OBs and ODs are not possible in serial production. I mean like on 100% harps produced. You can get better of worse harps that have em better or bad, or not have em at all. ---------- www.truechromatic.com
Hey groyster.....I'm in Kingsport..and my blood does run orange. F**k Kiffin! Let me know if any good blues shows are down your way!
Jim...I just wanted to try it because it was on sale. Suzuki and others claim it is the best OB harp from the box. I disagree. I have opened several GMs that OB better out of box....and yes my accent is more Southern Appalachia than deep south. I work for a British company here in the U.S. and the Brits don't always catch what I say.....lol
Hi Harpdude61 -- Thanks for the video. It sort of sounds like you are used to and happy with the GM. I'm not so set yet (or experienced) but I'm finding I favor plastic and metal combs. And my favorite shape/fit is the Suzuki and Hohner Spec20. So far my two favorite harps are Suzuki Bluesmaster Bb and Hammond C. Next on my list is a Promaster Valved to see how that works out. But I've got a lot to learn on OB and such, so leave that to your expertise and others. Thanks again.
Hey Jim H! I'm one of those players that tilt the back of the harp up and deep in the mouth. With the GM I don't run out of harp on the 1 and 10 and the bend on top of the harp fit nice in the corners of my mouth.
I took the Fire Breath apart today and was amazed at the size of some the reed gaps. After closing them some the OBs were easier, but still not as easy as the Golden Melody. This harp seems smaller to me as well.
I should have listened to some of you, but you gotta try some things for yourself.
Hopefully my next new harp will be a custom Golden Melody.
Hiya harpdude61 -- I just had a Golden Melody C arrive today, since your last post. I tried it, the Hammond, a Pro Harp and an older non-MS Blues Harp -- all in C. I found the BH to have the dullest/quietest tone; the Pro Harp needs the most air pushed through it (didn't seem tight, but could get pretty loud!); the GM was great, with less air needed and cleaner/easier bends; but the Hammond was the least air needed with the cleanest bends. I like the GM and Hammond about the same, but for different reasons, but the GM is a better deal out of the box, so the jury is still out. You are right about the size -- compared to the Hammond (meaning the Promaster line) the GM is slightly longer on the numbered side, and slightly wider front to back. In thickness they are about same, except the GM has that nice taper to it. I think Todd is on to something with the GMs, and I like them a lot. But at the moment the Suzuki's are still my favorite, but it's very close. The older BH will go up for sale -- don't need a ton of the same key, do I? I'm really getting sold on these plastic and metal combs.
Last Edited by on Jun 09, 2010 1:01 PM
hello harpdude there is a blues concert in oak ridge on saturday night at 6pm at the old grove theater wallace coleman,the only harp player to back robert jr lockwood will be headlining he loves to do little walter songs and is a great harp player along with henry perry who plays harp for a knoxville blues jazz band called slow blind hill admission is only 12.00 15.00 at the door
Harpdude61 -- I've got an extra NIB Hammond C (it's a notch down in price from the Fire Breath) if you get an hankering to try and you don't like the Fire Breath, I'll swap you if you like. You might like the Fire Breath better if you get used to it. If not let me know, I'd like to see what all the different models are like. Jim harrisgrp@earthlink.net
harpdude yes wallace is from morristown relocated to cleveland,ohio where he was discovered playing blues harp on breaks he has several cds out also recorded with robert jr lockwood robert johnsons son come on to or if you can he played last year and put on a good show the doors open at 4pm and you can get a barbq plate
if I have offended anybody please come forward and tell me so I can check back and see where it was I did say I did not like cyndi laupers version of a little walter song but did like musselwhites harp playing maybe I offended some cyndi lauper fans
as I have mentioned before,I enjoy the sense of humor that people have in this forum but maybe some peoples sense of humor may cross the line and its a shame that such hostility is brought out by peoples opinion
@harpdude61 Hey, it was good to meet you at HCH. I worked on my OB on the way home to TX." made my throat sore"working on the tech. Thanks for decribing the location of where air comes from when you OB. I decribe it as below the Adams apple. I agree with exploring all the posibilitys of the harp. I may not use them but I like to know what can be done and how to if needed. I to had to try several diffrent harps looking for the holy grail. I like the GM'S and a few SP 20's. I have 2 B/Radicals on order. I hope I like them as good as the GM's at least. Mike
harpdude I was at HCH and we did not meet a fellow east tennessean and vol fan I tried to remember your face but do not remember seeing you it was a great event and everybody got along and what great musicians were there did you go up front with the guitar players? I remember scott who had a great jam with bill perry GOVOLS AND DERRICK DOOLEY!
Hey Shredder! Glad that worked for ya. I hope to have custom harps someday but right now the GMS are the best for me. Let me know how you do with the B-Rads.
groyster...If you were at Friday's jam at Roosters Blues House..Adam played first, then he brought up Deak Harp,and I was next. I did Red House.
Saturday I played some Howlin Wolf with Johnny Sansone while everyone was in the dinner line. HAd on my Satchmo tee..
Scott and I became friends. We have exchanged e-mails several times. Great player...he plays all the positions well.
I actually remember the satchmo tshirt did not go to roosters but sure got my fill of great harp playing sat-sun maybe we will meet someday you play very well to only been playing 4 years I have harps 30 years old
Groyster and Harpdude... thanks so much. I enjoyed hanging out with Harpdude, but Groyster, did we meet? I have to say that, as great as the instructor/performers were -- and they really were inspiring -- I got just as much out of meeting fellow attendees, many of whom were very good players (paging Harpdude!).
My D Firebreath is my best overall OB harp. I only OB the 4-6 holes. My C GM OB's smoother for the 6 OB but I really have to struggle to get the 4OB. I remember reading some threads that all the Firebreath harps have the shorter Suzukii reed profiles (with the exception of the Manji) but the reeds themselves were designed with OBing in mind. And if I remember correctly, the GM harps have the long reed profiles for C and lower harps...unless you are lucky enough to have a custom made Joe Spiers long slot D harp like Todd P has! The longer reed profiles are supposed to be easier to OB is my understanding. The Firebreath is a comfortable playing harp and I like the coverplates. The GM is also very comfortable of course.
All of the Hohner reed profiles are more ideal for overblows, regardless of the key. The long slot D I have is for giving the harp a different, smoother feel - kinda hard to explain unless you play one.
I think the Firebreath actually has different reed profiles than some of the other Suzuki models (Promaster, Hammond, etc.), making it more suitable for overblows as well, but nothing compares to a custom harp.
That long slot D harp is the best harp I've EVER played. Joe Spiers is the man.
no we did not meet but thought you got the best of all attendees do you play in a blues band? the talent in foxfire was overwhelming and had the best time i have had in a long time have only been following the internet and adams you tube lessons for 4 months but have finally been making some progress after blowing harp for about 30 years I put your performance on facebook and my older sister was really impressed with your performance
Very cool... thanks very much. Do me a favor and friend me on Facebook, will you (if we're not already friends)? I don't play regularly in a blues band... my own music is really a mix of rock, blues, jazz, world music etc. You can stream most of my first album at http://scottalbertjohnson.com.
But I do play with other blues bands fairly often and have been in blues bands before (was member of Big Al & the Heavyweights for about a year and a half -- Jason Ricci played in that band before I did).
Glad you had a great time at HCH... I did too. I have never been to SPAH or any big harmonica event before... just the mere fact of being around so many kindred spirits for 2 1/2 days was awesome.
