nacoran
3676 posts
Jan 20, 2011
10:50 AM
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I need some advice to pass along to my student. Specifically, in different price ranges, what are some neck rack suggestions, pros and cons. (I know there have been rack threads, but, at what point are you just wasting your money on junk and at what point are you going to get something useful?)
As a follow-up, as someone who has only barely experimented with the rack, what advice should I pass on on rack playing?
Okay, and now that I'm not just thinking about inhaling metal particles on my own... what is the best tool for smoothing the corners on protruding reed plates?
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Nate
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waltertore
945 posts
Jan 20, 2011
1:16 PM
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nacoran: I can share what I have learned playing racked harp for about 30 years. When I started there was one choice, the jimmy reed/dylan rig. It was about $5 and today is not much more. I spent years trying to get it to be more comfortable via a million homemade modifications. None seemed to feel right. Finally I gave up after about 10 years and just accepted it. What I realize now in retrospect is it took that long to get use to using one.
Most harp players that are also guitar players go the rack route at some point. It usually doesn't last long. The thing is playing on a rack is like playing a new instrument. The fundemental issue is playing 2 things at once challenges the brain in different ways than playing one thing seperately. Most people think that with a little time they will produce the same results they already have on each instrument.
I have taught myself how to make sounds that resemble using my hands. This has taken decades of playing hours a day. There is no way around it. I suggest he buy the cheapo model I use and if inspiration continues go from there. I was a hohner endorsee for about 20 years and tried their rack (junk) and just about every rack out there that was in that price range. None were any better than the cheapo model.
At this point in my life I would not go to one of those over $100 racks. I enjoy being able to move it around on my shoulders. It feels more like I have it in my hands this way.
Emphasize simply putting in buccu time on the rack vs. the endless search for the right ergonomic one (unless he is rich then get a high end one for the heck of it). Walter
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,600+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Jan 20, 2011 1:19 PM
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nacoran
3677 posts
Jan 20, 2011
1:38 PM
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Thanks Walter. I was hoping you'd chime in. You are the rack play king!
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Nate
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waltertore
946 posts
Jan 20, 2011
1:43 PM
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you are welcome! One other thing. Most hand held harp players move their head and neck as they play. The cheap rack allows this to happen. I use my lips to hold the harp in place as I move my head around and play. For whatever reasons being able to do this is part of my body rhythm. Some of those high end racks look like you will be locked in one position. Being able to move my head around while playing if key. Walter
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,600+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Jan 20, 2011 2:54 PM
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