TylerLannan
45 posts
Jan 13, 2009
3:16 PM
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Recently I treated myself to a custom harp made by none other than our very own Chris Michalek. Words can not describe how unbelieveable the instrument he made for me is. I've tried many harps out there including but not limited to:
Suzuki- pureharp and firebreath
Hohner- golden melody, marine band, blues harp and special 20
Hering- blues maker (something like that)
Seydel- big six and favorite
And
Lee Oskar
...and none of these even come close to the harp that chris made for me. The harp I speak of is a golden melody in the key of A. The first thing I noticed was how unbelieveably responsive it is. Each and every hole responds so sensitively and evenly from holes 1 - 10. The draw bends almost happen just by thinking about it. And they are so controlable (3 hole I can get all 3 bends with ease). The blow bends are just as easy in the upper register. I'm not perticularly good at overblows either and I'll be the first to admit that, but it's as if chris's harp trancends the limits of my playing. I was able to overblow on holes 4,5and6 as if I'd been doing them all my life. I was able to get overdraws as well and I've never been able to do that. He also vented the sides and opened the back of the cover plates for me. It's almost not even fair to play such a harp as this. It makes everything too easy. Chris advertises that you can be a better player with just one harp. He's not kidding or embelishing at all. Everything comes so naturally with his harps. The volume is also at least 40-50% louder than a stock harp. I almost feel bad reviewing his harp and trying to put into words all the amazing things it can do for a player. It really can't be done justice with words. Do yourself a favor. Even if you only buy one, treat yourself. He has three different models at three different prices starting at $85 going up to $185 depending on what you want. Stop wasting money on the quest for the best harp. I've found it. Put down the stock harp and pick up a custom from chris. I promse you won't regret it. You have to see for yourself what it's like to play a Cadillac. Have fun and keep blowin' that harp.
~ Tyler
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*you can only keep what you have by giving it away*
Last Edited by on Jan 13, 2009 10:18 PM
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TylerLannan
46 posts
Jan 13, 2009
3:32 PM
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I forgot the most important part. To contact chris his email is groovygypsy@gmail.com
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*you can only keep what you have by giving it away*
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bluzlvr
105 posts
Jan 14, 2009
12:50 PM
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Congratulations on your new custom harp. I want to have Chris make me up one as soon as I have the funds. The two customs I already own are absolutly my favorites. I would recomend woodshedding on your harder to play harps, as it just makes you a better player on your customs. Its kinda like putting heavy guage strings on a crappy guitar to practice on. When you switch to a good guitar it's like butter....
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Tuckster
75 posts
Jan 14, 2009
12:57 PM
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Tyler-which model did you buy? Been thinking about buying myself a belated Christmas present.
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TylerLannan
47 posts
Jan 14, 2009
3:37 PM
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the model that chris sent to me is his $150 model harp. Worth every penny too. I would have paid more. I can't even describe with words how nice the harp is.
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*you can only keep what you have by giving it away*
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Chris Jones
13 posts
Jan 14, 2009
3:47 PM
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Would have paid more before you got it? Or after you played it? You either wipe your ass with $20 bills or Chris is turning water to wine.
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Buddha
16 posts
Jan 14, 2009
4:53 PM
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actually it's more like water to the finest bottle of cognac. A lot of people just don't understand how bad an out of the box harmonica is until they try something that really works. There are also customizers that are better than others, the true secret behind building a harp is the best players make the best harmonica.
Thank you for your words Tyler.
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Leanground
38 posts
Jan 14, 2009
6:29 PM
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I've the can't afford a souped up harmonica blues
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oldwailer
446 posts
Jan 14, 2009
11:28 PM
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I don't know about this--I happen to be a rather addictive personality--I can't stand to eat M&M's if the same store sells Lyndor Truffles.
I'm going to order one of these things soon--but I just have this feeling that I'm financially more secure not knowing how good they really are!
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Andrew
72 posts
Jan 15, 2009
1:00 AM
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Maybe we need to cross-link this thread to the harp addiction thread!
I'm full of admiration for customisers like Chris, but are you going to buy 12 customised harps (and some low ones too), or are you going to stick to one or two and hate your non-customised ones?
And the customised ones won't have a longer life-expectancy than the out-of-the-box, will they?
