raupe
1 post
Feb 02, 2015
10:47 PM
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Well, I'm one of those folks that can't afford custom -or even higher midrange harmonicas... But also someone working pretty steadily on jazzier playing methods (using overblows and such)... So I notice when things are off. Closest I've come to workable ootb is a manji, but even then gapping and sometimes arcing is necessary (not to mention tuning). I don't think it's a question of crap or not, but what you're doing with them. Still... Most ootb harps are fine for folk or rock or blues, even if unplayable if you're going chromatic -or at least following more complex chord structures in your playing.
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MindTheGap
527 posts
Feb 03, 2015
1:41 AM
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Superbee's thoughtful description squares exactly with what I've read. If there are counter examples it would be interesting to read them.
Looks like this is a topic that won't go away. Have a look at this thread from 2009. I'd recommend reading the posts from Violin Cat (JR), in particular where he challenges the assertion that the old masters didn't work on their harps. And Adam who suggests gives some practical advice: a beginner might buy a set of stock harps and a custom.
In amongst this, there are the opinions ranging from the extreme of people who have never opened their instruments and advocate that to beginners too.
Please stop the emphasis on customising harps
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SuperBee
2391 posts
Feb 03, 2015
2:14 AM
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that is a good thread! wow! well done for digging that out...and the buddha posts as well as violincat...
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Harmlessonica
53 posts
Feb 03, 2015
3:34 AM
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During my short time here, I've noticed various threads with an overlap of issues such as tweaking/customising/quality control...
I don't see any benefit in analysing whether there are more posts favouring one approach or another. It's a public forum, that's the way it goes.
I think the bottom line really is to encourage as many members as possible to have their say - whether it agrees with the majority opinion or not. That way, all readers should benefit from a more balanced discussion.
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MindTheGap
528 posts
Feb 03, 2015
4:02 AM
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I do see benefit in exploring unsupported assertions. It keeps the quality up, and fired up a very interesting discussion. But you're right, anyone should be able to do it. Without this thread I wouldn't have heard of 'The Magic Penny' or read this except from JR...
...the main thing that bothers me is when people feel that knowledge in some way will hurt them or distract them from their playing. Knowing a lot about your instrument only helps you play better, learning to work on your instrument gives you the knowledge of HOW it works and why and lends itself to your positive development. If you only "Messing" with the harmonica than fine DON'T buy or learn how to customize you harps but if your serious about playing as good as you can devoting some of your practice time to learning to fix/tune/improve a harmonica is really important and very cost effective.
BTW I don't have insomnia it's midday on a snowy day in the UK :)
(EDIT: replaced 'challenging' with 'exploring')
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Feb 03, 2015 4:35 AM
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chromaticblues
1665 posts
Feb 03, 2015
7:33 AM
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First Frank 101 and everyone that agrees with his original post is wrong to one degree or another!!
Why were custom harmonicas started and when?
Joe Filisko is the Grand daddy of the modern day custom.
I'm not saying he is the first person open up a harmonica, but (as far as I know)is the first do the things to harmonicas that we all call "custom".
In the 1970's the quality of Marine Bands really started to get bad. Not only were they inconsistent from one to the next, but the good ones didn't even play as well as old Marine Bands. This is what began the reason for customs. Joe Filisko started examining the present day MB's and old MB's and tried to make the newer harps play like the older MB's.
So technically yes he was "customizing", but really all he was doing is trying to make them play "right" (like the old harps).
OK fast forward to today. The harmonica made today are for better than the harps of the 70's, so does that mean stock harps are good enough? That answer is going to be different from person to person. All I can say is when a reed doesn't respond as well as that same reed on similar harp that you enjoy playing. Take the covers off and see what the difference is. There are many vids on U tube on how to rectify most of these problems. ANY harmonica player that really wants to be good can only benefit from this.
Last Edited by chromaticblues on Feb 03, 2015 10:03 AM
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srussell
2 posts
Feb 03, 2015
9:52 AM
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Most of what I've seen here is that people genuinely care about how their instrument plays. So to get it to play right for you - that may mean just pulling it out of the box and playing it, or it may mean buying a fully customized instrument. Right now I play out of the box manjis, marine bands, and crossovers. I can't justify the purchase of customized harp yet. But with all of them I've found I generally need to adjust the gapping, so that it plays right for me - I do a little overblowing as well. Much like I'd adjust the action on my guitar, or the strings to a gauge I like. Stock harps are what they are - stock. Like any other instrument you're going to need to make it work right for you, and that means some adjusting.
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arron
4 posts
Feb 04, 2015
12:42 PM
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i thought i would join in on this interesting conversation. i'm on the side of buying the custom harmonica. i've seen a customized sp20 for as little as $120 at mantra harmonicas. that doesn't seem like a great expense to have a top of the line instrument--a relative small price compared to other types of instruments. i think about it in terms of other things that i have paid for that didn't last nearly as long: like a couple of nights out on the town, or a single month's cable bill. while i do have plans to purchase a custom harmonica someday i plan to try and "earn" it and use it as an incentive: if i continue to enjoy playing and continue to practice every day, i am going to treat myself to a custom harmonica on my one year anniversary of playing--this summer. if i don't make it then i'll save the $120 for some other hobby. thanks for the interesting thread.
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