Re: [Harp-L] Harp of Choice...



Bachman <harptime@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I think many of us would like to know what
> brand and models others are using and perhaps 
> explanations why. 

If I were selling harmonicas, I'd want to know what everybody was using.  As a player, I really only care about the instruments that the players who sound good to me use.   If you want to know what a dozen or so of the best-known pros use on stage and in the studio, go to:

http://hunterharp.com/propage1.html

In general, while most pros have a favorite brand and model, the preferred instrument varies from pro to pro.    Tom Ball uses Spec 20s right out of the box.  Lee Oskar uses off the shelf LOs (and I doubt anyone who's heard Lee would describe his tone as "shrill").  Some pros use Filiskos.  Some use standard Marine Band plates with LaVoie combs.  Etc., etc.

I'll sum it up: there are a lot of good instruments out there -- many more than there used to be -- and a good player can make any of the commercially available instruments sound good.  That said, every player has favorites -- I have harps that I favor for particular songs in my repertoire!

My case is mostly full of Lee Oskars, and they serve me well.  But I'm always on the lookout for harps that offer something a little different.  Why not?  They're pretty inexpensive.  Might as well check it out and see what all the fuss is about.  But in general, switching from one off the shelf harp to another in the same price range is not likely to transform any player.  Quality control at the major manufacturers ensures that there isn't a lot of outright junk being sold anymore, at least not by the majors.    

Regards, Richard Hunter
hunterharp.com





This archive was generated by a fusion of Pipermail 0.09 (Mailman edition) and MHonArc 2.6.8.