I suppose it's still a cheaper hobby than sailing a boat (or even drinking alcohol!)
I wouldn't want to dissuade anyone from giving money to Chris for what's clearly good value. On the other hand, would the customisers be happy if they were swamped with orders that would take them 10 years to fulfill? I ask this because I used to make my own oboe reeds. I didn't enjoy it much - it was a lot of work and it kept you away from playing the instrument, and full harp customisation is a lot of work too, I can see that.
On the grounds of cost (and not knowing if I'm going to be a serious player or not) I'm going to have to limit myself to basic tinkering with out-of-the-boxes.
Last Edited by on Jan 15, 2009 1:01 AM
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DaDoom
24 posts
Jan 15, 2009
1:52 AM
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I think you need to learn to play harp in order to enjoy the customized ones. As Jason Ricci says in one of his videos, giving a Joe Filisko harp to a beginner is like giving a Ferrari to a teenager who just got his driver's license. Here again the comparison with tennis rackets is appropriate. If you pick a pro racket for your first tennis lesson you'll probably be disappointed. But if you switch to a top racket once you can play you'll notice the difference.
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Andrew
73 posts
Jan 15, 2009
3:21 AM
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Analogies can be misleading. The Ferrari one is probably true, although I've never driven in my life, so I wouldn't know.
But I think I'd disagree about the others - I started playing tennis with a pro racket and a not-so-pro racket and the difference was obvious. You don't start piano lessons on a honkty-tonk - there's no reason why a beginner shouldn't learn on his teacher's Steinway.
A beginning runner shouldn't jog on the pavement/sidewalk in less-than-professional shoes.
A beginner isn't going to learn harmonica at all on a 2 dollar Chinese harp. So I'm going to argue, yes, give a customised harp to a beginner!
Last Edited by on Jan 15, 2009 10:50 AM
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Buddha
17 posts
Jan 15, 2009
5:36 AM
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I think it's good for beginners to start on a quality instrument. When I was learning to play guitar, I tried all of the $200 student/beginner models but ended up walking out with a $3000 Martin.
Then I had the martin set up properly within a week of my purchase. Learning guitar was so much easier and fast because I had an instrument that was clear as a bell and easy to play.
All of my in-person student have harps that are set up by me during the first lesson. A well set up harp help with bend, OBs and everything else. They are so easy to play and the player is able to take the quality of the instrument out of the equation when they are learning so they can only focus on their technique and not the harp.
You don't need 12 harps. I don't have a full set of harp, because I don't use them. All anyone really needs is Low F, G, A, Bb, C, D - That's a basic set and will allow most people to play within any situation. If you're going to get into jazz then add an Ab and Eb
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Preston
93 posts
Jan 15, 2009
6:18 AM
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I'm going to have to go with Chris and Andrew on this. Do you know how many out of the box harps I've gotten that wouldn't give me all 3 bent notes on the 3 hole draw? A little gapping and adjusting and they pop right out.
I literally threw away a brand new Marine band two years ago because the 2 draw wouldn't play. I took it into the store where I bought it and they said I had to send it to Hohner, becuase they don't warranty wind instruments for health code reasons. At that time, I new nothing of adjustments and mods. $30.00 in the trash can folks!
Imagine a beginner who buys one of these harps and has never heard of gapping or modifying. Now imagine him trying to learn how to hit all of those bends. He's never going to learn, because it just ain't happening on that harp, and he probably thinks it's his technique!
I would tell all beginners: If you have made the commitment to truly learn this instrument, either invest in customized harp, or invest in the knowledge to modify one yourself.
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RyanMortos
46 posts
Jan 15, 2009
6:21 AM
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I have to agree.
As far as analogies let me pick up the runner analogy. If everyone running track that is experienced is going to race on a clean flat surface why lead a beginner to a steep incline path riddled with rocks, tree stumps, and sink holes. It seems obvious to me that starting there would stunt the growth process whereas another beginner might have started on a better path and worked on the things needed instead of dodging obstacles that wouldnt be there anyway.
Though, in the case of a harmonica, in case of emergency you may be forced to play out of the box without adjustment anyway so maybe that is a disservice?
Buddha, Im wondering what you do to setup your student's harmonicas? Im thinking a professionally done 150$+ customized harmonica isnt what Id like. Im too much of a do it yourselfer and Im thinking these would be a little more then what Im after anyway. Id just like to learn to do it myself and make whatever *small* adjustments to take the instrument out of the equation. It seems one would have to pick someone's brain on this point to learn.
