Shredder
113 posts
Jan 24, 2010
4:16 PM
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I had an elderly lady come up to the stage today as we were playing the closing song. As the patrons were leaving she motioned me to the come to her. As I knelt down to ask what she wanted she produced this beautifull harp.
She said it belonged to her husband that had passed away.
She said she wanted me to have it knowing it would be in good hands.
It looks to be in new condition with no scratches to the cover plts. or any build up on the reed plates and comb, no she didn't have the box it came in. I'm not sure how old it is but it dosn't look old to me. It does have a few nails going thru the reed plates.
Any way I managed to play Red River Valley on it with in about 15 min in 1st position. My problem is I play 2nd position 99% of the time. This thing dosn't play like a 10 hole diatonic.
Any one out there been able to play in 2nd pos. on this type of harp? I can get some bends just playing one row but when playing both rows I can only get some inflection with moving my tounge position in my mouth.
It's an interesting harp with a cool sound. I want to learn Amazing Grace on it so I can play it for the congeragtion in church soon. I think she will be pleased. I wish I knew her name and yes, I totaly disenfected it 1st.
Suggestions are welcome,
Mike
Last Edited by on Jan 24, 2010 4:19 PM
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jonsparrow
1873 posts
Jan 24, 2010
4:22 PM
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i think that there some what old. my pops has had one sense as long as i can remember. im 26 an its gotta be older then me.
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Last Edited by on Jan 24, 2010 4:22 PM
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Buzadero
276 posts
Jan 24, 2010
4:22 PM
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If my formerly drug-addled pea-brain is operating in proper recall mode, I believe that the Comet is an octave-tuned beast. Fits well with Coon-ass party music.
Sorry, that's all I got. And that could very well be wrong.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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Shredder
114 posts
Jan 24, 2010
4:34 PM
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Jon, the woman looked to be in her late 60's to early 70's.
Buzadero, yeah the coon-ass thing jumped out the 1st play, I'm 1/2 coon-ass. If my other band would change keys for the song "Jumbalaya" this thing would rock!
Mike
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jonsparrow
1874 posts
Jan 24, 2010
4:36 PM
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ya thats how old my pops is.
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Buzadero
277 posts
Jan 24, 2010
4:44 PM
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"half coon-ass"? Is there such a thing?
During my years of residency south of Hwy 90, it was drummed into my head (sometimes literally) that CoonAss is....period.
Although, my man Mel the Meltone is a "Backdoor Cajun Man".
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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Shredder
115 posts
Jan 24, 2010
5:04 PM
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My mom is full blooded Cajun. My Dad is mostly German.
I was born and raised right across the Sabine river from Starks Louisiana, South of hwy 90 in Orange Texas.Been here for almost 51 yrs. I also married a fine 100% Coon-Ass girl.I guess I qualify.
Mike
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Buzadero
279 posts
Jan 24, 2010
5:10 PM
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I would say so.
I'm 52. You ever catch old Mel when he was galavanting around the bayou circuit?
He's moved back to the Carolina's and is still cooking up a storm. Got his own place in Durham...Papa Mojo's Roadhouse. Every lick I know about working a harp to Zydeco I stole from Mel.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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Shredder
116 posts
Jan 24, 2010
5:13 PM
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No I never did but if I ever go up Carolina way I'll stop by the roadhouse. Thanks for the info.
Mike
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NiteCrawler .
22 posts
Jan 24, 2010
5:15 PM
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I vaguely remember the comets from yrs. back and I think they,re more of a chord harp reminding me of an accordian.I found it hard to play like a diatonic 10 hole.It may be nice for little fills on certain tunes.I had an guy around 5 or 6 yrs ago who I didn,t really know that well except for seeing him occass ionally at our gigs.His 25 yr old son had had some severe bipolar issues and took his life.His pop the gentleman in ques. gave me 4 of his deceased sons harps saying"These were my sons and your the only person that I know that would appreciate them".I was very moved at that moment and although I do not play Blues Harps,I keep them in my gigging case,for possible backups,but mostly to keep in the old trick bag for the kid and his pops honor.Pop told me that his boy had seen us play when he was younger and decided to take up the harp.Too sad,but unfortunately true.
