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beginner forum: for novice and developing blues harp players >
Is it my imagination?
Is it my imagination?
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New but determined
54 posts
Dec 27, 2015
5:01 PM
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I seem to be collecting a few harmonicas and have noticed something, the ones I've been playing a lot, seem to be way more playable than the ones that don't get played as frequently. This is because of my preference for certain keys except for when I got my first Crossover in the key of C, it instantly played better than all of my other harps, but the more I played it, it seems the better we both got. But I wasn't sure so when I got a second Crossover but in the key of A, I expected the same kind of playability and soul the first one had only it wasn't so. So I play every day, a lot and I'm noticing my newer Crossover is playing and sounding almost as good as the older one, yes they're in different keys but still I think the statement qualifies. Then I go back and think about my two Sp20's which are in different keys but playability on the newer one almost made me angry it seemed so bad. I made some reed adjustments and it did help so I kept playing it. I'll do a thing where I'll play a song over and over but switch harps each time- I have no idea or logic as to why I do that but I do. Well the older Sp20 in G was becoming my best harp but after several weeks I noticed I was choosing the newer one in the key of C as the chosen pocket harp when I left home. It now plays every bit as good as the older one and I thought of adding an A to the Sp20's but had second thoughts because do I really want to go through the break in period just because, it's not like I need another SP20 as I've chosen the Crossover as my harp of choice (but SP20's have a special sound all of their own and it's very sweet) except for the LOW harps which will end up being Manji's.
This is fun, and I know I'm adapting to each harp as I practice and that is part of it but I do believe each harp gains personality and hopefully soul as it breaks in.
Last Edited by New but determined on Dec 27, 2015 5:07 PM
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Ian
188 posts
Dec 27, 2015
5:44 PM
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It sounds like, to me at least, that you are In the maelstrom of early harp confusion.
The difference between harps, when it really boils down to it is very slim... Too slim really to make serious longterm choices unless you are quite far along.
Myself, I have in the last 3 months or so, slowly settled down and stopped worrying about which one is the holy grail of harps.
You will get there, it just takes a while, and believe me I do not want to sound patronising as I really was in the same place as you not that long ago!
I mean, the special 20 and the crossover have the same reeds.... The same reed plates! .... Just slightly different covers, different combs and slightly different tuning.
So.. I would say keep enjoying the journey and don't worry about what turns you take.
FYI, my journey went something like this....
Lee oskar, bluesmaster, manji, sp20,manji ,crossover,manji, crossover, sp20, deluxe, manji ..... And so and and so on!
Oh... And to add a spanner in to the works.... Have you tried a marine band deluxe? Same tuning as the sp20, but more similar to the crossover in shape and construction?
Finally. To actually answer your question, Yes they do get easier to play after a little playing imo too.
Last Edited by Ian on Dec 27, 2015 5:46 PM
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Glass Harp Full
78 posts
Dec 27, 2015
8:45 PM
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In my experience harps do get better the more you play them. I try not to judge a harp until I've been playing it for a couple of weeks. I think I also get used to playing a particular harp and key and adjust my playing to that.
Lately I've been mainly working with a G harp and then when I went back to a C harp I found it difficult to play because I'd lost familiarity with the layout of the notes and the sound. I think I'll try to make sure I use a number of harps on a regular basis from now on.
Last Edited by Glass Harp Full on Dec 27, 2015 8:47 PM
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MindTheGap
900 posts
Dec 28, 2015
12:51 AM
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I agree with Ian and GHF. I find they do get easier with playing - that's the observation. Is it coz you're 'breaking them in' or coz you're getting used to them? Personally I think the latter (in spades), but I don't care.
I particularly agree with Ian's point that keep on doing what you like doing. I bet you'll get some advice to cease, and be a proper student and stick to one harp and learn your technique properly. Did the advisors do that? - I bet not! Point is, it's a motive for playing and practising and, whichever way you cut it, you have to put the hours in to learn and instrument.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Dec 28, 2015 12:52 AM
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SuperBee
3137 posts
Dec 28, 2015
2:18 PM
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I firmly believe the harp breaks the player in. I don't believe harps break in or get stiff from not being played.
Playing different harps searching for the best..sure, everyone does that, then they look back and realise what they did and it seems they were silly...they think if they had only known then what they now understand they would have saved the energy they spent on that exercise of trying different models...so they advise people whom they see going through the same thing in accordance with their experience.
Because be careful with a fool, you know someday you'll make him smart...
People can't help trying to warn others but people gotta get they're own wisdom...secondhand wisdom isn't always easy to take...my wisdom doesn't contemplate the possibility of ever liking to play a harp with full length covers but plenty love them...
Ok, enough of being on topic...it's tangent day for me..,
I recently restored s Suzuki Hammond. Had a broken 4 draw and the owner told me he'd hated the harp from day 1. You might know, the Hammonds are tuned to ET. I happened to have a brand new promaster draw plate in the appropriate key, so I used that rather than go through the hassle of replacing a Suzuki reed (spot welded, it's a process I can do without) and retuned the whole harp like a special 20. I also adjusted all the reeds as I would if it was my harp. The 3 draw bend was unstable like on all Suzuki harps with that mensur so I put some nail varnish in the corners of the fixed end of the blow reed which settled it down somewhat...I think if you work on the embouchure you can eliminate this problem but I always have it with these Suzuki models.
Anyway, I put it back together and played it prior to final cleanup. Tuning was good and reeds all doing what they should but I felt bad, or less than great, because I though the harp just sounded bleh. No lively tone, no lovely tone, just bland and muted and dull. I felt sure the customer would be disappointed but I was at a loss to think of anything else I could do. I'd done my best, and the thing was just uninspiring. At least I didn't charge him much and some of the other harps I'd done for him were really great. Ok, the rocket was great, and the pro harp came up quite well.
A few days after he got the harps, I saw a picture of the Hammond on Facebook, along with a story about what a great harp it is and how I'd done a great job restoring it. Of all the harps I did, that was the one he was really happy about.
So...I conclude there is just no accounting for taste. My aim is to return the customer a harp I'd be happy to have in my own kit, and I felt on this occasion I'd failed.
It also makes me wonder about the promasters I have and feel are so awful I just don't know what to do with them. I put sp20 covers on 1, and I do think it's somewhat better. Maybe I just really do dislike full length covers.
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