[Harp-L] Re : Just a thought.....

["Hurricane Ramón" <party_man1@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Don Grubbs axed :


excerpt.

" Would you guys mind sharing some info about the harps you carry to a gig "

=================================================================

Hurricane sez :

When I go to  jam or to sit in with some " hitters " I carry a Huang 12 pack with a few higher regestered harps in D & G , this way no matter what the singers range is or anyones personal " tastes " in key choices ( like horn players & ther like ) so I don't miss out a thing and then of course I have a Super 64 Hohner Chromatic on hand as well . I also take the same quiver with me on my own gigs should a horn player or a gifted singer arrive and ask me if they could do a song with the band . 

My harp mic's are :

Shure Bros. SM58

Audio Technica's equivalent to a SM58 ( reall a super smooth mic , in fact it's a touch sweeter than the SM58 shure can't remember the model now ) .

These others are Bullets :

Shure Bros 520D <===<<<- Love it to death a " backbone ' of backbones in the " harp " world .

Hohner Blues Blaster for that famous " Squawk " 

Chrome American Michrophone circa 1954 <====<<<- I will kill anyone who touches it ....heh heh ( Oh well , maybe a stink eye look :) ....

In the past I was first a Hohner Marine Band & Blues Harp and " The Old Standy man then I took to  Golden Melodys & Special 20's which I use when I can't get what I want . I also like Lee Oskars & Suzukis  , they are fine instruments always if you first give them ( all harmonicas diatonic's or Chro's and any brand you please ) a bellows test . The Hohner Cross harp I like allot too , saaaaaweeet !

With no affiliation to Huang :

I check my harp ( Huangs and all ) with a bellows before I walk out with them . 

¿ Why ?


I thought you'd never ask :

By doing this I rarely have to " tweak " a harp at all ight out of the box , and these that make the " cut " via a bellows check can and do well on over draws & over blows with no hitch at all .

I prefer to be the player rather than the tech harmonica tweaker , seeing all thes fine harmonica techs is truly a cool time in the world of harmonicas . I believe these people are helping the harmonica go more places by fact of the many really skilled harp techs there are now a days comepared to when I began in 1954 .

-- You newbies are fortunate and my former self from the past is jealous heh heh yep you a lucky person to be a harmonica player now a days with what I mentioned for the newbies to be able to buy so many differrnt brands comnpared to only one in the 50's & 60's here in the USA . I envy you guys because of the numbers of players these days are making leaps and bounds in comparison to the harpers of the 50's & 60's . It's a good thang tech's R Cool.

Don , thank you for taking the time to axe a really good question only a full time musician ( pro or not )  can answer due in part to the amout of " time "  under our collective " belts " .

In defense of woodies :

" Marine Bands , Blues Harps & Old Standys " :

These are the harps I learned on and what developed my playing skill & style , and also taught me ( out of need I should clarify ) how to tweak a harp for any kind of " sound " from over draws to over blows and the " soft touch " sounds where nuances is the key to contrast in ones over all sound & style .

- - But - -

When I discover plastic combed bodys I needed not to be a tech as much as I had to with the woodies and that lost time was then channeled to actual practice and playing to improve my playing period , as I mentioned I can tweak & retune a harp with relative ease now .

- - But - -


! I'd rather be sailing on my harps instead :) !   

L8R's Blood :)

Sincerely :


H.R. 

Aka :

Party_Man1@xxxxxxxxxx

_______________________________________________
Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com
The most personalized portal on the Web!