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~Ryan
PA
Ryan's Tube - Containing [0] uploads and counting...
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Buddha
18 posts
Jan 15, 2009
6:32 AM
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Hi Ryan,
The students get the equivalent of what I sell for $85, it's a simple emboss and gap job. I do it right in front of them as I explain how the harmonica works and how the reeds interact with each other. It's a little like explaining how to drive a manual tranny by telling them about how the transmissions work. Lots of people learn that way and it makes the whole process easier.
There is a night and day difference between and out of the box harp and my least expensive model. There is also a night and day difference between my $85 harp and $150 harp.
It's actually easier for me to set up a harp for OBs than blues because I'm a true OB player and I have to adjust my embouchure to make sure it's a good blues harp.
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dambuster
3 posts
Jan 15, 2009
7:04 AM
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as a complete novice at playing the harmonica,about a month now i think ,thanks to adam gussows youtube lessons and some hours spent lately in tescos car park,i think ive done okay.[lol]. i think ive said before that i have a marine band in c bluesmaster in c and a hohner pro harp in.i love the sound of them etc, but i would love another harp in the key of a .and it would have to be a marine band custom built for me especially if it would help me .trouble is i live in the uk and all the great custom harmonica builders seem to live in the states? does anyone know someone or somewhere in the uk where i could get a harp built. i know it seems like i want to run before i can walk.to be honest i think ive messed up me marine band holes 1 and 2 are gone all together now,bit aggressive maybe lifting the reeds when tinkering with it [dam fool].any help would be grateful.
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Buddha
19 posts
Jan 15, 2009
7:34 AM
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I send harps all over the world. In the case of custom harps not all builders are equal. I said this above, the best players are the best builder because they will have internal standards that are above and beyond what a less player would have.
Shipping doesn't cost that much from the states to the UK. It's less than $10USD. If I didn't add insurance etc it would be less than $4USD.
I've sent a couple dozen harps to the UK and AUS and all except one order has arrived with in a week of me sending it. The one order in question never arrived so things can happen but given that I've probably sent more harps outside the US then in the US, that's not a bad error rate. And it's not like the buyer loses out on the harps, that's on me. Since I don't like redoing harp orders, I do all thatI can to make sure it arrives.
Last Edited by on Jan 15, 2009 7:47 AM
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RyanMortos
47 posts
Jan 15, 2009
7:44 AM
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Buddha, do you have an alternate contact? I dont believe this ... forum has a private message function to other users. If you like you can message me via my youtube channel or I could post my Email.
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~Ryan
PA
Ryan's Tube - Containing [0] uploads and counting...
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Buddha
20 posts
Jan 15, 2009
7:47 AM
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groovygypsy@gmail.com
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Buddha
21 posts
Jan 15, 2009
7:48 AM
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you can call me too 651-214-5096
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Buddha
22 posts
Jan 15, 2009
7:50 AM
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Buddha Harp $175 (Golden Melodies only)
includes wood comb that replaces the factory plastic comb
Zen Harp - $150 (Golden Melody, Special 20, Marine Band, Blues Harp
etc) (Models with wood combs are sealed to prevent swelling)
Harmonica is set up using factory supplied parts only.
Lotus Harp - $85 (Golden Melody, Special 20, Marine Band, Blues Harp etc) $95 if you want the factory wood comb sealed to prevent swelling.
Harmonica is set up using factory supplied parts only. When all you need is a harmonica that plays better out of the box. Cover plates and combs are not modified. The reeds are distressed, tuned, set up of optimum play-ability and gapped. Less nuances are available on a harp set up like this BUT it still plays better than ANY out of the box harmonica.
* Reeds are specially treated relieve stress caused during the mass production process at the Factory. This technique gives the instrument
* a increased life span and increased output.
* Reeds are curved and arced for the best possible output and
* playability for all types of playing styles.
* Reeds are properly sized to each reed slot
* Reed Plates are smoothed out, edges modified to ensure complete air-tightness and comfort
* Cover Plates are reworked for maximum volume. Opened in the back and sides.
