Gipsy
20 posts
Jul 13, 2013
12:27 AM
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Hi. I know there are many threads on custom harps, and I apologise in advance for starting another, but I'm looking for advice on buying a full on custom harp as a personal present for my upcoming 60th birthday. One other relevant fact is that I live in the UK, so shipping also needs to be considered.
I'm not seeking an answer to the stupid question " who makes the best custom harp? ". What I am seeking is a list of those customisers I should look at before deciding which way to go. I've followed most of the links and recommendations I've already found on the forum, but I suspect there are some, perhaps many I've overlooked.
One last thing to factor in is that I think I want a Marine Band harp. I currently play SP20's, but I'd like to try and get that raspier sound that MB's do so well, however I'm also considering one of Brendan Power's X reed ultrabends. SWMBO has ok'd the purchase, so this would be a one off chance to buy a luxury gift for myself.
If any peeps have one of Brendan's harps I'd be keen to hear how you're getting on with it.
Many thanks in advance for any advice offered.
Last Edited by Gipsy on Jul 13, 2013 12:44 AM
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BronzeWailer
1066 posts
Jul 13, 2013
1:37 AM
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Hi Gipsy.Congrats on all fronts.
You may not have heard of this guy, an OZ customizer, Neil Graham. He has Hohner's stamp of approval.
I don't have any of his harps but my teacher has a whole set he's happy with. I think he does mainly MBs.
http://www.neilgraham.com.au/
BronzeWailer's YouTube
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SuperBee
1303 posts
Jul 13, 2013
1:55 AM
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I'm pretty jealous of you and your teacher BW
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JellyShakersTipJar
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BronzeWailer
1067 posts
Jul 13, 2013
2:44 AM
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It was Jim Conway who encouraged him to get into the custom harp business, SB. I just use off the rack harps myself.
BronzeWailer's YouTube
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SuperBee
1304 posts
Jul 13, 2013
3:02 AM
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I'm jealous of Jim for having NG harps, and of you for having Jim as a teacher :0)
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JellyShakersTipJar
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Oisin
1024 posts
Jul 13, 2013
3:05 AM
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Hi Gipsy....I was a committed SP20 player for the last 10 years up till last week when I got my first 2 Crossovers in A and C. Far and away the best out of the box harmonica I have ever played. Its what I imagined a custom harp would sound and play like. Before blowing a load of money on one harp, you could probably get 3 or 4 Crossovers for the same money. And they have the most raspy sound you've ever heard.
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Oisin
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Pistolcat
426 posts
Jul 13, 2013
5:52 AM
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A crossover is good but don't come close to a custom IMO. Hasn't joe spiers sp20 customs for sale?
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Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
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jim
1452 posts
Jul 13, 2013
7:00 AM
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want one of these?
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Free Harp Learning Center
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Kingley
2877 posts
Jul 13, 2013
7:07 AM
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Gipsy - If you want to buy from the UK then Al Price makes custom harps. So does Henry Slim. West Weston sells tweaked Marine Bands too (although they aren't really full custom harps).
If you want to buy from Continental Europe then I'd say Ben Bouman is the man to get one from. He makes custom Seydel harps.
If you want to buy them from the States then I'd suggest Joe Spiers. Joe is one of the top customisers in the world.
Pretty much all of these guys websites or contact details can be found via a Google search for their names.
The only other thing I can tell you is that, if it were me buying a custom harp then the only person who'd be getting my money would be Joe Spiers.
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GMaj7
244 posts
Jul 13, 2013
8:47 AM
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This probably isn't a direct answer to your question, but worth noting that some of the highest paid players & those who play to the largest audiences play straight out-out-of-the-box harps. I'm sure someone will pop up and mention that King Levy and His Ricciness play custom harps but most of us mortals aren't near that level and to the extent we aren't it is probably not due to the quality of our instrument.
Unless you can specifically pinpoint an area of your playing that you can't master without a custom harp, give yourself a b-day present that keeps on giving and get a great teacher like Howard or Jason (Or Sandy Weltman or Michael Rubin).
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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arzajac
1101 posts
Jul 13, 2013
9:18 AM
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What's a custom harp?
There isn't one set standard out there that anyone can read and know exactly what you get when you buy a custom harp. There are custom harps, optimized harps, restored pre-war harps; everyone sort of does their own thing. The well-established Filisko-method harps are the reference-standard but you still mostly have to buy one or play one to really understand what you get.
In the UK, Anthony Danneker is a renowned customiser but he offers upgraded harps with high-end components and without advanced reed work. That's completely different than the reference-standard Filisko Custom harp.
So Gipsy, what do you want? It would help to know what your expectations are.
I offer custom harps and I try to be very clear as to what you get.
Do you want a harp that is a joy to play? With every bent note accessible? Consistency of play from top to bottom? I think that should be basic to any custom harp.
