Andrew
2 posts
Dec 13, 2008
5:06 AM
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I watched some Sonny Boy Williamson II on YouTube, and he was playing a low-D on the first 3 tracks I chose at random (e.g Bye-Bye Bird), so I bought one. It's beautiful!
But in the first couple of minutes of playing it before dashing off to work I found that the one-hole draw rattles, and the harder I draw, the sharper the note gets, so I emailed Adam, and he suggested that I moderate how hard I draw on the reeds.
Sure enough, that evening I got home from work and I guess I was more conscious of the neighbours (although I don't have an amp) and, playing at "evening volume", I found it required some effort to reproduce the effect. This morning I played louder and it was easier to achieve and if I tried really hard I could get it on my G harp. So it just goes to show: don't be impatient - play your harp in and get used to it before thinking about meddling with its insides, as I was!
Now after playing my Low-D, it's hard to get used to how squeaky my G & A harps sound!
(actually, I do need to reduce the 3-hole draw gap and the 4-hole blow gap, so I'll look at the 1-hole draw reed at the same time to see what it looks like)
Last Edited by on Dec 13, 2008 5:13 AM
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Anonymous
Guest
Dec 13, 2008
6:22 AM
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I love the sound of them low harps. I haven't bought any yet. I have a high f and i have the round of it. Even a regular d harp is bad enough. I think i'm gonna get my self some low keys and the highest i'm gonna in is a c
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KC69
7 posts
Dec 13, 2008
6:38 AM
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I Agree: The sounds produced on the low key harps are sweet. I probably use my low F the most ( at least right now ). When playing melodic , 1st position and using the higher chambers, the low key harps can produce a mellow sound. But I still love my D harp. The bending and the Blues riffs are awesome on the D and the C Harps.
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Andrew
3 posts
Dec 13, 2008
7:08 AM
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I've currently got Low-D, G, A, B flat, C, D and F.
They each have totally different characteristics (intrinsically and as a result of their different ages), so that I'm not sure which I prefer. The C sounds most like a blues harp, but that may be because it's my oldest harp. I held back from buying an F harp for a long time, but eventually did because there were so many pieces of music played on it that I liked, and my F harp was my best out-of-the-box harp, so I quickly became fond of it, but getting the intonation of the bent notes right and stable is crazily difficult. My D harp is a big disappointment because the two-hole draw bends have never played right. The B flat was the worst out-of-the-box, and I've adjusted all the reed gaps at least half a dozen times. It's OK now, but needs a lot of firm control, especially on the three-hole-draw bends. I often hear something I like played in B flat, but I don't think I can justify buying an E flat, as I'm unlikely to play seriously live, but maybe one day!
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KC69
8 posts
Dec 13, 2008
7:27 AM
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Andrew: Do you have a low E? I bought one to play Tom Petty's ( In 1st Position )Roll Another Joint. I went back to my E harp, It just sounds better played along with my classic rock guys!
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harmonicanick
77 posts
Dec 13, 2008
7:41 AM
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My favorite is low Eb which resonates right through your body. I love doing a boogie on it which I do
1/2 draw x 2
1/2 blow x 2
as fast or as slow as you like and then move up and down again
I have a seydel super low F which is very difficult to judge the correct amount of air, (Andrew) but the hole 1 draw and blow sound just lie a aircraft carrier fog horn!!
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Andrew
6 posts
Dec 13, 2008
7:48 AM
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KC69. No, those harps are the only ones I have - you need to be aware that, whereas they cost 20$ each in the USA, in Britain they cost 50$ each (this was until a month ago when the exchange rate changed)! So I can't justify the expense unless I get serious (I've only been playing for about 8 months).
Actually, I found a mail-order place in Leicester which charges 40$, but it took them 3 MONTHS to acquire the low-d for me (presumably from Hohner)!
Last Edited by on Dec 13, 2008 7:52 AM
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KC69
9 posts
Dec 13, 2008
8:13 AM
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Andrew: Totally understand. Sounds like me. I've only been playing a year and a half. The first six months i was'nt very serious and had only 3 harps. Since then I've worked my butt off and play regular with 3 groups. I'm still very much learning, but I jump right in and give it what I got. Tonight I play first with a chritian rock/blues band. Then from there I go play blues with a duo. To support my habit, I got a part time job with a music store. Even with my discount, I still pay about $30.00 for special 20s. If I don't stop spending, I may have to remarry that woman for the third time.lol
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KC69
10 posts
Dec 13, 2008
8:16 AM
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harmonicanick: Thanks: I'll try that riff. I don't have the low Eb, but may sound good on another low.
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