* All instruments are tuned using a Peterson Tuner
* All harmonicas are tuned as requested ie; Equal Temperament, Compromising Tuning or Just Intonation
To order send pay pal to mojodeli@yahoo.com
please add $5 for shipping in USA $8 shipping to UK and AUS $11 for Shipping to Asia $15 shipping to middle east.
To order send pay pal to mojodeli@yahoo.com
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Buzadero
14 posts
Jan 15, 2009
9:13 AM
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You guys gotta lay off ordering from Mr. M. It's cutting into my ability to get mine.....
~Buzadero
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Andrew
74 posts
Jan 15, 2009
10:58 AM
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Buddha writes
"All anyone really needs is Low F, G, A, Bb, C, D"
Yes, that's what I've got except that I've got a high F, not a low F (oh, and I've got a low D just for fun). But the other night I was listening to a Jason Ricci track where he starts in 2nd posn on a low F then goes into 3rd posn on a Bb, so I'll probably order that low F!
Also, as I said before, I seem to hear quite a lot played on the Eb that isn't jazz, so I'll probably buy one. Except that there are fans of the low Eb out there, but I don't think I can justify getting one of those.
Last Edited by on Jan 15, 2009 11:01 AM
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bluzlvr
107 posts
Jan 15, 2009
1:25 PM
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Are we to assume that it is impossible for Hohner or anybody else to mass produce harps of the custom made quality?
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Honkin On Bobo
16 posts
Jan 15, 2009
1:35 PM
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I wanted to weigh in on this topic as I have been curious about it for a while.
I've come to blues harp rather late in life but experiences in other walks of life had left me with the impression that 80% of the deal, had to do with the skill of the person wielding the tool and not the quality of the tool.
Let me explain, I'm a former competitive athlete, and I remember many instances from my adolescence, where the guy with most expensive gear was the worst guy in the the arena. I became successful enough to reach the minor league professional level in my sport. At that point everybody has the highest quality gear. Someone with inferior gear would clearly be at a disadvantage. But at the beginner through say, high school level, quality of gear bestows no great advantage. Indeed, guys with expensive gear who couldn't play were targets of derision among the athletes.
I just assumed this was generally true in the music world as well. Since I'm also noodling around with guitar, I'm particularly interested in the remark Chris (Buddha) made to the effect that a $3,000 guitar rather than a $200-$300 guitar will make the learning process for a beginner easier and quicker. I don't understand. If developing muscle memory in the form of ability to quickly and fluidly grab chords, and the ability to finger the fret board and strum/pick effectively are the first basic challenges, how will having a $3,000 guitar ease this process? I'm not picking a fight here, I have the utmost respect for Chris, and his YT page has helped me enormously with the harp. Do I have it all wrong? When you are just starting out on a musical instrument, will buying the high end version to practice on allow you to learn more easily and quickly?
An inquiring mind wants to know.
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Buddha
23 posts
Jan 15, 2009
2:01 PM
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bluzlvr-
I think it will be impossible for anybody to mass produce the quality of custom harps. Machines simply can't do what humans can in this case. Each reed on each harmonica on each brand has difference sweet points... there is another variable in that the brass itself is also changing per lot of mass produced harps.
The suzuki fabulous harp priced at $200 is the closest thing you can get that is close to a custom harp out of the box. It's a nice harp but even my $85 harp blows it out of the water because I know how to set up a harp. No machine can do what I do... and the people that programmed the machine is yet another factors, they can't do what I do either so the machine they program is one step further way. Setting the reeds is a combination of art and science.
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Buddha
24 posts
Jan 15, 2009
2:14 PM
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Honkin on Bobo-
You see to be equating price to quality, that's not the correct comparison. On my Martin, there's no fret buzz, the neck is straight and everything is in tune all the way down the fret board. Since I'm already a musician, tone and absolute notes matter. Also learning things like bar chords have been so much easier on the Martin. Somewhere along the way I aquired an el cheapo Alverez guitar. I'm not guitar player but I simply can't do the sames things on the alverez that I can on the martin.
To put it into perspective, in terms of racing, this is not about the most expensive gear, it's about having the right gear. You wouldn't run a race wearing dancing shoes you bought at payless shoes would you? No, you need running shoes right?
Think of custom harps as a pair of cleats and out of the box harps as regular athletic shoes. If you're playing football you're going to want shoes that help you dig in, of course you could wear athletic shoes but you won't be as effective nor as fast if you slip on the turf.
