Re: [Harp-L] Custom Harmonicas - Worth It?



captron100@xxxxxxx wrote:
Wolf wrote:

I'm not well off. I can't justify buying expensive customized harmonicas that I will eventually
throw away. I'm too frugal. (I assume they eventually get thrown away, like stock harmonicas). Are
the customized harmonica users richer than the rest of us? Am I missing something?

Custom harps are not throw away instruments!
At least 2 customizers that i know of (and 2 of the best)offer inexpensive tuning and reed replacement services -- Joe Spiers (who is building an inventory as opposed to taking orders which keep people anxiously waiting) and Brad Harrison, who recently made some sales announcements on harp-L. IF you are a dedicated harp player and IF your playing is advanced enough, your playing will
benefit by using custom harmonicas. From my own personal experience, mine does and they are worth the costs to me. I also tweak my own harps and greatly improve their playability, but i don't come close to what
?these pros can do. And it takes me 5 hours or more to do the best job i can. Occasionally I'll slip and ruin a reed too, necessitating reed replacement and even more time and frustration than expected.
Btw, if you are a hard player, u might want to try a custom Seydel Beta Harp from fellow lister Ben
Bouman. With their stainless reeds, they seem to be able to take alot of abuse. I don't know if Ben
offers the tuning and reed replacement service. Also, he is not in the US, so shipping is a little more complicated and expensive.
ron - FL Keys



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All of my harmonicas are custom, now. I used to be harder on my harps and was always having to replace them. I have learned to play with less effort and get the same results. My harps rarely need repair, but when they do, it usually costs less to have them fixed, than to buy new ones. the initial cost was greater, but I would never go back to stock.

bullfrog




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