Minimum number of gob irons?

Subject: Minimum number of gob irons?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 03:52 AM

Watching a blues harpist this week with a suitcase of harps (harmonicas, gob irons) but seemingly only using four or five all evening* (including, I believe one chromatic one- if those are the ones with the knob on the side), and thinking back to Sonny Terry with his multipocketed dungarees full of harps and at the other end of the scale, Jesse Fuller with one on a neck rack, made me wonder: what is the minimum number a blues harpist can get away with? From some earlier threads, blues harpists on the 'Cat all seem to have at least a dozen...

RtS
(I don't really need to know, but just curious)
[* and he changed his cup mike almost as often, seemed to have three of those)

Subject: RE: Minimum number of gob irons?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 04:03 AM

One would be the minimum

Subject: RE: Minimum number of gob irons?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 04:13 AM

G,D,A,F,B Flat,C are ones I currently use but am saving up for an E one cos the cross harping in A for E involves too much sucking.

Subject: RE: Minimum number of gob irons?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 04:19 AM

In some cases, none would be the recommended maximum.

If you play with other musicicans, you'd need to keep up with whatever keys they used. If you only play with yourself ...

When my grandfather was a lad (he used to tell me), all the chaps had mouth-organs, as they were known. Most of his mates played a C harp, which is relatively low-pitched, while he played a G harp, which is higher. They could always hear him coming from afar by the pitch of his tin sandwich. Having more than one may be because of a personal preference for the pitch.

Steve
PS My mom used to play the mouth-organ, ad she can still whistle too -- pretty good for a girl, eh?

Subject: RE: Minimum number of gob irons?
From: mooman
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 05:51 AM

The minimum number is one...there is no maximum number (as in the number of pens and pencils a scientist may carry in his shirt breast pocket).

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Minimum number of gob irons?
From: Hamish
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 06:31 AM

Well for sessions you need D and G. Sometimes A, C or F, but not often. For soloing you could get away with one. For playing fills when singing - probably on a rack while playing guitar - you need as many as the keys you'll be singing in. Hence I have some "bizarre" keys such as a B cos that's the key I like to sing a couple of particular songs in. For accompanying others, then you'll need as many as keys they might choose i.e. 12.

...or, then again, the tunes may be using a melodic minor - which is posible but messy to spoof by bending the necessary notes - in which case you'll need 12 melodic minor specials as well.

So, in short, the answer is "it depends..."

Subject: RE: Minimum number of gob irons?
From: catspaw49
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 06:42 AM

Actually, I've heard it argued that zero is the appropriate number. The guy who suggested this was referring to me at the time though so I don't know if that holds true across the board...........

Spaw

Subject: RE: Minimum number of gob irons?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 07:12 AM

Its a bit like whistles.I normally carry at least six,but usually only play the C and D. The others come into their own for playng accompanment for singers,as sometimes a low whistle fits better than a higher pitched one.Being a real smatt arse I can play in a lot of keys on each one,which i know is NOT possible with a basic harmonica

Subject: RE: Minimum number of gob irons?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 07:45 AM

I dunno about blues, but D and G, non-vibrato are adequate for Irishish sessions. I had a great little double-sided D and G like that one which went walkabout.

One advantage of not having many is it reduces the temptation to use it all the time. It's a great sound to put into the mix except when it isn't. (The same as you can say of the bodhran.)

Subject: RE: Minimum number of gob irons?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 09:24 AM

I used to have a coupe of tremolo jobs in my teens, but I decided they were too naff when I got into "proper" folk. Now I'm old enough to know better, I reckon they would go down well, used in moderation. any thoughts?

Steve

Subject: RE: Minimum number of gob irons?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 10:07 AM

Yeah, like most questions on the Mudcat the answer is ..."It depends"!
Thanks for your input.

RtS
(who only uses one gob iron for train noises!)

Subject: RE: Minimum number of gob irons?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 02:26 PM

The tremolo ones work well with English tunes, Steve, as used by Brass Monkey.

I prefer vampers for blues (Mr Red - you're supposed to be doing more sucking than blowing in blues) and for song accompaniment as you can get more expression.

As for numbers - I've get lerds and lerds.

Subject: RE: Minimum number of gob irons?
From: Cluin
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 04:45 PM

DEpends on the type of music you're gonna do. For some jazzy stuff maybe one chromatic one as well.

Subject: RE: Minimum number of gob irons?
From: Tyke
Date: 06 Nov 03 - 04:49 PM

Enough to fill a Banjo Case leaving no room for the Banjo!

Subject: RE: Minimum number of gob irons?
From: Hamish
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 04:31 AM

Awjeez- yes chromatics, too. I'd forgotten them. But you'd need them to do the Larry Adler or even Stevie Wonder stuff. So Ithink we're up to about 48. Then again you could include specialist bass ones and long-scale ones, too. Oh, say a couple of hundred ought to cover the various pemutations safely.

But then again if all you want to do is make train noises that might be regarded as overkill.

Subject: RE: Minimum number of gob irons?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 11 Nov 03 - 04:51 AM

Hohner very considerately do chromatics in several keys, for those (like me) who can't be bothered to learn to play the C chromatic properly.

I always fancied either a chord harp or a bass harp. Remember the harmonica bands that were so popular up to the early sixties? "One more time!" They're all blow and no suck (the harps, not the bands -- even Cedric).

Steve

Subject: RE: Minimum number of gob irons?
From: GUEST, Mikefule
Date: 11 Nov 03 - 05:23 PM

In response to:
< I used to have a coupe of tremolo jobs in my teens, but I decided they were too naff when I got into "proper" folk. Now I'm old enough to know better, I reckon they would go down well, used in moderation. any thoughts?>>

Tremelo-tuned harmonicas are the work of the Devil. After 20 years of playing straight diatonic harmonica, I produced a tremelo tuned harmonica at a session and a friend said, "Now *that* sounds like a mouth organ." But they sound so fussy that all the subtlety of tonguing and hand movements is wasted.

I only play AT blues, but I play a fair amount of folk and Morris music. I NEED a 14 hole in G, and the only one available is the Marine Band. A 12 hole will do. The problem is you have to play in the upper register in many tunes because of the 'missing notes' at the bottom. (Where melodeonists just cross the rows.)

12 and 14 holers are only available in C and G (major). The C is waaaaay too low, and sounds muddy and 'orrible.

D is a good second key for playing 'straight'.

I prefer the sound of a C, though. The other advantage is that as most melodeons are in D/G, they can't 'join in' (as in, steamroller over the top of you!).

So, I make do with G(14), D, and C.

In basic blues, you play in G on a C harp, and so on.

The chromatic is a totally different instrument - as different as a banjo is from a guitar.

I have no connection with the company, but I can recommend harmonicas-direct dot co dot uk for fast mail order service, and good advice. Their website gives lots of advice, has a full catalogue, and is easy to use.