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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Blue Moon at SPAH 2015
Blue Moon at SPAH 2015
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florida-trader
742 posts
Aug 04, 2015
11:47 AM
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SPAH 2015 is only a week away and like a lot of people, I am busy making my preparations.
I will again have a Vendor’s Booth, as I did in 2012 and 2013 (missed last year) and will have lots of goodies. More about that in a second.
I’m going to do things a bit differently this year than in years past. SPAH is an annual gathering of some of the greatest harmonica talent in the world. You want to hear amazing music? The performances at SPAH are mind numbing. You want learn stuff that will help you become a better musician? The Workshops and Seminars at SPAH are amazing. You want to learn how to tweak and improve your harps? It’s right there for the taking. You want to jam until the cows come home? Not only can you jam to your heart’s delight at SPAH, you can do so with world class talent who will just welcome you in with unbelievable warmth and without a hint of ego.
The trouble I’ve had in years past is that I didn’t get to do as much of the fun stuff as I would have liked. Why? Because I was “chained” to a Vendor’s Booth (my choice – foolishly) all day long. I missed tons of great workshops and performances and denied myself the joy of staying out all night partying because I had to get up and go to “work” in the morning.
This year will be different. I will be attending with three main goals.
1. I want to learn to be a better harmonica player. I want to walk out of that hotel on Sunday a better musician than I was on Tuesday at the start of SPAH. I very much enjoy being involved in the harp community as deeply as I am through Blue Moon Harmonicas but if there is one regret that I have it’s that if had I invested as much time practicing and learning how to play as I have in building a business, I would be a far better player. You can get a Bachelors of Fine Arts in four years, which is how long I’ve been in business (actually, almost five years but who’s counting?).
2. I want to be entertained. I want to relax and enjoy some of the finest harmonica music on the planet. If you are into harmonica music there will be no better place in the world to be next week. I’m going to drink in as much as I can. Just sit back and soak it in like I’m lying in the sun on the beach!
3. I’d like to do a little business. I will only be at my booth for a few hours a day. I’m travelling light but will have plenty to offer for those of you who have an interest. I’ll also be hosting a workshop Tuesday afternoon.
So here’s what you can expect to find at the Blue Moon Harmonicas Booth at SPAH this year:
Combs - Of course, I will have plenty of combs. Strictly diatonic combs for Hohner, Seydel and Suzuki harps. Anodized Aluminum, DuPont™ Corian®, Brass and lots of Fancy Acrylic. I won’t have many wood combs. The milled recessed combs (Special 20 and Seydel Session) I introduced last Christmas have been very well received. If you’ve been wondering about them, I’ll have plenty with me for you to fondle and inspect and try out for yourself to see what the hype is all about.
Suzuki Harmonicas – I’ll have a variety of harps available at reasonable prices. I have an assortment of Suzukis with custom combs. I like to build Suzuki harps because I can buy the reed plates and covers as components and assemble them using my combs. I can offer a very nice harp for slightly more than retail and it’s a win-win for both of us. The harps I have available will have flat sanded draw plates, they will be in tune and the gaps will be adjusted for improved response. And you’ll be able to try them before you buy them. They are better than OOTB harps for not a lot more money.
Special 20’s. I will have a bunch of brand new Special 20’s built on Blue Moon combs. I have aluminum combs, Corian and Fancy Acrylic. Lots of Fancy Acrylic – some with powder coated covers. These harps are real eye candy that not only look great but play great too. Feel free to come by and kick the tires.
Double Reed Plate Special 20’s – These harps are built using a double reed plate component offered by Plunz Special Harps. I designed and built a custom comb just to accommodate the added thickness of the reed plates. These harps are loud. They are responsive. I can hardly keep up with the demand. Available with aluminum, brass, Corian or Fancy Acrylic combs in a variety of keys.
Pre-War Marine Bands. I have a fairly extensive supply of pre-wars and I will have a few on hand for those who are into the vintage stuff. Some mint condition harps that are untouched and some that have been restored using Blue Moon combs.
Richard Sleigh Reed Removal Tool – this is a little tool that has created quite a buzz. Frankly when Richard asked me to help with this project I was a little underwhelmed. (Ho hum. Yawn.) But was I ever wrong! Richard produced a short video demonstration using one of the prototypes and he was promptly swamped with orders. Since that video we have incorporated some new ideas (feedback and suggestions from you guys) to make the tool even better than advertised. The first batch of tools were delivered to Richard yesterday (Monday the 3rd) so those of you who ordered one via the pre-sale video can expect to receive yours soon. I will have some on hand for sale and for you to try out. I have encouraged Richard to put together another video featuring the finished product. I think he is sufficiently motivated to do so and will have something we can show at SPAH. So even though Richard might not able to attend SPAH in person, he will be there in spirit (and maybe on video). And I’m trying to convince him to do a Skype meeting. Wouldn’t that be cool?
Powder Coated Covers – I’ve kind of moved away from focusing so much attention on powder coated covers. It’s a lot of work to assemble enough sets of covers to make it worth the expense, but they do have their appeal and they do have a bit of a following. I’ll be picking up a batch of covers this week so I might as well bring them with me.
So if you’re at SPAH next week I hope we get a chance to visit. I’d like to meet as many of you as possible. I’d like to be able thank you for your support in person. Maybe jam a little. Maybe have a beer or break bread together. I plan to stay out way past my bedtime.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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Greg Heumann
3069 posts
Aug 04, 2015
11:51 AM
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And I'll be right at the next table, fully incapable of answering any questions about Tom's stuff.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
Bluestate on iTunes
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Mahcks
49 posts
Aug 04, 2015
2:50 PM
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I don't know about all that spah junk, but I can vouch for the plunz special 20s. Never have I played a G with such a responsive low end. Definitely worth a look!
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florida-trader
743 posts
Aug 05, 2015
9:12 AM
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Mahcks - I sure wish I knew who you were so I could reach out and say thank you. Thank you.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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HarveyHarp
684 posts
Aug 05, 2015
1:06 PM
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I will be floating around SPAH also, and I am bringing just a few customized HarveyHarp special 20s and Marine Bands, all with Blue Moon Combs, which are ready to go. I also will have a Golden Melody with the ORIGINAL Blue Moon comb, so you can see how far Tom has come. I am sure I will be around the Blue Moon booth frequently.
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HarveyHarp
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