Buzadero
669 posts
Dec 28, 2010
2:22 PM
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I should add to the list of praise to CB's work.
I am another satisfied customer.
He does a very nice job. Nothing fancy. Just tightens everything up a bit.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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sonvolt13
64 posts
Dec 29, 2010
3:55 AM
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I bought a $75 special 20 from chromatic. Its louder, more airtight, and more responsive than a stock special 20. The 6OB is there if I want it. I feel the harp is worth $75 and I sent a check for two more. I was a little sad to hear that the refurb price went up to $50. I was going to send a bunch of special 20's and now I'm not sure. Deak, I felt your rant against Kevin was very unfair. He seems like a good guy who is trying to provide a service at a fair price. You can bet I won't be ordering any products from you.
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joeleebush
165 posts
Dec 29, 2010
4:18 AM
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I have a couple of the "Hoo Doo Harps". (in fact I was somewhat instrumental in naming them that).
The fact of the matter is we live in a free market and if Hoo Doo Man can make a harp that does what I want it to do for a lesser price, he will get my business.
In my opinion, some of these harp mechanic wizards are out of their minds asking the prices they ask. BUT...if someone wants to pay it, then its okay with me and really none of my business. It's their money and they can spend it any way they please.
Those who moan about how much it costs them to do business or how something "isn't fair" are the very ones who will haggle the most or try to bargain down a price on a purchase faster than anyone around. At least that's what I have seen and that is good competition. Doesn't bother me at all.
Someone just posted the correct words..."the survival of the fittest" rules.
No jobs? what kind of scam did you fall for when you voted for a politician.
Nobody appreciates the work you do? Too bad, get a life.
Bands undercut your rate? Too bad for you...nobody owes you a thing. (did YOU ever offer to do a show cheaper?)
It can go on and on and on and on...endlessly.
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captainbliss
360 posts
Dec 29, 2010
5:13 AM
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Hello!
Someone made a wise observation in another post. The word "custom" has VERY different meanings.
To wit...
(A) Some vendors...
Assemble harmonicas with care, attention and quality control, tune 'em very precisely, all of which results in effectively a dream OOTB harp (you know the ones you get every once in a blue moon?) every time.
(For a small surcharge on RRP, this is what my preferred vendor - Antony Dannecker - does for me with MB Crossovers (his price is £5 more than RRP) and - wow! - the playability, tuning and customer service is worth every penny and then some. Seriously recommended.)
(B) Other customisers...
Do all kinds of arcane and wonderful things that, AFAIK, require high levels of skill, are extremely time-consuming and use words like "embossing," "chamfering" and plenty more I don't really understand, but...
The labour *does* probably justify a much higher price tag.
And...
Comparing (A) with (B) seems a little foolish, a bit like, for example, comparing a really good Mercedes road car with a Mercedes F1 car. Obviously the F1 car is vastly superior in all kinds of ways, has massively more advanced technology, is much more expensive to make, but...
For most drivers, IMHO, it's probably a waste.
@joleebush:
/It can go on and on and on and on...endlessly./
Someone will get round to (re)inventing the Trade Union eventually...
xxx
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harpwrench
400 posts
Dec 29, 2010
7:04 AM
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Joe Lee
I'm one of those harp mechanic wizards. I offer several different models ranging in price from $85 to $340. Prices are based on parts plus labor, and my labor rate is fair. I can assure you I'm not out of my mind.
Regards
Joe Spiers
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Todd Parrott
287 posts
Dec 29, 2010
8:15 AM
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No, Joe isn't out of his mind. I don't know what all goes into his harps, but I sure know what comes OUT of them - one heck of a sound, and the smoothest, most squeal-free overblow/overdraw harps I've ever played.
I doubt that joeleebush was specifically refering to Joe. He came to hear me play in Decatur, GA this year and heard some Spiers harps in action. The licks I played that night wouldn't have been possible on other harps. Joe Lee was a friendly guy, and we had a great time talking about harps.
I know there are other great customizers out there, and I'm sure a lot of them do some of the same things in the customizing process, but I think the difference in price comes down to the amount of time and attention to detail that Joe puts into his work to build a true custom made harp to fit the player's needs. Joe does have his own process and methods, and in my opinion, he's taken customizing to a whole new level. I know I'm always saying good things about Joe, but I owe a lot to him. His harps have taken my playing to a whole new level as well.
If I wasn't so broke at the moment, I'd order a half dozen more of his harps. :)
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HarveyHarp
167 posts
Dec 29, 2010
8:36 AM
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You know, it sounds to me like we need a Harp Customization Seminar, are perhaps panel discussion at Hill Country Harmonica. We obviously have numerous people on this forum that work on either their own harps, or do work for others. We have everything from professional customizers who make harps for the Big Players to Rookles, who think that replacing nails with screws is customizing a Harp, and everything in between.
I refuse to get involved in controversy, and I definitely will not cut down anyone's harps, ability, or playing. I have, however had the opportunity to work on, or exasmine, Harps from Joe Spiers, Budda (rest his soul), Randy at Genesis, Filisko, Gordon, Kenya, Smart, and a few where I do not know who originated the work, and the good ones all had one thing in common. And that is attention to details. Other than that, they are all different, and they all sound different.
If we want to have a contest to see who can sell Custom Harps the cheapest, then I will win. I give most of mine away to my friends, and local harp players that need them.
