mlefree
614 posts
Mar 06, 2016
1:02 PM
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Some of you may recall the recent long and winding thread about optimal reed shape. Among the interesting asides in that thread happened when Joe Spiers fairly teased us to buy one of his harmonicas to find out how he shapes reeds.
I called his bluff and had him apply his Pro-Stock level service to a vintage (red reed) Special 20 in the key of G. It was my good fortune that this coincided in time with his announcement of his new business model servicing client-owned harps to order instead of stocking off the shelf customs.
It took him a couple of weeks to turn my order around, much of which was devoted to letting the reeds “settle in.” Interestingly, I had inadvertently increased the degree of difficulty for Joe's work because I gave the reed plates a good scrubbing with Barkeeper's Friend. I reasoned that I didn't want any detritus or oxidation contaminating the reeds before Joe got to work. That, it turns out, was flawed reasoning. I never considered the possibility that Joe would ~want~ that oxidation. In fact it turns out, and I hesitate to speak for Joe so I trust he'll chime in and expand on this, that this oxidation plays a key role in his new business plan.
The existence of the oxidation on used harmonica reed plates decreases the clearance between reed and reed plate that Joe counts on in modifying client-owned harps. Learn something every day! In removing that oxidation I forced Joe to take extra lengths that he wouldn't ordinarily have to resort to on a well-used harmonica.
I'm bound to not go into technical details about the modifications I saw when I cracked the harp open. Suffice it to say that it is now abundantly clear to me that reed shaping is only one isolated aspect of the list of mods Joe does to make his harps play so frickin' well.
And that he does, make his Pro-Stock harmonicas play FRICKIN' well!
You know how when you get a new harmonica you start testing by blowing and drawing on hole one and then you move up the harp to hole 10? Well, that's how I usually do it anyway. Except this time I found myself wanting to just park on that first hole. Honestly I don't think I've ever played such a responsive hole one on ~any~ harp I've ever played!
And, then I went to hole two. More of the same! By now I'm really excited and want to try all the holes right up to ten. The surprises are non-stop. The cherry on top is hole 10. I'll admit that I usually have to concentrate to hit the intermediate blow bend on hole 10 of even low keyed harps. Not so with my Pro-Stock. Smooooth as butta.
Almost expected a miniature parachute to pop out the end of the harp when I crossed that hole 10 finish line. 8^)
My eyes are still wide open and I'm getting bugs on my teeth.
Michelle
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SilverWing Leather - Custom leather creations for musicians and other eccentrics.
Last Edited by mlefree on Mar 06, 2016 1:03 PM
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bubberbeefalo
86 posts
Mar 07, 2016
5:46 AM
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I received 2 pro stock harps from Joe- Crossovers C&D. I highly recommend these harps. Now the best 2 in my arsenal.
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jonlewandowski
118 posts
Mar 07, 2016
8:25 AM
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YEP!
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Gnarly
1693 posts
Mar 07, 2016
9:05 AM
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All right, that's it, I'm sending Joe a harmonica to improve.
What's the worst that can happen?
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mlefree
615 posts
Mar 07, 2016
1:10 PM
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The worst? You'll larn sumthin'. ;^)
And even if you don't you'll be left with one schweeet harp.
Michelle
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SilverWing Leather - Custom leather creations for musicians and other eccentrics.
Last Edited by mlefree on Mar 07, 2016 1:11 PM
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Gnarly
1695 posts
Mar 07, 2016
2:31 PM
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I already tried to "learn something" from purchasing one of Joe's customs.
Did I learn something? Yeah, he actually knows what he's doing . . .
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Philosofy
737 posts
Mar 07, 2016
4:04 PM
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The worst thing that could happen is that you learn it ain't the harp, its you. :)
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harpwrench
1078 posts
Mar 08, 2016
2:03 PM
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Or you might find out it was the harp all along. A man many of us know and love was finally able to hit those 10 hole half step blow bends for the first time, after 50 years of practicing, after I worked on one right in front of him. And Todd Parrott was a witness. Stop punishing yourselves and have your harps set up by someone who understands what's going on. I've made it as affordable as doing it yourself unless your time is worthless. Super Stock is almost as nice. The worst that can happen is losing your harp in the mail. Tape the box up right so the contents don't squirt out if it gets smashed.
