Brendan Power
358 posts
Jun 30, 2013
2:52 PM
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X-Reed Harmonicas proudly announce our first own-design model, the ChromaBender! This is an all-new harp with the same familiar Solo tuning and outward appearance of a 12 hole chromatic harmonica, but with a bluesy sound and fully chromatic scales through bending alone. Brand new and exclusive to X-Reed!
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Gus
6 posts
Jun 30, 2013
6:46 PM
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This looks really interesting. Thanks for all the innovations.
Gus
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Tweedaddict
58 posts
Jun 30, 2013
7:33 PM
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WOW!
looks really F'n interesting!!!
heh, I still remember being utterly blown away at this gig:
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Brendan Power
359 posts
Jun 30, 2013
9:12 PM
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The blues guys should check out the video at 3:45-4:55. That's my friend Al Clarke playing Third Position George Smith style.
Al is a brilliant but virtually unknown harp player from my area (East Kent in the UK). He's never made an album, though I keep bugging him! He's a tongue-blocker and gets a really soulful sound out of the 10 hole and chromatic harps. But he's not just another clone/copyist: he composes his own tunes and uses the traditional sound to come up with refreshing new stuff.
Hopefully this video will help get Al Clarke a little better known.
@Tweedaddict: Wow, that brings back good memories! Gary Verberne is a monster musician, one of my favourite guys to gig with. I wish he lived in the UK!
Last Edited by Brendan Power on Jul 01, 2013 3:24 AM
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Tweedaddict
59 posts
Jul 01, 2013
7:06 AM
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Brendan, Al's a monster!!
I wish I lived in Kent!
And yes, Gary is fantastic. I've been in the USA now for 14-15 years, somehow i managed to not lose some of these old posters...sure does bring back memories.
That Chromabender has me very intrigued mate...
Cheers
Mike
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Stevelegh
787 posts
Jul 01, 2013
8:46 AM
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Oh wow! This looks awesome!
Brendan: I've still got to do that X Reed Sub 30 video. I must have made it 100 times but I've never felt happy with it. Sorry. It is coming.
When you play an x Reed instrument, it feels totally natural and bending the new note feels as though it's a standard feature of the harmonica. This instrument seems to have the best of both worlds.
As a proposition, I'd suggest this harmonica could be elevated to a real orchestral standard instrument and offered in a number of keys to reflect that, so not only would you have a C, you'd have Bb and Eb so you could work with brass and woodwind sections. Even better, the whole range of 8 available keys from Hering.
Would you offer these keys in the future Brendan?
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Tweedaddict
60 posts
Jul 01, 2013
4:58 PM
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Testing, Testing.... is anybody out there :)
Listen to Al play the chromabender folks...
Good googly moogly!
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Stevelegh
795 posts
Jul 02, 2013
11:12 AM
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Yes, I've gone and ordered one.
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Tweedaddict
67 posts
Jul 02, 2013
12:44 PM
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Stevelegh,
I'm jealous!
I hope to be ordering one soon, got to sell an amp first!
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Miles Dewar
1479 posts
Jul 02, 2013
1:04 PM
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Yay, another gimmicky novelty harmonica...just what we need....
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mr_so&so
694 posts
Jul 02, 2013
1:58 PM
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Hi Brendan,
Congrats on the new harp. Is the comb on this harp of special construction and/or sealed? I assume it also has valves (since I think these are required for the x-valve concept)? It seems pretty competitively priced compared to a standard chrome, which is nice.
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Stevelegh
796 posts
Jul 02, 2013
11:44 PM
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@Miles:
Much irony. the word novelty has been synonymous with the harmonica since it was first invented.
Have you played an X Reed harp? It's like playing a top quality diatonic with blow bends up from 1-6 and draw bends from 7-10. It truly is awesome and feels completely natural.
I'd go as far to say that if bending and the X Reed concept of enabler reeds had been understood an the outset, there would not have been any need for further development of the harmonica and the instruments design would have been finalised there and then. No overblows or buttons required! Cool!
