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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
BRadical, Funny Feel when Tongue Blocking
BRadical, Funny Feel when Tongue Blocking
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Lonesome Harpman
7 posts
Feb 13, 2011
11:11 AM
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I just got my Harrison in C and I'm playing it in third position. I've noticed when I get down to the 1 hole it seems harder to tongue block than with a Crossover? I am U blocking as it is more comfortable. It has something to do with the 'newness' of it or perhaps it's the rounded body. It seems like I have to back off and not swallow as much harp to get it to sound good. Sharing this here because absolutely no one but people on this forum will understand what the heck I'm writing about.
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barbequebob
1545 posts
Feb 14, 2011
7:47 AM
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One thing to remember is that EVERY harp maker makes them a bit different and rather than freaking out and panicking and whining, like players too often tend to do, you have to realize is that you have to take some woodshedding time to make any and all necessary adjustments with your embouchure. If you play with a very rigid embouchure, which is FAR too common among the average player, you're gonna have a very difficult time making the adjustments.
As an example, the MS series is taller than the MB is, LO's playing holes are shorter and wider, Seydel's spacing between the holes is wider than Hohner's, Suzuki's hole spacing is slightly narrower than Hohner, and so on and so on and so on.....
You just have to be patient and woodshed more in order to make any and all necessary adjustments. Too many player NEVER bother to do that at all and they're always the first to gripe about something.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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Lonesome Harpman
10 posts
Feb 15, 2011
7:10 PM
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Since I've been playing harp for about 40 years now, I don't need really need your advice, but I'm certain novices will appreciate it even when you state the obvious. I think you may have thought if I was complaining? I just wanted to hear back from someone who has actually played one of these harps and perhaps could have shared their experience. I stated that it was newness, so back off. I think you shouldn't be freaking out and panicking and whining when someone shares an experience with a new product.
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nacoran
3806 posts
Feb 15, 2011
9:11 PM
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Lonesome, I don't think BBQ meant anything by it.
I haven't had a chance to play a Harrison. I've played Golden Melodies and a long cover Seydel Blues Favorite, which feel a bit different. I prefer them to the regular shape top/cover combos for the way they feel in my hand. I've also played tremolos, including Huang Musettes, which are pretty fat, and a little Hohner Puck. They all feel different, but I'm always amazed how after a couple rounds on them the brain adjusts.
Other than the adjustments, what do you think of them?
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Nate
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captainbliss
445 posts
Feb 16, 2011
1:26 AM
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@Lonesome Harpman:
New(ish) member? Welcome!
BRad? A friend let me have a go on his a while back. Yes, a very different feel to a MB and radically (ho ho) different shape and materials. Not my cup of tea, really, but, then again, I object to any harmonica that's not a MB on the ground that it's, er, not a MB. Stuck in my ways, I know. Probably, as barbequebob says, because I can't be bothered to adjust to other harmonicas!
Anyway...
When you say "harder to tongue block," what do you mean?
Harder to get a clean note?
If you're switching to TB 1, harder to find the hole with the other side of your mouth? (IIRC, the hole spacing is wider on a BRad than on the MB.)
Is it the 1 draw, 1 blow or both that's giving you trouble?
And...
/It seems like I have to back off and not swallow as much harp to get it to sound good./
Have you answered your own question?
Finally...
Have you opened up the BRad and checked the gapping for hole 1? Your BRad may have been set up to be OB friendly: close gapping for the 1OB, "tighter" feeling reeds...
xxx
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barbequebob
1549 posts
Feb 16, 2011
8:09 AM
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In a phone conversation with Brad, they are set up so that Overblows are not a problem and Captainbliss is correct about the closer gapping to make that technique work properly.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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Barry C.
173 posts
Feb 16, 2011
11:47 AM
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not sure i'm even excited about gettting mine anymore between the outrageous wait (9 months & counting) and a host of sub-par reviews. seems more like an expensive novelty item than a 'go-to' harp.
~Banned in Boston!
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Lonesome Harpman
11 posts
Feb 16, 2011
6:42 PM
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I like the harp, it's going to take a little time to get used to it. The TB draw on the 1 hole, for me, needs to be approached differently when bending way down, there is more material on the end of the harp so I can't get the same feel as an Hohner. As Bob said, its really a matter of adjustment. I would possibly order another one, but I want to try customs from other guys on this site first. Harrison sends you an email prior to putting the final touches on your harp asking if you overblow. I don't, but that's because I haven't had the opportunity to sit with someone and learn how it's done. I have tried the You Tube how to's but I'm not getting it. Don't be discouraged Barry it's got more positives than most harps.
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Lonesome Harpman
12 posts
Feb 16, 2011
6:49 PM
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I should have added that I played it on my Monday night gig both acoustically and amped. My band hosts the Monday night Blues Jam at the Blarney Stone just outside of Columbus Ohio. I was real happy with the acoustic, got a few attaboys from the audience. It plays easy. I gave up my attempt on an amped tune that I was trying in third position, I just wasn't getting it right. But, it's a jam and I don't beat myself up over some bad 'clams' coming out of my harps.
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