This is my cover of a heartfelt tribute song to his hero the late J B Lenoir by British Blues Legend John Mayall, still touring at the age of 86 (well he would be but for Covid causing cancellations). Mayall is a die-hard Bluesman and band leader who has kick-started the careers of many famous guitarists including Eric Clapton and Peter Green.
I Ain't got nothing but the Blues
I'm having a go at a kind of 'call and response' here but with the harp mirroring the vocals on a reworking of this old Nillson song.
Does that rack work ok for u---yr good on the rack. I cut the metal below the spring, extend lower strip, and put the upper part on with wingnut and swivel etc.
U can adjust it so, u don't have to reach up to play harp. Its pointing down, very easy to play. Its similar to hohner flex but better.
Main point: I can't tell if u had to reach "up" to play or not.
If so do yr self a favor ---play with another rack----cut it etc have a swivel pt. I can't play a regular rack any more---once u get one adjusted to yr playing----U NEVER GO BACK
I now have a jury rigged 'flex rack'----a farmer rack with the "rack it" and
a very fancy one I customized--the angle and height is perfect --I can lay into it 'Toungue block' or whatever.
Thanks Doug. Strangely a lot of critics found Mayall's song trite. Have they no hearts? I personally found the song moving. It is no secret that he cites JB as influencing him more than any other, so I have no doubt in believing his lyrics were heartfelt. His voice on this song is in a higher register than I sang which adds even more poignancy.
Snowman. I don't play rack harp that often and have nearly always used a standard neck rack rather than the Mic boom I used here. I thought I'd give it a try because I always feel constrained with the neck rack as I have to set it very close to by mouth to feel I'm getting a grip on the harp especially for bends. Also I hold the harp way off horizontal when I'm playing so it feels weird to play on a horizontal rack. Your suggestion of a doctored rack might help with this at least.
Another thing is I probably don't play enough rack to get comfortable in having to move my head to the holes rather than moving the harp to the holes with my hands when playing normally.
The boom rack was a partial success as I didn't feel cramped and could set my angle but you can see it moved a bit at times which was unsettling.
I know you're a good and long term rack player so it might be just a matter of me practising more to get comfortable.
btw was there supposed to be a vid of the rack angle on your last post?
