Re: [Harp-L] The POWER of blocked TONE

[Philharpn@xxxxxxx]

The answer is fairly obvious. Most people do not walk into music stores and 
purchase the most exotic version of the instrument they're interested in, 
especially if it is a first-time purchase.

People also have preconceived ideas about what things are worth. Most 
first-time harmonica purchasers think a harmonica ought to cost $10 at most -- 
and are utterly shocked that a production model diatonic can cost $100. 

That's the purchaser's point of view -- I know a tiny bit about that since 
I deal with beginning harmonica players in my group classes.

For the manufacturers' point of view: Hohner came out with what is arguably 
the most advanced diatonic harmonica on the market: the XB-40. It is the 
answer to most harmonica players dreams: it bends at least a half-step 
blow/draw on every hole. Yet it is not a monster best-seller -- which it ought to 
be. Proving innovation does not pay off. Several years earlier, the 
Renaissance chromatic harmonica was released. Again, just what the chromatic players 
had been crying for, for years. Yet they refused to see it as worth more 
than a few hundred dollars (US) instead of its price of a few   thousand.

And my personal -- 20 years' worth -- observation, it that most harmonica 
players are not musically adventurous. There are a few exceptions. But most 
are not. 

Also note, I would love to walk into a store and purchase a spiral-tuned 
harmonica. I live in the suburban Detroit area -- and long before the state of 
Michigan went into a depression, most music stores only carried a few 
harmonicas (if you could find them under the dust layers) and we happy to sell 
them at full price. The only place you're going to find a spiral tuning is 
through a special order from Seydel or some customizer. 

Hope this helps.
See you at SPAH.

Phil Lloyd








In a message dated 5/8/10 8:18:13 AM, lkeefner@xxxxxxxxxxxx writes:


> Why doesn't Hohner or Seydel produce a beginner harp for the
> musically....curious.... people ( where I began and probably most of you
> too) in a spiral tuning say in low E or D?  Most people pick up what is
> available like a C Old Standby or Marine Band and think: "This thing is a
> piece of crap! If you start on the left side of the harp (like we read, 
> left
> to right) we find notes missing, notes duplicated, and the 2 draw sounds
> like something is stuck in it. 
> 
> As we move up the harp we find some sequence
> of notes, but remember this a squeaky C harp, we might be able to pick out
> Old Susanna if someone hasn't yet ripped it out of our mouth and thrown it
> out the car window. You might want to try to play along with the radio but
> not many songs are in C so again, frustration. Eventually, you give it to
> the dog to chew or toss it in the junk drawer and forget it. 
> 
> Admittedly I suck, but it wasn't until I learned to paddy my harps that I 
> was able to
> play much of anything that didn't hurt my own ears. Instead of braying 
> about
> how wonderful Howard, Jason, etc., is we could do our beloved instrument  
> more
> good by promoting this "training wheels" concept so that beginners 
> actually
> go out and buy a second harmonica. Luke
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Frank franze" <franze52@xxxxxxx>
> To: "harp-l" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2010 6:46 AM
> Subject: [Harp-L] The POWER of tongue blocked TONE
> http://tinyurl.com/25s6wgn
> 
> 
> The POWER of tongue blocked TONE
> >>>http://tinyurl.com/25s6wgn<http://tinyurl.com/25s6wgn><<< I love to 
> "Lip
> Block" too... happy trails and happy harpin!!!
> 
> 
> 
>