Luke Juke
141 posts
Feb 20, 2010
12:57 PM
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All my harps are marine band style ie: mb's, solist pro's and manji's. I'm learning to tb at the moment and am learning to tb the 1 and 2 holes. I'm thinking of getting a golden melody style harp as I think there might be a little bit more cover plate to play with. What would you tb'ers out there use?
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Oxharp
154 posts
Feb 20, 2010
1:02 PM
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West Weston Harp, No Contest.
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Oxharp
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harpwrench
169 posts
Feb 20, 2010
1:02 PM
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Marine Band.... the whole point of TB'ing is the chordal techniques and the smooth sound of the MB tuning.
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Luke Juke
142 posts
Feb 20, 2010
1:13 PM
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Marine band it is then! Does West Weston do reed work Russ. From what I've read on his myspace page, it seems he just seals the comb and puts screws in?
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Nastyolddog
242 posts
Feb 20, 2010
5:36 PM
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Hi Luke some people preffer Harps like Susuki Promasters for the rounded coverplates extending the full length of the comb there easy on the lips no ruff edges,,i use SP-20's i like there tone i did have MR350 Pro's but sold them,,take this into account you are switching from LP to TB your tounge is going to be in contact with the comb pick a Harp with a less abrasive textured comb i found Metal combs and wood combs are very abrasive on my Tounge so i preffer Plastic combs and SP 20's are my Harp of Choice,,My top secret TIP for SP 20's or other plastic combs with sharp edges take apart get some 1200-fine wet & Dry then sand the rough edges and corners of the comb smooth..nice a smooth on the transitions from holes 1 to 10 now..
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nacoran
1167 posts
Feb 20, 2010
6:38 PM
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Nasty- My Seydel has rounded covers. I love it.
Luke, you might also want a custom comb or at least a plastic comb. A good custom comb will have the tines at rounded off at the end, sanded down and sealed, which will be easier on your mouth tongue blocking.
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harpwrench
170 posts
Feb 20, 2010
6:49 PM
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Depends on your lip/mouth geometry, there's different ways to TB...I lay my tongue on top the harp, but my lips are full enough to make room. Tine roughness was never an issue, it helps keep the spit out of the holes (prevents swelling on stock MB), and my tone is satisfying (to me). Gary Primich did this too.
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Kingley
888 posts
Feb 21, 2010
2:09 AM
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Luke - No Steve "West" Weston just seals the combs and puts them together with screws. He doesn't do any reed work on them apart from some minor gapping work.
I have a couple of Steves harps and they are nice, but to be honest if you seal your Marine Band combs and assemble them with screws then your own harps would be just as good with a little practice.
A fully customised harp is a different beast altogether. It entails a lot more work on every aspect of the harmonica. It's far more time intensive and that is reflected in the cost.
As to which harp is best for tongue blocking. The answer is all of them.
Once you have the technique down the brand makes no difference. I play Marine Bands because I prefer their overall tonality. Not because they are better for tongue blocking.
Tongue blocking certain techniques does give a sweeter sound on the Marine Band than some other harps but this is purely down to the compromised JI tuning and not the physical properties of the harp.
Last Edited by on Feb 21, 2010 2:15 AM
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Tryharp
263 posts
Feb 21, 2010
2:27 AM
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Luke,
I tongue block 90%.
I think one of the Key things is this...when you are learning to tongue block you are going to spend a lot of time on one hole trying to bend it etc = a lot of saliva going down there = swelling with a marine band, and the associated problems. I think a sp20 is much better for learning, same tuning. When you get good at it and dry up, move to a marine band if you want.
Tryharp
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Oxharp
156 posts
Feb 21, 2010
6:37 AM
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HI Luke,
Kingley is right with the exception that Steve also tunes the harp to adifferent tunning than the stock MB I dont know what tunning scheme he uses but it is different from my stock MB.
The other thing to think about is that when you have this down your harps are going to last alot longer before they go out of tune or a reed fails. My harps are lasting ages now where as before I would blow them out in a couple of weeks because of bad technique and too much wind pressure with LP.
