Ha, you'd think the self proclaimed greatest living harmonica player in the world would know what a reed is made of and what a comb is called. Also, a bit weird that Fender is making harps...but then again, Hohner makes guitars, so...
Gnarly, didn't you watch the video? He doesn't blow these harps out, so they are an investment. He's not going to have any spare covers lying around! :)
(Besides, it's considered gauche to wear your own signature harp covers as adornment on your harmonica after Labor Day!)
Seriously though, they are rebranded Seydels. Like Gnarly says, they are rebranded. Seydel makes great harps. If money was no object that's probably what my gig set would be (although if money was no object I'd try every brand and every model before I figured out what I was going to buy as my gig set... I'm finally getting myself a Manji so I'll see how Suzuki is before I swear a blood oath to anyone.)
Also: "self proclaimed greatest living harmonica player" ... I'm pretty sure he's taking the piss a lot when he talks.
I'm not sure his comments re: the harp are so much ignorance as - he doesn't really care. With a lot of people into repairing and modifying harps he said when he blew a reed (on a SP20), he'd throw the harp away and buy a new one. And said it with a small smile.
From clips of him talking, I've assumed he has a slightly alternative sense of humour and says things mostly to just amuse himself.
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He famously threw them into the crowd, so he's drawing the contrast, how much money the band will save...he may be right, or he may find that steel breaks too. There's a few stories of folks who invested in seydel steel thinking it would outlast their brass harps, only to be disappointed. I've got a bunch of old seydel steel plates here which were replaced under warranty. How long is the warranty period on a Popper harp I wonder?
Tin? I've heard him say this before. At least there is some tin in the alloy. Is he trying to draw some connection with 'tinny' sound? Greatest...there was a series of interviews where he said he may not be the greatest but he was up there . Something like that. I don't think he was kidding, I think he was maybe downplaying...a little...something the interviewer said, but after editing it sounded like big noting himself.
I am not a fan of Popper's, but I will say that his playing has gotten better; it sounds like he's learned how to bend and slur on the lower notes, and his attack sounds cleaner and more precise when he revs it up. Whether it's due to the new harmonica is anyone's guess, but altogether: GOOD SHOW. ---------- Ted Burke tburke4@san.rr.com
Unending self promotion is a big part of fame. Like it or not. I'm a pretty humble fellow, that is the only reason for not being the Worlds Best! :>) John is a good player, makes money, and pays others so what the heck...BN
I never heard of John Popper or Blues Traveller until the launch of this Fender harmonica. So its certainly good publicity for him to get his name on a harp. Watching the opening clip of the video, he has a different playing style, lifting his mouth way off of the harp when moving from note to note. I think most of us slide up and down the harp, articulating breath patterns to create the notes.
Last Edited by A440 on Jun 21, 2015 1:53 AM
Listening to a few of their clips, they sound like 90s-style pop music, rather than a blues band. Not well known here in Europe.
Last Edited by A440 on Jun 21, 2015 2:10 AM
I only know about them because of that abysmal Blues Brothers 2 movie, but I thought they were a bit more well known in the US.
And I guess I thought most harp players would know of John even if they didn't like his style, much like a fan of basketball will know of players that are on teams that are the mortal enemies of their favourite team.
I'm in New Zealand (GMT+12), by the way. Not many of the people I hang out with would know who they are either.
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Seems like he's big in the US culture, hence Fender would see the marketing value in putting his name on the harps. Probably appeals to a certain demographic.
Hohner sells a Jean-Jacques Milteau signature harp in Europe, which I guess would not have much meaning in the US market.
There's no question he's very good - the man has loads of talent - but I also find his public personna very annoying. That sort of arrogance and bombast is off-putting; there are much better ways to pull off blatant self-promotion.
And really . . . it seems that Popper's biggest claim to fame was and is a single cut (Runaround) from "Blues Traveler 4".
Good lord . . . that was at least 20 years ago. Talk about a glory days shtick. ---------- America's foremost Demotivational Speaker.
Co-Founder of the Demotivational Organization of Missouri (D.O.O.M.)
Last Edited by Rontana on Jun 21, 2015 4:31 AM
Well yeah . . . a billion times more than me too. But, my point wasn't in any way trying to make a comparison. I don't deny his talent . . . just saying he often comes off as a bit of a blowhard (inadvertent harp pun there).
I like the guy. He's got a sense of humour. His sound is distinctive, different, and holds forth in musical settings which would have me running for the exit.
In modern times, he's put the harmonica back on the map more than most other players have. ---------- Tony Eyers Australia www.HarmonicaAcademy.com everyone plays...
I find his music to be a crashing bore. I don't care how many notes he can squeeze into a ten second span. As Jerry Portnoy says "Music is not sports."