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www.spiersharmonicas.com
Harp repair and upgrade menu
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mlefree
617 posts
Mar 08, 2016
5:37 PM
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..."have your harps set up by someone who understands what's going on."
Good idea!
Michelle
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SilverWing Leather - Custom leather creations for musicians and other eccentrics.
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Gnarly
1696 posts
Mar 08, 2016
10:09 PM
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Well, my harp is on its way--I insured it for a hundred bucks, but I have more than that in it already. At least I will get some money back if they lose it.
Have fun with those reeds Joe, and don't judge my work too harshly. It's been several years since I did the work--I resisted the impulse to fix it before I sent it off--it works well but I bet you will find lots to improve.
Turns out I like the 14 hole Marine Bands a lot!
Last Edited by Gnarly on Mar 08, 2016 10:11 PM
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Littoral
1373 posts
Mar 26, 2016
10:47 AM
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"Stop punishing yourselves and have your harps set up by someone who understands what's going on."
+35 years, I submit. S
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Slimharp
418 posts
Mar 27, 2016
9:49 AM
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Joe Spiers aka " Harpwrench " One of the best in the trade and a real honest to goodness good human being.
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mlefree
631 posts
Mar 27, 2016
11:46 AM
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A mensch!
Michelle
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SilverWing Leather - Custom leather creations for musicians and other eccentrics.
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Harpaholic
883 posts
Mar 31, 2016
3:37 PM
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My Rocket, two Crossovers and a Sp 20 arrived in the mail today from Joe.
Turnaround was pretty quick! Thanks Joe!
I went with the Stock set up on all the harps because I know Joe's work.
Three of the harps played good OOTB, but seemed stiff and unresponsive compared to my Session Steels. One of the harps was a 5 or 6 year old Pro set up harp with a bad 5 draw.
The three OOTB box harps now play GREAT! Perfectly tuned, very responsive from hole 1-10. The repaired harp plays as good as it did 5 or 6 years ago.
I own quite a few of Joe's customs, 7 or 8.
Six of them have Pro setups.
If you have any new/newer harps that are not quite there, send them to Joe.
The Stock set up is great, the Pro setup is unbeleivable!
Last Edited by Harpaholic on Mar 31, 2016 4:05 PM
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Sherwin
221 posts
Apr 03, 2016
7:17 PM
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Michelle, so, the embossing doesn't bug ya?
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mlefree
637 posts
Apr 04, 2016
1:08 AM
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Any sonic effects of the light embossing Joe did on my Pro-Stock are not noticeable to my ears. A real bonus of Joe's light touch.
Michelle
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SilverWing Leather - Custom leather creations for musicians and other eccentrics.
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mlefree
638 posts
Apr 04, 2016
1:08 AM
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Any sonic effects of the light embossing Joe did on my Pro-Stock are not noticeable to my ears. A real bonus of Joe's light touch.
Michelle
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SilverWing Leather - Custom leather creations for musicians and other eccentrics.
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JustFuya
886 posts
Apr 04, 2016
7:13 AM
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Everyone has a green light. Joe has the checkered flag.
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mlefree
639 posts
Apr 04, 2016
7:09 PM
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JustFuya, if I'm not mistaken, Joe's reference to "Pro-Stock" comes from a class of drag racers. In addition to the familiar "Christmas Tree" set of lights that signals the start of a race, there is often a pair of lights at the end of the drag strip. A green light appears on the winning side and red on the losing.
At least that was the way it was the last time I web to a drag race, which was admittedly ages ago.
Michelle
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SilverWing Leather - Custom leather creations for musicians and other eccentrics.
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JustFuya
889 posts
Apr 05, 2016
8:43 AM
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Michelle - I learn something new every day. I was just agreeing with your OP and trying to bump it up a notch.
Joe has a way with the instrument ... perfectly matching it to the player. I haven't farmed out very much in my life but his work is a pearl in the oyster. I've tossed a ton of harps and gave it up completely for a time. It's such a relief to pull one of his harps out of the box and know everything is just where you want it to be.
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