BluesJacketman
57 posts
Jan 22, 2014
2:46 PM
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Could some of you guys here give me pros and cons and thoughts about custom harps?
Thinking about buying a relatively inexpensive one
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1847
1470 posts
Jan 22, 2014
3:12 PM
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i just bought one on ebay
marine band $25.00
the comb was flat sanded but not the bottom reed plate
the nails were replaced with screws
the back was opened up
the price was right lol
plays pretty well. "after i sanded the bottom plate"
i prefer the seydel silver plus
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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arzajac
1261 posts
Jan 22, 2014
3:33 PM
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Here is the reference standard. I believe this text is okayed by Joe Filikso, the exemplary customizer.
What is Harmonica Customizing?
Customizing is a generic expression used to describe systematic modifications to a series product in order to meet the specific requirements of an individual customer.
Although a HOHNER harmonica such as the MARINE BAND CROSSOVER offers exceptional quality "out of the box", even the best harmonica from a production line cannot meet all the specific needs of every individual musician. People are looking for different things. A raunchy blues player, a gentle folk stylist and an overblow specialist, for example, all have widely varying approaches and employ completely different embouchures, vocal tract forms and breath pressures to create their music. No serial product can simultaneously meet all these demands, so it's common practice to adjust the instrument to suit the needs of the individual player.
What does the customizer do?
a) Semi Customizing
Semi Customizing is a sales offer to an unspecific circle of potential purchasers, usually involving physical modifications to the finished instrument. A typical example of semi customizing is the offer to exchange combs or covers on an undefined number of harmonicas at a defined serial level. Another example would be the offer of standardized alternate tunings in either an online base or a catalogue. Much semi customizing does not encompass the reed work delineated below and in such cases can also be performed by non-players.
b) Full Customizing
Full customizing involves accepting orders to modify harmonicas in order to improve performance in regard to the specific playing style of the customer, as well as fulfilling individual wishes by exchanging or modifying parts of the instrument.
Here the goal is to make the harmonica play better, sound louder, respond better and/or facilitate certain playing styles such as overbends. In addition to the operations performed by semi customizers, full customizing always involves extensive modifications to reeds and reed slots (embossing, offsetting, gapping, polishing, bevelling of reed edges, fine tuning et al). This highly skilled work can only be conducted by experienced technicians who are also expert players.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
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smwoerner
232 posts
Jan 22, 2014
3:35 PM
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Pros
-Tuning will be far more accurate.
-The reeds will be more responsive and the harp will feel less airy.
-The effort to play and bend the different holes will be more consistent.
-The bends will be easier to control and sustain.
-Should last longer because the consistent feel will allow you play more smoothly.
-Overblows will be easier.
Cons
-More expensive.
-More likely to lock up if you get excited and start playing hard.
-More likely to break a read if you play to hard.
-May need to be cleaned more often due to the tight tolerances.
-Will make a lot of your non-custom harps seem far more leaky than ever imagined.
-Habit forming.
-As you search for ever better playing harps you start to pay substantially more for slight improvements (kinda like horsepower).
-There is no going back…
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Purveyor of Optimized New and Refurbished Harmonicas.
scott@scottwoerner.com
Last Edited by smwoerner on Jan 22, 2014 3:36 PM
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arzajac
1262 posts
Jan 22, 2014
3:55 PM
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My thoughts: Some known customisers fall into the category of semi-customizing by the above definition (my last post).
Others choose to call themselves "Optimizers" which is somewhat different the customizing, but nonetheless shares some similarities. An Optimizer may take a factory harp and improve it by making it more airtight and improving the reed work. Although they may do advanced reed work and other interventions that a customizer (by the above definition) does, the end product is not adjusted for any person in particular, hence the focus on not using the term "custom" which implies making each instrument suit each individual player's needs.
What is a custom harp?
A custom harp is an overall better instrument with excellent tone, response and tuning.
Although a custom harp is supposed to be tailored to each individual, the usual expectation is that along with the above characteristics, a custom harp is heavily embossed which lends the instrument a thinner tone. There is another expectation that they are tighter to play. As I said, this is a prevalent expectation but a truly custom harp will be tailored to the customer. And if the customer doesn't want heavy embossing, what they get is still a custom harp - heavy embossing and tight gaps are not a prerequisite.
Are custom harps a good thing?
Yes. I believe most music teachers encourage their students (at any level from raw beginners to advanced) to obtain the best instrument they can afford.
