Harmonica Players Unite!

Subject: RE: Harmonica Players Unite!
From: Mike Billo
Date: 02 Jun 99 - 09:40 PM

Right you are Mark. Mel Lyman! What a player! I loved everything he played. Too bad he came to such a bad end. What's your secret to getting your harps to last so long? If I get 6 months out of one I'm pleased. I tried the Lee Oskars with the replacement reeds, replacement housing, special tool set, etc. and realized that my Lee Oskar harmonica finally eneded up costing more than some of the cars I've owned. You've also jogged my memory about the you mentioned. What ever became of those?

Subject: RE: Harmonica Players Unite!
From: Mark Roffe
Date: 02 Jun 99 - 07:40 PM

I wear it on a holder around my neck, so's I can play guitar at the same time. Which reminds me...can anyone tell me where to find a really fine (looking) harp holder that used to appear in some music magazines? It was kind of pricey, adjustable in a few directions, padded, and I recall it had some large round pivot points at two corners.

I bought a set of Hohner Blues Harps when our ship stopped in Puerto Rico in 1972, and they are all still working just fine. Actually the G harp got a little quiet on the two lowest reeds a couple of years ago, so I bought a black Hohner, can't remember the model name. I tried a Lee Oskar because of the replaceable reeds, but the sound was a little thin for my taste.

My favorite players are Tony Little Sun Glover, the infamous Mel Lyman, Jimmy Reed, the sloppy Bob Dylan, and Musselwhite and Butterfield.

Mark

Subject: RE: Harmonica Players Unite!
From: Mike Billo
Date: 02 Jun 99 - 07:28 PM

I use an amp because it gives me control over my own tone and volume, as opposed to the soundman, PA owner, singers, or whoever else is at control of the knobs. In a large club/concert setting everything gets miked, and the mix usually is not favorable to the harmonica. With my own amp, I can consistently get a sound I like.

Subject: RE: Harmonica Players Unite!
From: LEJ
Date: 02 Jun 99 - 06:42 PM

Mike...Big Walter was right. I get the best tone by positioning the harp about 1/2 inch from the mic, then cupping the harp and mike together in the hollow made by the palms of my hands. It gives a nice resonant effect. I would like to try an amp for the harp, because I think it may achieve a more distorted electric effect for the rock-blues we do. Why do you use an amp in folk/country style?

LEJ

Subject: RE: Harmonica Players Unite!
From: Mike Billo
Date: 02 Jun 99 - 05:41 PM

I play diatonics only. Marine Bands and Big Rivers, Special 20's. I play mostly first position. American and Irish fiddle tunes, Cowboy songs, folk, etc. I used to play (cross-harp)Blues exclusively, but not too much anymore. No particular reason, just drifted away from it. Learned a lot from Big Walter "Shakey" Horton during a tenure as his guitarist. I always use a seperate amp for harp. A Roland Cube-60 with a generic Radio Shack Microphone, with treble rolled off and reverb way up. My heroes are Sonny Terry, Robert Cooksey of Leecan and Cooksey (I know, you're thinkin' whose that? Believe me, this guy was a MONSTER!!),DeFord Bailey, and, of course, Big Walter. I'm also an admirer of Mark Graham. For sheer technique, Howard Levy and Norton Buffalo are high on my list. Most useful tip from Big Walter (the king of tone) was to keep as tight a seal around the harp as possible with your hands , and blow HARD.

Subject: Harmonica Players Unite!
From: LEJ
Date: 02 Jun 99 - 04:33 PM

Who out there plays harmonica? What kind of harp, and what kind of music do you play? Who are your harmonica heroes? Do you have any "tricks-of-the-trade" you would share?

I play diatonics only, usually blues harps and some Marine Band, cross-harp style. I play a lot of shuffle blues, also rock n roll and country. I usually play A and D harps to accompany my vocals, using Unisphere mics for both vocal and harp, playing harp through the PA with treble knocked way back and a windscreen on the mic. Anyone use a separate amp for harp? I am a great admirer of the harp work of Sonny Terry, Paul Butterfield, Charlie Musselwhite and Howard Levy.

LEJ