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Hobostubs Ashlock
412 posts
Jan 24, 2010
5:15 PM
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that was cool her passing it on like that.that harp will have a special place in your heart i bet
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Shredder
117 posts
Jan 24, 2010
5:57 PM
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This is one of the blessings we get by being allowed to play for other peoples enjoyment. We are able to touch their lives in a musical way and hopefully make their lives a little bit better.
Like night crawler said he didn't know the people but he had touched their lives in a positive way and it came back to him with the gift from the boys father and knowing he made a differance, the son wanted to play harp.
The harp I recived will always be special and hopefully I can figure how to work it into my repitore.
I thank God every day for allowing me to play the harp in a way that people enjoy listining to.
I hope when the day comes and others read my obit. they remember me and say, Damm, that guy could really play harp I'm going to miss him.He was a good guy and I shure enjoyed what he did.
Thats all we can hope for.
Mike
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Tuckster
361 posts
Jan 24, 2010
8:13 PM
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Mel Melton. I have a Sonny Landreth CD with Mel on harp.He makes it sound like an accordian. Great player!
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nacoran
869 posts
Jan 24, 2010
9:11 PM
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Cool story. They still make the Comet 32. It is an octave tuned harp. They also make a Comet 40 and a two sided model. I've always wanted to see what it sounds like if you tongue block an octave on an octave harp!
http://www.hohnerusa.com/index.php?109
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NiteCrawler .
23 posts
Jan 25, 2010
4:05 AM
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Hey Buzadero,Just wondering if you know a keyboard cat named Randy Friel.He lived in your neck some years back.Mel played on his cd on a couple of tunes.He,s up on the Jersey shore now and sat in with our band this past summer when one of our g-men wasn,t able to gig.Great player and super nice guy.BTW isn,t Mels band called The Wicked Mojos?
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toddlgreene
566 posts
Jan 25, 2010
9:04 AM
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That's awesome, Shredder!(btw, I'm married to a full-blooded Cajun and I grew up in the cane fields and swamps to the west of New Orleans, so we're sorta like kin...I'll be expecting a Christmas card this year, and I won't wear argyle socks, so save your money!;-D)
I have a Marine Band in G that belonged to my great-uncle. I remember going to play with him on his deathbed, and he played that very harp. My great-aunt gave it to me the day of his funeral, after I played Amazing Grace at his service, then TAPS at graveside. i cherish it, and hve to resist the urge to seal the comb, do the reedwork, etc. to it. It's gotta be a good feeling in your heart to know you moved someone enough to share part of their lives with you.
WHO DAT! SAINTS are Super Bowl Bound!
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Last Edited by on Jan 25, 2010 9:05 AM
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Shredder
118 posts
Jan 25, 2010
3:04 PM
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Todd, most of my mom's folks came from the Crowley area. My wifes are mostly from around Abbeyville.
Yeah, the wife is a Damm good cook!
Cool about your great uncle. I have gone back to my great grand parents and grand parents graves to.I played Amazing Grace.I think I would do what I could to preserve it,maybe you could hand it off to another faimly member when you won't be needing it any more.
My great grand father from my mothers side gave me a harp when I was maybe 6 yrs. old. I vagley remember him playing harp. My mother says he played, Turkey in the straw. He gave me the harp but I was to young to appreciate it. I guess that's when working on harps really started. I remember hiding on the side of grand maw's house and prying the covers off it. I wanted to see what was making the sounds under the cover plates. Unfortunatly that's the last I remember of that harp. I so wish I had it now.As an adult I took a metal detector to the old house and searched along the side of the house in hopes of finding some reminants of the old harp. Well I never found any of it but I still got the memory. I think great,grand father "Dallas" would be proud of how the seed he planted has grown.
Best wishes, Mike
Mike
Last Edited by on Jan 25, 2010 5:38 PM
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NiteCrawler .
25 posts
Jan 25, 2010
4:54 PM
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Right On Bro,Great Memories,"Keep On Harpin"
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