tookatooka
251 posts
Jun 29, 2009
4:39 AM
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I've only ever had problems with blowing out reeds 4 and 5 draw. It would be interesting to get some idea which ones you've blown out in the past to see if their is some sort of trend, or is it only 4 and 5 draw that are the weak link? I've not blown out a blow reed yet.
I've been playing for just on two years now, and I expect most of the problems were caused due to learning to bend, overblow and just not playing the instrument in the most effective and gentle manner.
Now that I have mastered the bends and (almost) the overblows, I'm finding my harps are lasting a good deal longer. Seeing as the prices have risen by about a third in the last two years, that has to be a good thing.
When I'm not blowing, I'm drawing.
Last Edited by on Jun 29, 2009 4:40 AM
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sopwithcamels266
153 posts
Jun 29, 2009
4:56 AM
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tookatooka: It is nearly always 5 draw for me or sometimes a touch flat on 4 draw only notice on octives 6 seems fine.
My harps last along time mainly because it's not my first instrument.
Having said that are you out gigging yet?
The reason I ask is because if you play with guys you do not know who don't understand harp,or who really don't want the harp players around through whatever reasons,the following will happen.
You will do a very quick tweak on your sound on your sit in or set,then you play.
Inexperience will make volume on guitars particularly increase vocals everything within your first number,yea you will compete for vol for a while but sure enough when you get home if not yet discovered 5 draw will be blown.
It won't be your fault it will be the AMATEURS you just played with.
I think a good rule of thumb make a good observation of a band before leaping in.
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Preston
438 posts
Jun 29, 2009
5:13 AM
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In over 2.5 years I've only blown one reed out. The 3 draw.
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The Gloth
120 posts
Jun 29, 2009
5:55 AM
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I think the 4-5 draw I most frequently blow out. Sopwith, you're right : it always happens when I play with a band using electric guitars ans bass. It happened to me again two weeks ago.
Now I'm gonna be more cautious and make them lower the sound if I don't hear myself properly.
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mickil
294 posts
Jun 29, 2009
6:22 AM
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tookaX2,
I used to busk a lot using LOs. It would always be 4 or 5 that went tits up, but I can't remember whether it was blow or draw, though I suspect the latter.
Gloth,
'Now I'm gonna be more cautious and make them lower the sound if I don't hear myself properly.'
Now, there's a thread and a half in that topic. If I've got time later and you've not already done so, I'll kick it off.
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'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
http://www.youtube.com/user/SlimHarpMick
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Tuckster
201 posts
Jun 29, 2009
7:44 AM
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Yup,4 or 5 draw. As I became more experienced,it happened less and less. Now it rarely happens,except when I play with a band. As far as I'm concerned 95% of them play too loud. Recently saw Jason sit in with Anna Popavic and I couldn't hear him comping. My ears were ringing after the show. It was LOUD!
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The Gloth
121 posts
Jun 29, 2009
8:26 AM
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For me, the problem doesn't occur so much in live performance, because there are monitors onstage so I can hear myself ; it's more in rehearsal, because the guitars and vocals push up their amps to go over the drums.
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tookatooka
252 posts
Jun 29, 2009
8:37 AM
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SOP. No I don't go out gigging. I'm only an interested pleasure player, playing for my own enjoyment and any other poor bugger within earshot. I only play accoustic at the moment, but I am toying with the idea of a MicroCube so that I can feed in some backing tracks.
I guess my blowouts were mainly due to inexperience and poor technique. I know I used to blow and draw way too hard to get bends and overblows but now I really do appreciate that a lot of delicate finesse is required really.
Overblows in particular were a problem but now I virtually only need to whisper with the correct mouth/tongue/throat combination and they are there but I need to perfect them further yet.
So far it seems 4 and 5 draw are the main contenders.
Thanks Guys.
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When I'm not blowing, I'm drawing.
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