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beginner forum: for novice and developing blues harp players >
Beginners and Lucky 13
Beginners and Lucky 13
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ME.HarpDoc
203 posts
Oct 23, 2016
10:50 AM
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There's been quite a bit of buzz on the main forum about the new Lucky 13 harmonica from Easttop. Without going into all the commentary that exists there, I would encourage any beginner who's looking to add to their harp collection to consider the Lucky 13.
Of course, getting proficient on regular diatonic is most important, but what I found is that if you're following certain licks or, as is my case, jamming with others, you'll come across riffs that extend well to the low register. This is particularly true I find, in the key of C where i'm playing second position on an F harp.
The higher key harps present their own challenges in getting good tone while the low key harps also create learning opportunities.
Many of us beginners are building or have built a set of harps at some expense and when we delve into low key harps we may ask ourselves if it's worth the investment or if we're even ready.
I bought a Lucky 13 in F to address the needs I mentioned and am really happy I did. If you haven't completed your set to include F or you're considering a Low F, I encourage you to give consideration to a Lucky 13 in F. I now have an F in Seydel Session Steel, a Low F in a Suzuki Olive and my new Lucky 13. Right now the Lucky 13 is my favorite.
BTW, if the Lucky 13 is any indication of the quality of Easttop harps, they are a great investment at lower cost than the major players.
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SuperBee
4205 posts
Oct 23, 2016
1:34 PM
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Must admit I'm interested.
I recently built a Seydel Solist Pro 12. I was inspired by the idea of the lucky 13, but I had the reedplates for Te seydel already. I ordered a comb, covers and hardware.
It cost as much as a lucky 13, just for those parts.
It's in C, but it's 'easy 3rd' tuning.
On the 1 hand, that's kinda fun. On the other hand it's not much good for anything except D minor and even that's a bit limited without a B or possibility of a Bb.
So, the unfamiliar tuning probably isn't helping, but I have found it very easy to lose orientation on the harp. I'm sure if one played with such a harp enough the extra octave would become 'normal'. In fact, the periods I've grown most as a player have been those where I've been forced out of old habits by trying something new, like country-tuning or 1st position.
I'm going to retune my 12 holer and give it another try.
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Killa_Hertz
1832 posts
Oct 24, 2016
4:45 AM
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You know i was interested in the lucky 13. I hadn't read the mf thread, but i believe they are tuned the same as the seydel solo12. I have a solo 12 in lowC (which would probably just be a C in lucky 13, is a regular c harp with an extended low register)
So since I had one already it wasn't too of my list. But you know the F harp idea is a great one. That way you don't really have to choose which harp to use. You can play your normal F and still have a bit of low octave fir comping or What have you. Great Idea!
I also have wanted to try an eastop and Brendan powers harps.
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MindTheGap
1846 posts
Oct 27, 2016
12:38 PM
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Since I started, I've read all about all sorts of layout and tuning variations that are 'how the 10-hole diatonic should be' given how it's played now. I've avoided them on the whole, but I have to say that this Luck-13 does look like a contender.
All that chromatic and chordal goodness at the low end - makes sense to make more of it.
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dchurch
53 posts
Oct 30, 2016
1:27 PM
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I agree the Lucky 13 is a very nice harp and a good value.
As for the tuning if you put a piece of tape over the bottom 3 holes you have a common Richter blues harmonica. So there is nothing new to learn or really adjust to here. Except maybe the harp is a bit bigger in your hands...
The only real change is the addition of the bottom 3 holes which are a copy of the 1,2,3 holes just tuned one octave lower.
I found it super easy to adjust to. Within minutes I was putting the bottom 3 holes to work. Imagine having a Richter C harp in your hand along with a Richter Low C harp containing just the 1,2,3 holes. To put it simply, it's like having a bass backup:)
Anything you are currently playing on the first six reeds of your current Richter harp you will be able to instantly play in 2 octaves on the Lucky 13.
"Instantly" assumes you have some experience playing "low" harps because very low reeds take a little getting used to.
Obviously there is more to explore on the Lucky 13 than just repeating what you can already play on a standard 10 hole Richter.
Regards,
Dave
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It's about time I got around to this.
Last Edited by dchurch on Oct 30, 2016 1:36 PM
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