Edited by on Aug 16, 2012 11:27 AM
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HawkeyeKane
1136 posts
Aug 16, 2012
5:46 PM
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@Rumbaugh
I think the biggest criticism toward us belt-wearers is that they tend to look awkward and fanny-packish when worn in the front across the waist. I used to do the same thing, even behind thr bar during my days as a harp playing bartender, and the bar owner told me to take it off. :-/ So... I started wearing the harps on my hip instead. Looks a might less awkward that way, and truthfully, I find it much more comfortable.
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Hawkeye Kane
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eharp
1953 posts
Aug 16, 2012
5:49 PM
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the problem with the belts, bandoliers or vest is one looks like you mean business!
if you got the chops and can back up what the belt is saying, i think you should go for it.
but for the intermediates...?
you walk into an open jam with you harps on your hip and they think you can play like john popper!
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HawkeyeKane
1137 posts
Aug 16, 2012
6:22 PM
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I don't even have my belt visible to the audience a lot of the time. I often wear an untucked shirt over it. This can allow you a certain degree of incognito discretion, especially at open jam sessions. But ultimately, the belt isn't an article of showmanship. It's for function. It keeps all the harps I need for a gig very close at hand instead of having to run back to a case, and allows me to switch keys very quickly and bounce around onstage and in the audience if the energy is influential enough. I get a lot of compliments on my belt from the crowd at gigs....yes ....many of them are along the lines of "Hey, that's cool! Bet you'd give Batman a run for his money!" or "Oh, they're your harmonicas! I thought they were pistol mags for a minute there!", but they still think it's nifty.
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Hawkeye Kane
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2chops
92 posts
Aug 16, 2012
7:07 PM
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I agree with Hawkeye, it's about function. I have one of the Hohner belts. But the elastic is getting loose and needs replaced. I really like the look of the ammo belt that noodles linked to. Curious as to how snug the harps would fit.
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You Tube = goshinjk
I'm workin on it. I'm workin on it.
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AirMojo
295 posts
Aug 17, 2012
1:19 PM
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You can put together a pretty simple harmonica belt using cordura knife belt sheaths/pouches. I often carry just one or two harps on my belt using these.
You can buy them at local gun/knife shows (if you have such things), or online.
Last Edited by on Aug 17, 2012 1:19 PM
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HawkeyeKane
1138 posts
Aug 17, 2012
4:06 PM
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Everyone who brings Popper up to me at gigs asks me if I ever considered "wearing a bandolier like John Popper". But in my eyes Popper never wore bandoliers. He wore a vest. But I HAVE considered a bandolier from time to time. Seems to me, the best bandolier for the job would be one for shotgun shells. This one would probably work nicely provided you can get one designed for shells of a wide enough gauge.
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/3-1919462
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Hawkeye Kane
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clyde
282 posts
Aug 17, 2012
4:57 PM
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I have seen many photos with him in bandoliers and on tv
I have never seen him live
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Joe_L
1984 posts
Aug 17, 2012
6:47 PM
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Rick - you know that i am cheap. I'm not about to drop the dough on one of those.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
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Jim Rumbaugh
776 posts
Aug 17, 2012
7:07 PM
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And I forgot to add...
In that picture up above, fellow club member, Paula Stewart is wearing her belt too..........
I keep forgetting, it's not all about me......
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theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
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BrokenComputerBlues
2 posts
Aug 17, 2012
7:35 PM
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I don't have have it handy to take a picture, but my brother made me a chain mail harmonica holder sized for one harp. It's pretty bling! We've discovered a couple flaws in the design- it snags a little on regular harps (my long cover Seydel Blues Favorite fits like a dream though), and it loses it's shape a bit. I think if he went into production he'd only do one side chain mail, and put a leather backing on the other side. It's heavy, and it was ten hours to make for a pouch for one harp, and he still hasn't figured out how to make absolutely sure the links don't tangle in a way that is time and cost efficient. He and his girlfriend make jewelry.
You can go absolutely the opposite direction and just get carpenters' pants. They have lots of pockets. I've got a couple pairs. If I had any sewing prowess I might customize mine. One of the pockets is a little too long and narrow to retrieve harps from quickly, and two other pockets are wide enough really for three harps each, but loose harps rattle. Short sheeting the long pocket would fix it, and maybe vertical stitches could divide the wide pockets into non-clanky pockets. I've had a harp fall out on occasion, usually getting into a low seated car where the knees are higher than the butt. Zippers, velcro or buttons could fix that. Someone who knew how to sew could probably even add more pockets.
That reminds me. I was watching one of those cop shows once. I don't watch them often, but this one was priceless. A bank robber wearing a clown suit had made his getaway. Unfortunately, a totally innocent clown was also in the area. The police surrounded him and from a safe distance told him to lie on the ground...
... then they told him to empty his pockets. At this point the poor guy was nearly in tears. 'All of them?' to which the police responded, 'Just how many pockets do you have?
Apparently clown outfits have upwards of fifty pockets, what for red balls, endless handkerchiefs and various other accouterments of mirth. Fortunately, the real clown robber was apprehended about the same time and the although understandably shaken the non-evil clown had a pretty good sense of humor about it.
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clyde
283 posts
Aug 17, 2012
8:38 PM
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Hawk eye
That Seydel belt looks good
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