How loud do you like your harps? Some people expect a custom harp to have heavy embossing which makes the tone very bright. Some people don't like that. It's your choice, really.
Do you want overbends? You can play overblows on any harp, but on a harp that is specifically customised for overblows, they will play easier, cleaner and be closer in tune. The more you emphasize overbends, the more you will have to change you style of playing. If you want overbends as passing notes only, you will be able to play the harp mostly normally without the harp feeling too stuffy. If you want overbends as wail notes to bend up and use vibrato with, you will need to have the harp adjusted to emphasize that. That will likely require more aggressive embossing which means brighter tone.
You can have the harp tuned any way you like. Which way to you like? Is there a brand of harp that you like, but don't care for the tuning? That's helpful to know.
Do you tongue-block or pucker or both?
Are you a hard player or soft?
You want a Marine Band because of the tone, but you prefer Special 20s. Do you want a protruding comb or do you want the tines flush? Maybe a SP20 comb with Marine Band coverplates? I've learned that SP20 lovers often dislike sandwich-type combs.
There's a reason why you don't see many PayPal Buy It Now buttons on custom harmonica providers' web sites. It's important to have a discussion so that your needs are understood. That's what custom means.
And one last thing. If you want a custom harp, there will be a wait. You can't make a custom harp overnight. When's your birthday?
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
Last Edited by arzajac on Jul 13, 2013 4:05 PM
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Kingley
2879 posts
Jul 13, 2013
9:29 AM
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Arzajac raises some very good points indeed. You need to know what you want before you contact any customiser. Some people seem to think that a custom harp will be the answer to all their prayers and make them sound the way they want too. The real answer is of course that you need to have your chops together in the first place to make good use of any custom harp.
If you can't answer all the questions that Andrew states off the top of your head. Then a custom harp probably isn't what you want to spend your money on first. If that were the case then Greg Jones suggestion of lessons would be a very good way to go.
PS: Sorry Andrew, Greg and Jim it completely slipped my mind that you guys also make custom harps when I was making the list.
Last Edited by Kingley on Jul 13, 2013 9:31 AM
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nacoran
6924 posts
Jul 13, 2013
1:00 PM
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http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/599452.htm
I haven't updated it much recently. It's on my to do list. Right now I need to decide on a better way to display it. I've run into the stupid character limit on the post so I can't keep in all organized easily. This list includes guys who do reed work, combs or any piece. You have to sort through yourself to figure out who offers what.
Arzajac:
http://harp.andrewzajac.ca
Tom Halchak
bluemoonharmonicas.com
Manra Harmonicas (Mike Fugazi, David Payne, Mathew Smart)
http://www.customizedharmonicas.com/
Car Sick Cain http://carsickcainscustombuiltharmonicas.yolasite.com/
There is another, shorter list, with more specifics on what each guy offers, but I seem to have lost the bookmark.
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Nate
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Gipsy
21 posts
Jul 13, 2013
1:40 PM
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Thanks for all the replies. Plenty of food for thought there.
As for the type of harp I want, about that I'm absolutely clear. Something like a Jo Spiers level one harp, built on a synthetic comb. I don't play overblows, but I'd like the hole 6 overblow available so that if I do decide to add to my skill set it'll be there.
Finally I want it in A. I play guitar and self accompanying in E is the easiest way forward.
I look forward to any further replies.
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Gipsy
22 posts
Jul 13, 2013
1:54 PM
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@Gmaj7. I'm sure you're right, but in general most professional musicians play top end instruments. Most if not all professional guitarists will have access to a guitar technician who will set up and maintain the guitars for the artist. If you buy a guitar from a good music shop you will be offered a set up of your choice before you leave with the guitar. The instrument doesn't make the guitarist, but it will allow them to reach their full potential.
I wonder if those harp players who play OOB harps do,their own setting up before using the harp. If so are they merely self customising their harps?
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Kingley
2883 posts
Jul 14, 2013
2:17 AM
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"Something like a Jo Spiers level one harp, built on a synthetic comb. I don't play overblows, but I'd like the hole 6 overblow available so that if I do decide to add to my skill set it'll be there."
Gipsy - In that case, I'd suggest that you get a Joe Spiers Stage II harp. Those are set up to overblow on holes 4,5 & 6. Joe does them in both Special 20's and Marine Bands. The Marine Bands come with a composite (corian) comb. The Special 20's use the stock comb I believe.
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nacoran
6929 posts
Jul 14, 2013
12:58 PM
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Here is that other thread-
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/5428023.htm
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Nate
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The Iceman
1004 posts
Jul 14, 2013
2:25 PM
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Gipsy..
Maybe you should consider spending a bit of money on a small tool kit and perhaps a video or dvd from Rupert Oysler or Richard Sleigh on how to customize your own harmonicas.
Carlos Del Junco, myself and others use OOB harmonicas (Golden Melody in this case) and we spend not too much time, but enough to custom tweak, tune and reed offset to get what we want.
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The Iceman
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