It's a lot easer and faster to learn the harmonica by working on fine motor skills first. Developing "chops" - building muscle endurance is not hindered by practising on a custom harp. On the other hand developing strength (by playing a leaky, or maladjusted harp) before developing fine motor control can slow down learning and favour developing habits that blow out reeds.
This is my opinion. Remember that this is a topic that has garnered lots of debate. It's a difficult one. There's no good way to gather evidence one way or the other. Most of the evidence is anecdotal at best.
Unless someone wants to do a controlled trial where 100 volunteers learn the harmonica using off-the-shelf harps and another 100 learn on custom harps and their progress is objectively measured, the debate is nowhere near over.
What are the cons of a custom harp?
They are expensive. Hours of work doesn't come cheap.
(Edited for typos and clarity. Mostly typos. Lots...)
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
Last Edited by arzajac on Jan 22, 2014 4:16 PM
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walterharp
1296 posts
Jan 22, 2014
5:29 PM
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if your playing has not progressed to the point where you rarely blow out reeds, then don't bother. If it is there, then by all means give it a try. I think they might be an important tool for advanced intermediate players to make more rapid progress, though not absolutely necessary.
they will not choke up easier if you get one tailored for your playing style and abilities, but the will blow out easier. kind of like it is easier to blow out a sports car engine than an low cost pickup...
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tmf714
2360 posts
Jan 22, 2014
5:59 PM
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I really wish we could steer clear of using automotive analogy for harmonica playing.
Anyway-there is a learning curve when switching from stock harps to customs. I approached Rod Piazza,asking him what harps he used-custom or ootb-he told me he is so used to ootb harps,he did not think he would be able to take full advantage of a custom. He would have to re-learn everything.
I agree about the difference between"optimized" and "customized"- also,I think the style used-tongue block vs pucker also comes into play-pucker players are harder on the reeds,so you would be more likely to incur "sticking" reeds more than a blocker. But there is a lighter breath force required to fully utilize a true custom harmonica.
Last Edited by tmf714 on Jan 22, 2014 6:00 PM
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Slimharp
130 posts
Jan 23, 2014
9:33 AM
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Customs = Less effort, more control, louder and brighter. I have had a set of Joe Spiers stage one Sp. 20's and they are great. they have lasted me over 2 years. I do not practice with them.
I also have gotten lucky and bought very good 20's OOTB, sealed the combs and opened the cover plates and they play very well. Not as good as a custom but close.
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The Black Pit
5 posts
Jan 23, 2014
6:20 PM
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Forgive my ignorance Slimharp, but how do you seal a plastic comb?
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harpdude61
1957 posts
Jan 23, 2014
11:58 PM
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Playing 4 or 5 shows a month I just found it too expensive to ship custom harps back and forth for 1 flat reed or whatever. Plus the wait.
Bought some nice combs and learned to gap properly. No problems with the last few stock GMs tuning wise. Really not that much difference for a throat player that carries plenty of air support. Overbends are just as easy.
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The Iceman
1409 posts
Jan 24, 2014
8:08 AM
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To read words on a computer screen about Custom Harps is one thing.
To experience one for yourself is quite another.
Why not buy one within your price comfort range and compare?
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The Iceman
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harpwrench
763 posts
Jan 24, 2014
12:12 PM
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Answer customized to OP, he has posted video. Customs usually make it easier to to play the trickier bends on the 2-3-10 holes, help with achieving vibrato, hold notes longer without running out of air. Wider dynamic range is a big plus. If you're normally a hard blower playing straight-ahead stuff then there's really no point, stock harps work as well for that unless you get a lemon. If you're wanting to explore the more intricate subtleties of tongue blocking, want better dynamics, or a higher quality feel (not just your lips/hands, but evened air regulation from hole to hole), then a *good* custom would be useful. Customs range in quality just as much as OOTB, so choose wisely.
Last Edited by harpwrench on Jan 24, 2014 12:44 PM
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groyster1
2513 posts
Jan 24, 2014
3:30 PM
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I have several custom harps...all great....but I also have some pre war marine bands and new old stock marine bands(Hicksville era) that rival the customs...I will say my strongest harp is a sp20 stage 1 purchased from rockinron and built by guess who?
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groyster1
2515 posts
Jan 24, 2014
5:56 PM
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good advice as above....truly believe
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jnorem
4 posts
Jan 24, 2014
9:56 PM
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Hah! I just now started a thread about this very topic.
I have no custom harps. I play the Special 20, ootb.
Little Walter did, ootb Marine Band.
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BluesJacketman
60 posts
Jan 26, 2014
12:20 PM
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thanks for the comments everyone!
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