custom diatonic harmonicas



Hi Everyone,
I can't help making some comments on the recent custom harp thread.
Some people seem to be of the opinion that it is a simple process to turn
a stock harp into a professional instrument.
Nothing could be further from the truth! Anymore then I could watch a
video, and read a book or two about rebuilding automobile engines, and
then rebuild one myself, and have to rely on it to get me to gigs.
If I only had to go to "work" and it broke down on the way, I could just
call in sick, but music is not like that! I absolutely have to be where I
am supposed to be and my instruments have to be in tune and if one of my
harps blows out during a gig, I absolutely need to have a replacement at
hand.
So, if you are going to "customize" your own harmonicas, you should
seriously conceder how important they are to you, and what your motivation
is for doing so.
Even though I am a full time customizer and musician, I conceder my set of
Filisko and Sleigh harps one of the best investments I ever made!
I had no idea how much of a difference there was between a stock harmonica
and good customized one, until I was able to actually play one, and really
give it a workout!
So, lets conceder motivation. If blowing harp is just a hobby and you
enjoy tinkering, then by all means see if you can improve their
performance by gapping them, or whatever else you want to try, but
conceder this, I have been doing this full time for several years. It
takes me a full days work to customize a harp, and I know what I am doing.
If you are going to experiment, then expect to ruin allot of harps!
If I call in a plumber or electrician to work on my house, I expect to pay
him a days pay. If a customizer spends a day working on your musical
instrument, then he also deserves a days pay. Right?
Anyway, IMHO if you want the best instrument you can get, buy one from a
good customizer.
All the best,
Bob Meehan
145 Keenan Ave
Goose Creek, South Carolina 29445
phone 843-670-3154
web site bobmeehan.net





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