Re: Big Walter's Customized Harp - Mystery Solved!



- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Allen Stratyner" <astratyner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 9:08 PM
Subject: RE: Big Walter's Customized Harp - Mystery Solved!


>
> Howard,
>           I'm pretty certain he used a soloist tuned 364 on "Have Mercy"
on
> that recording he did with Carey Bell You can see him playing a 364 on the
> cover art. That is one of my favorite harps, and I use it on gigs a lot.

Hi Allen,
What he was using was a REAL Marine Band Soloist (sometimes known under the
name of the Hohner School Band Model), which was discontinued in 1975, and I
own two of these. They were NOT made from the 364 platform, as it has been
since around 1983/84, after a large demand for them came as a result of a
large letter writing campaign. Unfortunately, the one based on the 364
platform is clearly inferior in both tone quality as well as playability.
The original model when under the name of the School Band Model was what was
often used in some public schools that had taught harmonica many decades ago
as a stepping stone for learning how to play a chromatic.

Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA





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