STME58
1830 posts
Sep 19, 2016
8:46 AM
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I have had a couple of harps set up by Joe Spiers for a while now and I am really enjoying them. They have combs by Blue Moon and have quickly become my favorite harps. Now that I am occasionally getting paid to play harmonica, I may be getting more soon.
Here are a couple of quick improvisations I did this morning.
Sunrise Shuffle
Meloncholy Morning
It is so much easier to get what you are feeling to come out through the harp when it is set up right.
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mlefree
763 posts
Sep 19, 2016
9:58 AM
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Nice combo, Spiers & Halchak! I'm sure you'll do them justice whatever you do with 'em.
Michelle
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SilverWing Leather - Custom leather creations for musicians and other eccentrics.
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slaphappy
217 posts
Sep 19, 2016
10:05 AM
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nice, I really wanna try one. how long did it take to get yours?
man, you are chipper at sunrise! I would be way more like slow blues dirge at the time in the morning.. :D
4' 4+ 3' 2~~~
-Mike Ziemba
Harmonica is Life!
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STME58
1831 posts
Sep 19, 2016
10:53 AM
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Mike, the advertised lead time when I sent my harps in to Joe was 3 months. That gave me time to arrange for a drop shipment to Joe of the Blue Moon combs from Tom Halchak. Both of these men not only know their craft, but they know how to run a business. Lead times were met and I was kept informed of the process along the way.
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Moon Cat
585 posts
Sep 19, 2016
12:53 PM
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Nobody repeat NOBODY builds like Joe! Mix that with some Blue Moon Accessories? Come on Man! Rocking' combo!-J
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www.mooncat.org
Last Edited by Moon Cat on Sep 19, 2016 3:34 PM
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Todd Parrott
1375 posts
Sep 19, 2016
1:44 PM
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Joe is the man!
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SuperBee
4127 posts
Sep 19, 2016
2:21 PM
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I really appreciate Joe's expertise. I've compared his work with some work from other 'big names'. IMHO, he is ahead of the game.
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JustFuya
953 posts
Sep 20, 2016
10:07 AM
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You can't do better than a Spier's customized harp. Joe not only knows the instrument inside & out but he has an uncanny ability to zero in on the aptitude and need of his clients in an email or two, regardless of their own self assessment.
Spier's Harps are simply a joy to play.
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harpwrench
1099 posts
Sep 20, 2016
6:10 PM
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Thanks for the support-
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groyster1
2876 posts
Sep 22, 2016
8:23 PM
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full agreement here.......
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1847
3712 posts
Sep 26, 2016
7:56 AM
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snap on
one minor quip.....
all my harps use posidrive screws, joe being a red blooded american prefers flat head screws.
yesterday i needed to disassemble the harp to plink the 9 blow, and as i only had my normal harp screw driver with me,it was not possible.
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STME58
1837 posts
Sep 26, 2016
8:29 AM
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Not possible! A slotted screw is much more open to driver improvisation than a cross head type. You could use a credit card, a pen knife, a really tough stale potato chip, just about anything. I thought harp players could improvise. :-)
I do understand the joy of having and using the proper tool though. I have a chest full of Snap-On tools in my garage. They even make straight blade screwdrivers!
Last Edited by STME58 on Sep 26, 2016 8:29 AM
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hvyj
3123 posts
Sep 26, 2016
9:01 AM
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Spiers harps are terrific.
@ STME58: what tuning specs do your Spiers harps have?
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STME58
1838 posts
Sep 26, 2016
11:04 AM
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hvyj, not having played enough to have developed a hard preference, but understanding music enough to know what the Pythagorean comma is, and that all tunings are screwed up, just in different ways, I consulted with Joe and took his recommendation of 19 Limit Just Intonation.
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hvyj
3125 posts
Sep 26, 2016
11:14 AM
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That's what it sounded like to me. What did you specify for reference pitch? A442?
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1847
3715 posts
Sep 26, 2016
5:37 PM
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ok fine.... i just blew out a 2 draw on my Ab seydel.
so i pilfered the screws and installed them on joe's harp.
i think that will work better for me, at this time.
so the question is... so joe you wouldn't happen to have an Ab with a black corian
blue moon comb just lying around looking for a good home per chance?
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STME58
1839 posts
Sep 26, 2016
11:09 PM
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hvyj, I did not specify a reference pitch. Using my Seydel tuning software on my PC, and the C Special 20 Joe set up for me, it seems that at the very lightest breath force and an effort not to change the pitch it is at about A=444. It is very easy to bring it to A440 with a bit more breath or just pulling it down at low breath force. One of the things I like about these harps is the ease with which you can make the pitch go where you want it. The down side of this is, just like with a trombone, you never have an excuse for being out of tune!
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hvyj
3128 posts
Sep 27, 2016
7:11 AM
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A444 Would be pretty sharp for me. But that's one advantage of custom harps-- they can be made to suit you and how you play.
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STME58
1840 posts
Sep 27, 2016
7:22 AM
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I am not sure how many other factors contribute to intonation besides the pitch a reed plays at the lowest breath force that will generate a sound. That is why I let Joe use his expertise to set up the harp, rather than me issue a spec that I really don't understand. ALso, this is the only harp I have attempted to measure this way. I will try measuring some of the stock harps I have that are labeled A=442 in this manner and see where they fall.
The bottom line with the Spiers harp is, I have no problem playing notes that sound in tune, either as checked by a tuner, or as they sound with other musicians.
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1847
3716 posts
Sep 27, 2016
7:24 AM
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tuning software can vary several cents. i wouldn't rely on it for precision.
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hvyj
3129 posts
Sep 27, 2016
8:14 AM
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Well, I play with other musicians regularly, so I have a basis for comparison. So, based on experience, I find that A442 generally puts me in tune with a band tuned to A440 on most harps. Some of my harps in higher keys sound sharp at A442, so those get tuned to A441. This is what works for me, but YMMV. Everyone is different.
P.S. My harps are tuned to ET.
Last Edited by hvyj on Sep 27, 2016 9:11 AM
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harpwrench
1100 posts
Sep 27, 2016
8:59 AM
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No extras right now 1847.
I normally tune the 3 blow to 443 with JI, and the rest of the harp to itself from there. That makes 4 blow 442 1/2 and keeps the thirds close to 440.
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Kingley
4051 posts
Sep 27, 2016
10:53 AM
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Great stuff STME58. Nice to hear Joe getting recognition for his work from another satisfied customer.
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