bigd
546 posts
Sep 26, 2014
10:45 AM
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Many were my Spiers "go-to" harps too. I had been talking to Art Garfunkel's son who stood in on a show and pfff!! My soul's grimacing.
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Kingley
3703 posts
Sep 26, 2014
10:51 AM
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Damn! Sorry to hear that D. Let's hope someone catches the thief and gives them the punishment they deserve.
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smwoerner
275 posts
Sep 26, 2014
11:14 AM
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That's just not right and a reminder to us all to watch our gear. I know you're a gigging player and need those harps which makes it doubly bad.
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Purveyor of Optimized New and Refurbished Harmonicas.
scott@scottwoerner.com
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LSC
684 posts
Sep 26, 2014
11:29 AM
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I've had that happen twice. Both time loosing a custom made case of the folding type and 12 harps each time. For the longest time after the 2nd rip off I only carried the five most common keys. I'm back up to 14 plus mic, pedals. etc, in a locking briefcase which never ever leaves my sight unless it's locked in the vehicle and out of sight.
The thing that I have always wondered about it where is the black market for stolen harmonicas? Is there like a harp fence working some bar or dark alley? And if so,what is the going rate for a stolen 2nd hand harmonica?
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LSC
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2chops
287 posts
Sep 26, 2014
11:44 AM
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That does stink. I've had harps stolen out of my Jeep the past two years running right around this time of year. With Oct. only days away, it is time to be more diligent for when the annual halloween petty thievery ramps up.
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I'm workin on it. I'm workin on it.
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HarveyHarp
606 posts
Sep 26, 2014
12:02 PM
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That really sucks Dennis. If it will help, If you send the me harps that I did for you a few years backs, I will freshen them up for you and apply any changes that I have made through the years, so you will have a fresh set. No Charge.
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HarveyHarp
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bigd
547 posts
Sep 26, 2014
12:29 PM
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Thank you H. Many of yours went too. I do have a Bb and B I will send though - As always: Thank you for both your skill and friendship!
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HarveyHarp
607 posts
Sep 26, 2014
1:28 PM
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No problem Dennis. Anything I can do to help, please let me know.
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HarveyHarp
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Mahcks
13 posts
Sep 26, 2014
3:49 PM
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I don't know what I'd do if someone snagged even my daily carry. I've spent so many hours shaping that instrument. I'd just be devastated. If I ever play professionally, I'll be investing in more pockets first.
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snowman
80 posts
Sep 26, 2014
6:40 PM
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somewhat know the feeling---I left an entire case of harps on the the bumper of my truck in a snow storm after playin at a bar 12-14 of them----ihad embossed a lot of them ---set the gap etc some custom painted---backs opened--at least thats what I think happened- when I back tracked--I now have a practice set of ok harps---my case for gigs and a bunch of back ups that i slowly set up as time goes--WHAT REALLY PISSES ME OFF IS 'it was PROBABLY SOMEONE who WOULDN'T APPRECIATE OR KNOW HOW TO PLAY SPEIRS HARPS---I HOPE THEY TURN UP -GOOD LUCK
Last Edited by snowman on Sep 26, 2014 6:43 PM
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MP
3263 posts
Sep 26, 2014
6:51 PM
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I was really upset to lose a single self customized A GM w/ a rainbow dymonwood comb. Slipped out of my pocket. Was a fav carry harp. I don't play GMs at gigs cuz they don't fit in my leatherette Hohner case.
I can't imagine losing all my front line harps. Condolences guys.
as an aside. leave it to Hohner to make a great 7 slot harp case that won't fit Golden Melodys. :-)
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9000
204 posts
Sep 26, 2014
8:23 PM
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I just lost 6 harps in a Seydel case via a smash and grab on my wife's car while we were in a restaurant. They were all lightly massaged by me and they all played well. It was my "no excuses" case that I always carried so that I would have no excuse not to sit in with a band, at church or wherever. My father had just died and they harps were in a briefcase that had his wallet, checkbooks and a lot of stuff to be dealt with from the estate. It left me devastated for a couple of days!
Hang in there guys!
Jay
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Music speaks where words fail.
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SuperBee
2208 posts
Sep 27, 2014
2:45 AM
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that is a complete bummer Dennis, and Jay. best wishes for regaining them.
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The Iceman
2149 posts
Sep 27, 2014
3:54 AM
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I lost my "D Icemonica" that Joe Filisko made for me back in 98 in Portland at a Paul deLay show. Fell out of my pocket.
Howard Levy had his bag o' harmonicas stolen out of a recording studio in which he was working.
It miraculously found its way back to him a day or two later. Apparently, his card was in the bag and someone bought the stolen bag from the crackhead who stole it and returned it to Howard.
At least this is my best recollection of the story told by Howard at one of his gatherings.
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The Iceman
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garry
532 posts
Sep 27, 2014
7:20 PM
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@HarveyHarp: that was a kind gesture. you're a class act.
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MP
3264 posts
Sep 28, 2014
1:40 PM
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A lot of players, myself included, form a bond w/ certain harps. Sometimes a lot of them, as if the harp were a living thing. Richard Sleigh once wrote-i'll paraphrase here- 'when I blew out a harp I'd morn it like losing an old friend'
that is one reason I repair harps. You'll have a favorite harp that breaks down and you are bummed out. It's not as bad as losing them now that everybody and his brother can fix 'em. :-)
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HarveyHarp
608 posts
Sep 28, 2014
9:41 PM
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Thanks Garry
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HarveyHarp
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bigd
548 posts
Sep 28, 2014
10:22 PM
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A heartfelt thanks to Harvey who's going to refresh a few of my harps, and Kingley and Tom Halchack and Jawbone for all offering help, and Joe Spiers who's expediting some harps and Rockin Ron who sent out 3 harps in as many seconds. My specific Golden Melody hard-attack needs were all met in that case of accumulated harps by some of the best: Spiers, Harvey, Harrison, Danneker, Greg's Seydels, etc so it's going to take time and economic push-ups to replicate my gear but as Becket said "The sun shone, having no alternative". My best. d
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STME58
1112 posts
Sep 28, 2014
10:53 PM
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Harps are somewhat like photos in having great value to the owner and little or none to anyone else.
Harps have more than just sentimental value though. As MP said, they are more than just replaceable mechanisms. Any one who has played for a while has gone though as sorting and/or tweaking process that makes the harps in their kit very personal to them only.
I sure most of us, the ethics of paying ransoms aside, would pay more to get our harps back that they would sell for in a pawn shop.
There is something evil in a theft of this kind that strikes deeper that most petty theft. It is not the evil intent of the thief, who is probably desperate and ill informed. It is the destruction of something irreplaceable for so little gain to anyone. I can understand the theft of art or diamonds to fence for millions, but to take something that has value to the owner but none on the market, like harps or family photos, that is just wrong at a cosmic level.
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STME58
1113 posts
Sep 28, 2014
10:53 PM
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Harps are somewhat like photos in having great value to the owner and little or none to anyone else.
Harps have more than just sentimental value though. As MP said, they are more than just replaceable mechanisms. Any one who has played for a while has gone though as sorting and/or tweaking process that makes the harps in their kit very personal to them only.
I sure most of us, the ethics of paying ransoms aside, would pay more to get our harps back that they would sell for in a pawn shop.
There is something evil in a theft of this kind that strikes deeper that most petty theft. It is not the evil intent of the thief, who is probably desperate and ill informed. It is the destruction of something irreplaceable for so little gain to anyone. I can understand the theft of art or diamonds to fence for millions, but to take something that has value to the owner but none on the market, like harps or family photos, that is just wrong at a cosmic level.
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