Other web Sites
Harmonica Blues  Harmonica Amps
Harmonica Links Harmonica Pages
• Archives Home
• Years
 · 1992
 · 1993
 · 1994
 · 1995
 · 1996
 · 1997 		 · 1998
 · 1999
 · 2000
 · 2001
 · 2002
 · 2003
Amplified Blues Harmonica BBS
Search:
 
Web HarpL
Harmonica Microphone "Mini Mojo" Early American
Astatic/Sescom AMC-105-2 Dynamic Microphone, Harp? NR!
TURNER MAGNETIC MIC ELEMENT 400 OHM VINTAGE harp?
HOHNER Blues Blaster Harmonica Mic 1490 Microphone NEW!
1949 SHURE CR-81 Harp Mic w/ Black Label 99A86 Element
Bottle 'O Blues Harmonica Microphone (Harp Mic)
Astatic D-104 Harp mic w/XLR / Dynamic element
Vintage Shure 99A86 Hi-Z Microphone Element Harmonica
ElectroVoice Model 664 Dynamic Cardioid Microphone Harp
Astatic 10D Harp & Amateur Hi Z Microphone *NICE*
Electro Voice 638 Hi-Z Bullet Harp Mic EV Electrovoice
Vintage VM? Shure? Harp/Vocal Microphone
Vintage Tweed Harp Mic Cable For Astatic JT30 Shure
SK9 Little Honker Harp Mic
Hohner Hoodoo Hand Harmonica Microphone Wireless System
HOHNER 1490 BLUES BLASTER HARMONICA MICROPHONE NEW
ASTATIC 10D CHROME BULLET HARP MICROPHONE
Bottle 'O Blues Harmonica mic and Smokey amp (Harp Mic)
Shaker Retro Rocket Harp Harmonica Mic Microphone
ELECTRO VOICE DYNAMIC OMNI DIRECTIONAL HARP MICROPHONE
ORIGINAL 1960'S KENT WC-17 HARMONICA MICROPHONE
Vintage SHURE 520B Green Bullet Harmonica Microphone
Hohner HooDoo Hand Wireless Harmonica Microphone System
Electro Voice Vintage Custom Harmonica Blues Microphone
Shure Bros. #430 Commando Controlled Magnetic Harp Mic!
The PowerPlug Harmonica Microphone. Pocket Microphone
The PowerPlug Harmonica Microphone. Pocket Microphone
Vintage Harmonica Microphone Cord Cable Harp Mic JT-30
Shure 520DX Green Bullet Harmonica Microphone
Shaker Dynamic Harmonica Mic (Microphone)
VINTAGE OLD TURNER SHARK FIN HARP HARMONICA MICROPHONE
Shure Unisphere A Pe585v Microphone pe585 Rare Harp
Electro Voice 634A HI-Z Harp / Harmonica Microphone
SHURE SLIM-X MODEL 777 HI-Z BLUES HARP MIC / AS IS
Vintage Argonne HARMONICA MICROPHONE AR-18 MIB NEW
vintage 1 pin Mic Button coupler CONNECTOR ev harp plug
SHURE VINTAGE HI-Z MICROPHONE 533SA HARMONICA MIC
HOHNER Blues Blaster Harmonica Mic 1490 Microphone NEW!
Harp Mic, DuKane 7A160,with 20 ft.XLR, Four Pin cable
VINTAGE EV 630 HARP MIC

Harp-L Archives

[Previous Message] [Next Message]
[Previous in Thread] [Next in Thread]
[Start of Thread] [End of Thread]

From: Alec Drachman
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 07:14:34 -0500
Subject: Re: Portnoy on OB

Glenn Weiser wrote:

>
> The other question is this: if you can't OB an out of the box Marine
> Band or Blues Harp without gapping the reeds-something the first time
> harmonica buyer will never have any idea of how to do-what use is it?

I wouldn't recommend either of these two harps for beginners anyway (Special 20s
are much easier to play) but I think it is a little silly to talk about the merits
of a technique based on whether a beginner can do them. Of course a beginner won't
be able to OB, but they won't be able to hit a perfect 3" or 10'> either. By the
time they are able to do these two things, they are ready to start learning to OB.
I don't think it is unreasonable to think that they can have learned to work on
their harps a little by this point.

>
> The practical difficulties involved with the fact the fact that
> reed-gapping is a prerequisite for OB undermines the overall utlility of
> this technique, it seems to me. So many here are long term players and
> advanced musicians, but I deal with beginners on this instrument. You
> can teach any technique on a stock harp except this.

You could teach how to OB on a stock harp, it would just be a lot harder.
Similarly, it is easier to teach regular blow bends, especially the elusive 10'>
on a harp that you have taught the student how to gap. I have taught many
beginning students how to work on their harps. I think it is a very valuable way
to spend a very small portion of one lesson.

> I furthermore know
> of no widely available book that even teaches reed-gapping.

Blackie Schackner's book, the pamphlet in the LO tool kit, Steve Baker's Harp
Handbook, HIP, Howard's video, and probably even more sources all talk about it.
None of these are on the Times best seller list, but they are all widely available
in the harp world.

> Hit the
> archives, you tell me. Fine-but what if I'm a beginner. How will I ever
> learn about this?

>From their teacher!

>This post raised another question-do a lot of people hear a strained quality to
OBs? This would be interesting to know.



By many players, yes. By the best, no. Have you listened to the clips Chris
Michalek put up on his web-site? They don't sound strained to me.

Alec