Matthias,

Agree on the Charlie McCoy and Sonny Boy examples of great harp work. And also that there is a lot of middle ground there. Hell, that blow-for-all-you're-worth technique even works pretty well on a lot of the Dylan stuff.

I just wish people might look past it when they shell out the 30 to 40 bucks (they ain't cheap no more) for a harp and plan to imitate it every friggin' time.

Even Lennon (the story goes) took a few harpoon tips from Delbert McClinton before he played his solo on Love Me Do. Stood him in good stead. He used it pretty much unchanged for a few others afterwards.