I have written about 6 or 8 responses to this thread, and have deleted them all before I posted them. Maybe I will push the button this time
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chromaticblues
442 posts
Dec 29, 2010
11:22 AM
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All I can say is I'm not trying to compete with anyone else! I build harps that are good enough for me to play. I know most you don't understand what that means. Some one keeps on posting about a customizer that doesn't play the harp. How the hell does that work? And you want to compare his work to mine. Please! Thats the beutiful thing about this forum people that don't have the slieghtist idea what they are talking about can post like they are an authority. There are probably about two dozen people on the face of this earth I would consider experts. I build harps a specific way. I'm a progressive blues player and build harps that will do that well. I am building harps that most people can use and become better players with. Thats what I do. The fact that so many people like the harps they buy from me is all I'm after. I have'nt been doing this that long and If I charge the same prices that everyone else does I would never sell a single harp! Why would you buy a harp from me for $150 if all the people that have been doing for years and have many happy customers sell the same harp for $150?
Is really that hard to understand?
Last Edited by on Jan 19, 2011 4:34 AM
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tmf714
403 posts
Dec 29, 2010
11:30 AM
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MP-James Gordon charges $165.00 for his SP 20's-the wait is about 12 months right now-maybe you were looking at an old price list----
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MP
1201 posts
Dec 29, 2010
12:26 PM
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-tmf714,
interesting, i haven't looked at price lists, and i'm sure you're right.
one friend with a recently received gordon SP/20 told me $135. i mentioned this price to another gordon MB owner yesterday, and-he claimed $115 for basic work.
if prices went up then $165 sounds consistent.--------
MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
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groyster1
641 posts
Dec 29, 2010
12:40 PM
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I have always said word of mouth reputation makes for the best advertisement-joe obviously has the reputation and harvey I can vouch for you also as I have 2 mb1896s and a sp20 you gave to me for free because there was a problem with 1 of the marine bands(since corrected) so nobody can say you are not fair
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toddlgreene
2360 posts
Dec 29, 2010
12:45 PM
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I'll back up Harvey's work. The guy has mad skills and is far too humble given his capabilities, although that's a very good attribute of his.
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Todd L. Greene, Codger-in-training
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528hemi
167 posts
Dec 29, 2010
12:48 PM
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Joe Spiers from his website advertises stage 2 Sp20's
for 100.00 and MB's for 135.00 unless I am reading this wrong you can buy a Sp20 from you for 75.00 or 1 from him for 100.00? I know what I am going to do.
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groyster1
648 posts
Dec 30, 2010
5:35 AM
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@chromatic
please put your email address on so you can be contacted offline
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chromaticblues
454 posts
Jan 06, 2011
6:18 PM
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Hello everybody!
I'm going to start selling Hohner harps with the reeds straightened, gapped and centered. These are not modified just setup.
SP 20's for $50
MB's for $50
Crossovers for $75
Also I will be offering all out fullblown overblow harps.
Contact me if thats your thing! sbaker60@cox.net
Prices depend on what you want!
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chromaticblues
455 posts
Jan 07, 2011
4:54 AM
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@Buzz
I have cherry and mahagony wood combs ordered for Golden Melodies. I have not recieved one yet. Once I get these and put a couple together and everything is as it should be then I will start mentioning Golden Melodies. It should be very soon! I'm not going to work on any golden Melodies and send it back with the original comb on it. The combs suck and it just takes away from how good the harp can really be!
Because of the cost of the comb the Golden Melodies will be $75 for setup harp and $100 to $125 on a custom depending on how you play and what you want.
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Buzadero
693 posts
Jan 07, 2011
5:31 AM
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Bueno.
That's the ticket.
Thanks
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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eharp
1071 posts
Jan 07, 2011
6:11 AM
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i gotta try the "implore" thing.
sometimes my "pleases" get no consideration.
lol
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chromaticblues
456 posts
Jan 07, 2011
6:24 AM
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@ eharp
Ask and you shall recieve.
Its like magic
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eharp
1072 posts
Jan 07, 2011
11:03 AM
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lol
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Honkin On Bobo
558 posts
Jan 07, 2011
11:19 AM
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Everytime this thread pops up and I read the title Hoo Doo Harps.....John Fogarty's Born on the Bayou pops into my head......without fail
chasin' down a Hoo Doo there..
chasin' down a Hoo Doo there..
I know....I'm freakin' weird
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9000
53 posts
Jan 07, 2011
11:49 AM
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Chromaticblues says, "I'm going to start selling Hohner harps with the reeds straightened, gapped and centered. These are not modified just setup.
SP 20's for $50"
This really interests me. What would be the difference between this and the custom S20? BTW I really like the four harps that you did for me during your "blue light special"!!
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Music speaks where words fail.
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chromaticblues
457 posts
Jan 07, 2011
11:58 AM
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All of those harps were embossed and what I saw that needed to be fixed or adjusted I took care of. I was working on some harps I never even seen before. So I cleaned them tested them and just went from there untill I felt like it was a good harp!
Different stuff on differnet harps.
My HooDoo Sp 20 has a modified reedplate.
The setup $50 harp will not have any mods to the reedplate. Only reed work.
It won'r be as good as the one I did for you, but it will be twice as good as any stock harp and it will be consistant from hole to hole.
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MP
1241 posts
Jan 07, 2011
12:30 PM
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-chromaticblues makes an excellent harp. last night i tested one against a B-RAD and it aquited itself very well. ---------
MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
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chromaticblues
459 posts
Jan 07, 2011
5:35 PM
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Thanks MP
I never play anyone elses harps so I really don't have the slightest idea how my work compares to anything. For the most part I don't care, but I'm glad to hear someone else say I'm doing a good job.
Building a real good harp isn't easy. Its very time consuming! I just like playing harps that work the way they should. Why can't anything be easy?
Wouldn't it be nice if we could all just buy great harps at the music store and there was no need of customizing harps. Then I could play my harps more!
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