lightspace
1 post
Dec 27, 2009
8:48 AM
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I am just wondering after listening to this great player....?
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mickil
761 posts
Dec 27, 2009
9:12 AM
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I think that he, like most pros at the time, used Marine Bands. Having said that, there is a BBC recording where you can clearly see he's using a Golden Melody. If I were you, I'd have rummage around on YouTube; there are a few ST vids on there.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick a.k.a. HarmonicaMick
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rbeetsme
92 posts
Dec 27, 2009
9:45 AM
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Just ask Gary Onifero at sonnyjr.com, he knows all things Sonny.
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DevonTom
41 posts
Dec 27, 2009
11:06 AM
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Went from Marine Bands to Golden Melody as mickil said.
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waltertore
19 posts
Dec 27, 2009
11:16 AM
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I use to help sonny get around NYC about 30 years ago. He was mainly using marine bands and couple golden melodies. I learned a ton from him about making alot of sound without a lot of gear. Walter
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walter tore's sponotbeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=157137
href=http://www.youtube.com/user/waltertore
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Elwood
243 posts
Dec 27, 2009
12:48 PM
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I remember the Irish harp master Don Baker blagging on about how Sonny Terry was trying to convert him to Golden Melodies. I think Walter, DevonTom and Mickil got it right.
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waltertore
21 posts
Dec 27, 2009
1:03 PM
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He never went to all golden melodies when I was with him. He told me they played easier on certain keys and he liked the way they fit his hand. You have to remember back then, there was only 1 real choice for harps and that was hohner. They owned the market and kept prices high due to it. I was a hohner endorsee for about 20 years and they never gave one away. You just got a bit of a discount. That is why junior wells went to lee oskar. I asked him if he liked them and he said they were crap, but he got all he wanted for free... Walter
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walter tore's sponotbeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=157137
href=http://www.youtube.com/user/waltertore
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mickil
764 posts
Dec 27, 2009
2:24 PM
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Daft as I may be, that little bit of history actually gave me goosebumps. Man, is this the blues harp site to be on? It's like being a classical music buff and asking Mozart a question, and getting the answer only once removed from the original source. Woa!
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YouTube SlimHarpMick a.k.a. HarmonicaMick
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waltertore
22 posts
Dec 27, 2009
3:04 PM
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Hi mickil: Wow, I never think of things in that way. It is true that my generation was about the last to get to play with many of the blues greats. I miss those guys. I visit with them often when I play. they come and visit. I know that sounds strange, but it is true. They were of a different cut than todays players. Louisiana Red, who mentored me (I lived with him as a teenager) is one of the last left. Him, Hubert, Buddy Guy(in body only)... the list is getting shorter all the time. Walter
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walter tore's sponotbeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=157137
href=http://www.youtube.com/user/waltertore
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mickil
766 posts
Dec 27, 2009
3:23 PM
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Walter, Let's hope the new list thrives. Talk on here soon. Best regards.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick a.k.a. HarmonicaMick
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barbequebob
257 posts
Dec 27, 2009
10:10 PM
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Until the mid 70`s, he played stock MB`s, which were all tuned out of the factory to 7LJI and from the mid 70`s on, he began using GM`s, which are still tuned to this day to ET (and also why his chording and double stops aren`t as smooth, crisp and clear as his pre-75 stuff was).
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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oldwailer
987 posts
Dec 28, 2009
10:55 AM
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I'm gonna have to try a GM--but I'll have to retune it to 7LJI--the ET harps I have just don't sound right to me. . .
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lightspace
2 posts
Dec 29, 2009
8:39 AM
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Thanks a lot for the help...
I was watching http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuyaf5YBGh8&feature=related
A nice video of Sonny Terry when this question came to my mind!
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