Also keep in mind, harmonicas are not blues instruments. They were made to play german folk music... you know polkas and other ooommmpaa music. A custom harmonica is set up to play blues or jazz or whatever. I take into account that some people wail away on certain notes in a certain position so those notes are gapped accordingly. Some players never touch the three blow so I use that note to help with the three draw bend etc...
In short, you're getting an instrument designed to play the way you play not an instrument that's used for playing beer barrel polka.
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Honkin On Bobo
17 posts
Jan 15, 2009
2:26 PM
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Thanks Chris,
I appreciate the clarification. I completely understand with harp why the quality argument might be true. As it is, I'm able to bend some holes but not others (we won't even talk about the three hole draw).
My inability to understand conceptually was more focused on your guitar remarks. Right now just trying to grab some basic chords is extremely difficult for me. Though I realize that mastering the harp is every bit as challanging as the guitar, for me, feeling like I'm at least playing something resembling music has been much easier on harp than guitar, hence my interest in your Martin remarks. Either way, thanks for your clarification and input.
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dambuster
4 posts
Jan 15, 2009
4:30 PM
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i would just like to say thanks to you buddha, for posting that info on how to contact you about building a custom harp for mysef and orthers , and i hope to place an order with you soon .ive taken on board the upturns and downturns of learning to play the harp ,a very tough instrument to play as i am finding out .but what i have found is even at my very early stages of learning i have stumbled across one or two sweet sounds that i have made and that drives me foward to create even more and better ones i just love it.and if there is a chance for me or anyone to play and practise on a custom built harmonica well then thats just fantastic,and why not its got me buzzing any way. many thanks again
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oldwailer
451 posts
Jan 15, 2009
9:33 PM
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This is an interesting thread. Now I'm all psyched up about getting a custom from Chris (as soon as the wife lets me).
Your remarks about the guitar hit home for me, Chris--I've been telling people for years to buy the very best guitar they can afford and to go the extra mile to get them set up properly so that they can make the learning a lot more fun and a lot more fruitful.
While reading this thread, I realized that, even though I am now committed to playing harp--and I have finally begun to give it the respect it deserves, I still had a bit of the thinking that it should be cheap and it is really just a toy--not a serious instrument. Certainly not as worthy as a Martin Guitar! (And I'm still jealous that I can't afford one)!
It is interesting to me to discover bits of lunacy in myself like this. . .
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Thunderfromheaven
10 posts
Jan 16, 2009
1:31 PM
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I have about 40 or so harps from cheap Huangs, golden melodys, Lee O's, Seydels, Hohners etc. I've been playing on or off for 15+ yrs and probaly grade as advanced intermediate.
Over that time I have found some off the shelf harps that are stiff to play on the lower draw notes and just take more effort to play even using the same key same model there are differences. Cheap Huangs can be really good or the reeds rattle from new. I have experimented with gapping but ruined harps and not always improved things.
Last year I bought 3 custom harps in A,C and D. They have cross harp gold combs with Hohners top of the range meister class plates and covers. I like the plastic combs for ease of cleaning.
The Harps were 33 UK pounds each (about $50 USD) and are hand tuned,with my prefered comb cover combo (he does a selection). This is less than an off the self cross harp but comes with the thicker Meisster class covers.
In the past I have blown out reeds on thiner plates as used on melodys trying to get the 1 1/2 draw step on 3 hole in a couple of days.
As a intermediate player I do not do harps of this quality any justice and feel like a novice sat behind the wheel of a Ferrari but to learn on hand tuned harps my progression has been far quicker as any problems caused by quality control in off the shelf harps are gone. This is most noticable when changing key as things just dont feel the same on shelf harps.
At first hand tuned harps looked expensive but I got 3 for $150 USD ! Cheaper than I could have got the regular harps.....how can you go wrong? Paid using paypal and shipped from UK to NZ quite cheaply. The guy even offered to hook up for a glass of wine when I was over in the UK!
Larry Adler used him, Charlie Musslewhaite uses him along with other well known musicians.
Worth a look if you want to see for yourself-
http://www.southx.biz/dannecker/shopcustomdiat.htm
Last Edited by on Jan 16, 2009 1:36 PM
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