I owe Brendan a video for my Sub 30. I'll wait until I get the Chromabender and make a joint one.
Last Edited by Stevelegh on Jul 03, 2013 12:04 AM
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andysheep8
32 posts
Jul 03, 2013
6:17 AM
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Al Clarke is a tremendous player and you U.K. guys can see him for free on Saturday 6th at the Flowerpot, Maidstone Kent supporting the wonderful dave blosse. if i wasn't babysitting i'd be there too, anyone know a good adoption agency?
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Frank
2560 posts
Jul 03, 2013
7:30 AM
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I'll go on record and bet that 1 million ChromaBenders will be sold in a years time :) and every Pro Blues Player will have one in their arsenal by 2016 and will tout its kudos from the housetops! Any takers on that wager?
Last Edited by Frank on Jul 03, 2013 7:30 AM
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florida-trader
329 posts
Jul 03, 2013
7:53 AM
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Bring the kid with you! It's never too early to start!
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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Brendan Power
360 posts
Jul 03, 2013
3:23 PM
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@ Mr So & So (good name!): Yes, it's Hering's standard ABS chromatic comb.
@ Stevelegh: Thanks for your positive comments! We do intend to offer the ChromaBender in other keys before the end of the year.
@ Frank: a million sold in a year's time....? If only! But we'll do our best to male it available for those who want it.
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Miles Dewar
1481 posts
Jul 03, 2013
4:21 PM
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@Steveleigh, I haven't played it, but the chromatic abilities you describe certainly sounds interesting! Though, I can't help but be skeptical in the wake of the Harrison Harmonica-type disasters.
Best of luck on your endeavor!
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eharp
2114 posts
Jul 03, 2013
4:32 PM
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miles- i dont think you need to go back that far in time.
wasnt there some power harp that came out 1 or 2 years ago that was suppose to be the new great harp?
i remember there were several issues with them. i think they even put out a video on what needed to be done to the harp to make it playable.
just a little gapping, tightening screws...
i'll go $20 on that, frank, even though i would like to see them succeed.
(saves me some time in learning a few techniques.)
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rbeetsme
1289 posts
Jul 03, 2013
5:49 PM
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I received an email on this from Brenden (previous customer) I was pretty impressed, clicked buy it and sent it to my cart. Then I read Erics' post above and decided to wait.... Ok, not really, I checked the currency exchange and decided to wait. Sounds like a great harp, but my credit card needs a rest. I'm looking forward to consumer reviews soon. Last time I ordered from Brenden the shipment came really quickly!
Last Edited by rbeetsme on Jul 03, 2013 5:49 PM
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Tweedaddict
68 posts
Jul 03, 2013
7:07 PM
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Well, I dunno about a million units...
But my money is on Brendan Power, FOR SURE.
I do not 'know' Brendan, I've been at quite a few gigs, been that 'half drunk harp geek fan' and told him what a killer player I think he is. (yes, I was one of those drunken no-name fans Brendan!) but frankly, The guy is a serious inventor, innovator, and... to say the least... HUGE player.
I say the SHARK TANK would vote a resounding YES!
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rbeetsme
1290 posts
Jul 03, 2013
7:23 PM
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Until recently, I thought BP was one of the best players in the world, that nobody seemed to know! Enormous talent. I'm glad to see that he is receiving worldwide attention.
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Stevelegh
798 posts
Jul 03, 2013
8:32 PM
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@Miles:
I'm really excited about the Chromabender purely because there's 3 octaves available in a standard solo tuned layout in the key of C. That puts the harmonica into the same musical territory as the flute. I play with a funk soul band (on keys and guitar) and I'm hoping this instrument will give me the opportunity to sit with the horn section without messing with buttons and the theory that entails, or Richter tuning where notes are inconsistently placed.
I could be asking too much here and I think a number of keys will be the answer, but this is a step in the right direction in my opinion.
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