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Date: Wed, 31 May 1995 20:39:36 -0400
From: sk~te.com (Rod Thomas/Sandra Teare)
Subject: Re: HARP-L Digest V95 #121

Hey Harpers,
Marine Bands have been on my mind, and on this newsletter, see below.

>I've always had more trouble bending Marine Bands than any other harp I've used (Golden Melodies, Lee Oskars, Huangs). I've been using LO's for quite a while, but bought a Marine Band for the heck of it, and it's -still- harder to bend.

>Robert,
> Marine band harmonicas leak air. Lee Oscars are less likely to. if the harmonica is leaking any air, that means you can't control the airflow. Happy harpin'.

>Marine Bands have heavier reeds. I personally feel that I get better control out of the harmonica when I play one with heavy reeds because it is easier to control semitone steps when bending notes. Soft reeds go "too far too fast." FWIW Jerry Protnoy told me once that that was a very important reason for using Marine Bands.

I'd like to hear from other MB players who have tried the rest and think MBs are the best. I started out with them years ago. Then I switched to Golden Melodys because I liked the plastic combs (that didn't swell up when wet), and I liked the shape of the harp (that didn't rip out my facial hair). I knew nothing then of Equal and Just tuning. Now that I know about these two tunings, I have to say that the sound of the GMs chords have never been (and still are not) offensive to MY ear.

I have a small set of Special Twentys and I like them fine. QUESTION: Are Special Twentys essentialy the same harp as MBs with a plastic comb? They are "Just" tuned like MBs. I notice that the STs holes are a tiny bit wider than those on the MB. Anybody out there think that makes any difference? If they are essentialy the same, why do some folks swear by the MBs? Nostalgia?

So far I've heard that Jerry Portnoy, Kim Wilson, James Harman, Magic Dick, Gary Primich, and Annie Raines, all swear by Marine Bands. That's a pretty impressive cast. Then again, Charlie Musselwhite and Junior Wells play Lee Oskars, and Sugar Blue and John Popper play Special Twentys, and Howard Levy plays Golden Melodys so....

So chime in all you Marine Banders! Stand by your brand! Enouph of this "pucker vs. tongue block brewhaha". :-) Why do you love the MB? Are they different from the Special 20s (besides the plastic comb)? Thanks in advance.

-Rod-
--
Rod Thomas email: sk~te.com
Illustrator phone: (617) 449-0480