Harpyharry
7 posts
Sep 29, 2011
8:04 AM
|
I read on another forum, that SP20s are no good for overblows because of the comb. So could it be the comb and not my technique that is preventing me getting a proper OB, I suspect it's mostly my technique.
I have only SP20s and a couple of lee oscars which have plastic combs as well.
|
Michael Rubin
261 posts
Sep 29, 2011
8:15 AM
|
I disagree, they overblow fine. However, they are not equal tuned and so are not the first choice when playing outside of the first 3 positions.
|
orphan
79 posts
Sep 29, 2011
8:17 AM
|
I have SP20s that I have gapped. Key of A & C. I easily get OBs on 4,5,& 6. I get OD on hole 7. My technique needs work to get the others. I am convinced it is me not the harp. That might not be true for you.
|
HarpNinja
1721 posts
Sep 29, 2011
8:21 AM
|
They will work fine. Some don't like them for OB harps because the reeds don't sit as close to the edge of the plates, but had no one told me that, I wouldn't have noticed.
Any of the three - MB's, GM, or SP20's of any variation will overbend very well assuming proper reed adjustments.
Other brands/models work great too, but I find the Hohners to ob well with less work. Unless we're talking different generations of Hohner brass, the current production harps all can be set-up to OB very very well.
I don't play them because I don't like recessed plates.
----------
Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
|
Buzadero
873 posts
Sep 29, 2011
8:37 AM
|
Don't get wrapped up in "this harp overblows better or worse than that one".
THEY ALL OVERBLOW
What opinions you are hearing articulated (poorly) is which harp brands overblow more readily and easily for those folks who are just getting the hang of it.
Or/also from those who have had success more with one brand over another fitting what is more likely their own marginal technique or ability.
Yes. When you are learning the overblow, there will be harps that you achieve the overblow more easily with.
However, this should not be erroneously determined to be a "better overblowing harp". Learn the technique and then adapt that technique to other harp brands and keys of harps.
----------
~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
|
Todd Parrott
714 posts
Sep 29, 2011
8:55 AM
|
Buzadero is correct that there isn't one magic harp that works best for overblows. I guess because Howard Levy used Golden Melodies, everyone assumes the Golden Melody is best for overblows.
All of the handmade Hohner harps have reed profiles that are more suitable for overblows than some of the models like Lee Oskar, some Suzukis, and Huang.
As for Special 20's, they do overblow as well as any other harp as far as I'm concerned. As for the reeds not sitting as close to the edge of the plates... I don't buy into the idea that this has anything to do with hindering overblow-ability. We're only talking about a tiny bit of distance, not enough to make a difference. My Special 20's overblow and overdraw just fine.
|
Buzadero
874 posts
Sep 29, 2011
8:58 AM
|
What he said.
There are definitely many things one can do to make a reed and its associated slot and gap overblow more easily.
My point is that the mechanics of the overblow remains the same no matter what harp (or key) is used.
----------
~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
|
HarpNinja
1725 posts
Sep 29, 2011
9:24 AM
|
I have a vid on Youtube of a Bb Sp20 that was a great OB/OD harp and all I did was gap it (well, I put it on a bamboo comb too, but the rivets are still further back than on a MB or GM.
I actually sold that to a friend who said it overbends just as well as customs he has from one of the absolute best customizers out there. The buyer is a great player and knows what he is talking about.
The point I am making is that they can be made into kick-@$$ harps just as readily as other harps.
I've played harps like Manji's and 1847's set-up for OBs that were fantastic harps. I'd just argue that OOTB they aren't always as great and they aren't as easy a template to work with. Most info out there is for working with traditional Hohner brass and not totally transferable to other materials.
That would stop me from playing and tweaking those other harps, though.
----------
Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
|
FreeWilly
41 posts
Sep 29, 2011
9:31 AM
|
SP20 are excellent for overblows as well as overdraws. With proper gapping (in my experience, learning to gap and to overblow are a pretty Siamese experience - they enforce each other) they give very sweet, non-squeely overblows.
For the first 1 OB (the hardest, start with 456), take a high harp (D or so), and for your first overdraw (7OD), take a nice low harp (A or something), and you'll be fine.
The reason GM are good overblowers is probably their airtightness, which is considerable better than SP20's. But then again, you get those extremely fluent bends because of it, which to my ears just sounds crap for blues :)
I even get 3ob and 2ob on a SP20 D harp btw - without embossing or anything.
|
Harpyharry
9 posts
Sep 29, 2011
10:12 AM
|
Thanks a lot guys, as I thought I need to practice more, which is just as well, as I like my SP20s.
|
groyster1
1440 posts
Sep 29, 2011
10:16 AM
|
@Free
never played a leaky sp 20 or GM to me they are both tight as a tick
|
RyanMortos
1143 posts
Sep 30, 2011
5:51 AM
|
I can overblow just as well on special 20s as I can on most other harmonicas. The only harmonica Id say doesn't seem able to overblow would be the few lee oskars I tried having something to do with the build of the reeds. But I haven't played lee oskars enough to say for sure they can't be made to ob/od.
----------
~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Steven Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
See My Profile for contact info, etc.
|
MrVerylongusername
1965 posts
Sep 30, 2011
6:32 AM
|
Between them Buzadero and Todd are spot on.
For the record, Lee Oskars do overblow; surprisingly easily for that matter. I learnt to OB on an unmodded, off the shelf Lee Oskar long before I learned about gapping or any other tweaks. However their shorter, wider reeds are more prone to lateral-twisting which causes a ringing noise if you sustain the note for a significant time. That can be fixed by embossing the rivet end, or damping with dental wax, micropore or nail varnish.
So althougb they can be made to OB quite well, they don't sound very nice unless you tweak them.
In my experience the same is true of all Far Eastern harps - Tombos, Suzukis and the Delta Frost.
If it's just a passing note, you'll get away with it on a Lee Oskar before the squealing kicks in. If you need to play the OB as any other note, then you're better off with Hohners or Seydels.
The reason the Golden Melody is popular amongst OBers is it one of the few (only? - Fabulous and customs excluded) Equal Tuned harps with long slot reeds.
|
