Harmonica preferences

Subject: Harmonica preferences
From:
Date: 20 Aug 98 - 04:54 PM

A couple of days ago on another thread--I think it was 12 string guitars--there were a couple of messages regarding harmonica preferences, and someone mentioned liking Lee Oskar harps. I have a bunch of them, blues harps in C, G, D, and A, and Melody Makers in the same keys. Once I got used to them, I really got to love the melody makers: they are made for playing melody with emphasis on the draw notes, but unlike blues harps, have all the notes of the scale. They start out a bit more expensive than the Hohners, but when they get tired, you can buy new reeds to put in the old instruments for about half (?) the price of the complete harp. Tombo (the manufacturer) also makes a line of double-reed diatonic harps with complete scales in every key. I've never seen them here, but I've bought a few of them in Japan. I used to play them exclusively until I finally went to the effort to learn to play cross-harp.--seed

Subject: RE: Harmonica preferences
From: Chet W.
Date: 20 Aug 98 - 06:33 PM

Dear seed, Don't know where you are, but you can mail-order Lee Oskars and many other harps from Kevin's Harps, www.kharps.com

Chet W.

Subject: RE: Harmonica preferences
From: BSeed
Date: 21 Aug 98 - 01:51 AM

thanks, chet. I told you I'd see you on other threads.--seed

Subject: RE: Harmonica preferences
From: Art Thieme
Date: 21 Aug 98 - 09:56 PM

I understand that hot Harmonica Lewinskys can be found in very high places in D.C. very cheap! As Little Walter once said, "It all comes down to your basic suck-blow, suck-blow, suck-blow."

Subject: RE: Harmonica preferences
From: Anne
Date: 21 Aug 98 - 10:09 PM

Oh Art....

Subject: RE: Harmonica preferences
From: Anne
Date: 21 Aug 98 - 10:16 PM

Now that I've recovered, Art, I heard Paul Geremia at the Iron Horse last Spring and he opened with a monica lick, I mean a HArmonica lick and told Little Walter stories in his first set. Paul is quite the blues guitarist 6 & 12 string.

Subject: RE: Harmonica preferences
From: alison
Date: 23 Aug 98 - 03:39 AM

Hi,

Just as an aside. I'm trying to learn a bit of cross harp just so I can fill in a bit in the background of blues songs. Any preference on where I should put my hands, (this is probably a bad question considering how this thread has been going so far)... to make a good Wah-wah type sound. Is it better to have them cupped around, or one above and one below? To be honest I don't find it particularly easy to get a decent sound either way.

any hints anyone?

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Harmonica preferences
From:
Date: 23 Aug 98 - 08:46 PM

I am just putting this thread on top, becasue I would like to hear an answer to aliso's question too.

Murray

Subject: RE: Harmonica preferences
From: BSeed
Date: 23 Aug 98 - 11:18 PM

alison, I hold the harp between the thumb and forefinger of my right thumb. I have big hands and my forefinger reaches all the way to the end of the instrument. I then cup my left hand around my right and the back of the harp, fingers resting on the middle, ring, and little finger of my right hand, my left thumb under my right, and reaching up to the end of the harp, where it acts as a pivot as I twist my forearm at the elbow and open my fingers as i move from the closed ooo position to the open wah. I hope that's reasonably clear. What works for me might not for you; as i say, i have big hands. --seed

Subject: RE: Harmonica preferences
From: Håvard
Date: 06 Sep 98 - 04:22 PM

My (current) favorite harmonica is the Suzuki ProHarp. While not very easy to get hold of, they are excellent value (same quality as Hohners Meisterklasse, half the price). Think they're constructed by Kiwi harpist Brendan Powers.
Håvard

Subject: RE: Harmonica preferences
From: Jack Hickman
Date: 06 Sep 98 - 08:20 PM

Some years ago while in Mexico, I bought a Yahama in the key of C, it was a beauty, double reeds, and about 3 octaves. When I bought it it was dirt cheap, because of the devalued Peso at the time. I lost that one, and replaced it with an identical one, which cost an arm and a leg.

I have never seen a Yamaha harmonica anywhere else, and wonder if they are still available. I'd like to get a couple in the keys of D and G.

Jack Hickman

Subject: RE: Harmonica preferences
From: Chet W.
Date: 06 Sep 98 - 09:24 PM

I'm pretty sure that Kevin's Harps (www.kharps.com) has the Suzuki. If anyone would know where to get Yamaha, they would. They're friendly folks there, and ready to help.

Chet W. (not a stockholder)

Subject: RE: Harmonica preferences
From:
Date: 07 Sep 98 - 06:12 AM

I just got a Huang Silvertone cheap. It feels tinnier than a Marine Band; but it is very easy to sound and to bend notes with.

Murray

Subject: RE: Harmonica preferences
From: Håvard
Date: 07 Sep 98 - 11:15 AM

Suzuki harmonicas can also be found at
http://207.201.180.166/

Note that Lee Oscar harmonicas (or generic Tomba harps, which is the same) are tuned slightly sharp. Do NOT tune guitars/basses sharp as well, you'll get a much better sound with normal guitar and a sharp harmonica.
Håvard

Subject: RE: Harmonica preferences
From:
Date: 01 Oct 98 - 01:18 AM

I am looking for sheet music on line

Subject: RE: Harmonica preferences
From: Frank in the swamps
Date: 01 Oct 98 - 07:54 AM

Harmonica, Accordian & Concertina types might like this place.

http://trfn.clpgh.org/free-reed/

Frank.