I have not blown aharp out now for nearly a year. It could also be because I have 2 of every key and only play them for 20 mins at a time so the reeds are not going to fatigue so quickly.
I still think West's Harps are fantastic value for the money. You could do it all yourself but then why do the likes of Paul Lamb, Lee Sankey, Pete Welland etc all use Steve for harps, retunes and repairs all the time.
Its up to you but try one and make up your own mind.
The bottom line is its your money. How you invest it into your sound is a personnal choice and does need some thought.
Regards
Russ
Hey Luke I am going down to London Friday the 26th to see Son of Dave at the Blues Kitchen, anytakers?
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Oxharp
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Kingley
891 posts
Feb 21, 2010
6:48 AM
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I agree the Steve's harps are good value for money, he is also a really nice guy and very helpful. I would happily buy a harp from Steve again. But I also think it's important to learn to do these things for yourself. Then you have a better understanding of the mechanics of the harmonica.
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6SN7
24 posts
Feb 21, 2010
9:34 AM
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I'm w/ tryharp.
For me, for the $, TBing on the Special 20's and Lee Oskar's are the easiest out of 30$< harps.
you won't blister your tongue and you can spit all over the place. wouldn't wanna do that to a 175$ turbo harp, woodcha?
for me, i started by TBing the 2-3 and blow/drawing the 1-4 .easy baby
work out the scale and you can do a bill clarke baby!
and the different tones using the sides of the tongue...oh yeah!
i started playing harp playing the tunes inside a Good and Plenty box. Sent me down the path of harmonica ruin!
have fun
I played single/pucker for years. finally a friend showed me TBing. It was like going from speaking english to speaking spanish. and not only speaking but thinking. and after ten years, i'm still trying to find all the cool stuff to do. but that's the tone i'm chasing.
but seriously, when I now play "Oh Susanah" or "Saints", TBing it sounds a butt load more interesting to my ears, but that' s me.
Last Edited by on Feb 21, 2010 9:37 AM
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Ev630
69 posts
Feb 21, 2010
1:05 PM
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I'd skip the Seydels if you have a beard or moustache. Those things have a gap in the plates at the 1 hole that is an eye-watering son of a bitch. (Meiesterklasse also have this problem). Also, they have a very compressed tone, like an SP20.
Oh and as regards TBs - the metal comb Seydels are like sticking your tongue on a battery.
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Ev630
70 posts
Feb 21, 2010
1:06 PM
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MB Deluxe harps are the way to go for TBs.
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barbequebob
520 posts
Feb 21, 2010
1:30 PM
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If you're new to TB, the first thing you need to remember is that you have to readjust your embouchure because the mouth needs to be more open and more harp is gonna be in your mouth than it was when puckering and that' something players who never TB'd before and just puckered often don't get, and it is VERY IMPORTANT to learn and make any and ALL necessary adjustments.
Truth be told, outside of shaving moustaches or beards off completely, the only way you can truly avoid having those hairs getting caught is to kee them NEATLY TRIMMED at ALL times and the minute you let them become a bushy mess, you're asking for it. I know from when I had one myself.
The tongue has to be on the harp LIGHTLY and NEVER forced or that alone will cause a huge moisture/slobbering in your harps problem.
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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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Jfllr1
161 posts
Feb 21, 2010
2:56 PM
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Anything smooth thats tuned like a marine band...
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"Blow as thou pleaseth"
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MichaelAndrewLo
171 posts
Feb 21, 2010
7:01 PM
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Good harp? I'd rather have a good mouth for tongue blocking..
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Nastyolddog
248 posts
Feb 21, 2010
7:11 PM
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Hi M-A Plastic surgery is very expensive Plastic Comb Harmonicas are cheaper,,the dangers of getting Plastic surgery done to your mouth cavity Cheaply in Forin country is you may think you will get a new Mouth cavity suited to playing HARMONICA but more than likely end up with a Butt hole to Blow out of..Your new Cavity might be so big you end up Swollowing Harmonicas Not a good idea i think Bro..Luke mate just get a new Plastic comb Harmonica mate..
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