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Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 19:40:06 -0400
From: John Galvin
Subject: Re: cheap harps: Joe Filisko...music...tuning...

Joe's knowledge of the mechanics behind the harmonica and the playing of the
harmonica are astounding. But I am personally inspired by the way in which
Joe has used that knowlnedge to build a MUSIC that is at once orginal and
exquisitely beautiful. And while his reputation as a customizer has
circulated rather widely now, his reputation as a musician may circulate
even more widely--if and when he decides to distribute it. (Perhaps, someone
would like to speak of his performance of "Lost Joe" and "Amazing Grace" at
Augusta last week.)

If you ever have the chance to meet Joe, I think you would do better--profit
more--by observing his music.

- --That said, Joe has mentioned, on more than one occasion, that tuning had
come to mean more and more to hi, perhaps more than "reed-gapping,
- -adjusting, etc." I'm wondering whether any of the other genuinely fine
customizers--Pat, Bob, Rupert, Mark, Douglas et alii--have some similar or
varied opinion as to the relative weight to be given to "mere" tuning?

John


- ---------------------------------------------
John Galvin
Translator: French->English; Italian->English
Phone: (513) 923-4206
Fax: (513) 923-4206


> From: Cathi Norton
> Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 14:15:53 -0500 (EST)
> To: "G."
> Cc: Vince Cheney , Harp-L
> Subject: Re: cheap harps
>
>
> Hi everyone...
> I don't play a custom harp OR an out-of-the-box harp, but many of my
> good friends do -- grin. However, I am delighted to call Joe Filikso my
> friend, and we have talked many times about how he got interested in
> customizing harps and how he customizes them for specific players. He
> said he was fascinated with the sounds obtained by harp players through
> those old microphones of the WWII era. He wanted to improve the sound of
> harmonica, but figured that if he was ever going to attempt such a thing
> he would at least have to obtain a sound on an equal par to that.
> Nowadays, he said, he feels "confident" he has "at least obtained that
> quality of sound." I, and countless others, feel his accomplishments
> far exceed that modest goal.
> Nevertheless, he did a great deal of research to discover exactly what
> caused which sounds and what part each element (mic and harp) had on the
> overall sound. If you've ever attended any of the numerous workshops he
> gives at conferences, etc., you know he is similarly fascinated with the
> movements of the mouth, tongue, etc. in the playing of the harp.
> In much the same way, he tells me, he customizes harp to the player.
> The idea is to meet with the player, watch him/her play, talk a good deal
> about what the player is looking for, the type music etc., and then work
> on the customized harp to maximize the delivery of that particular sound.
> Thus he is a very sought-after customizer for people like Kim Wilson, Neil
> Young, and oh-my-Gawd-he'd-kill-me-for-blowing-his-horn-this-much, many,
> many others. And many of those people keep the custom harps just for
> recording, etc., (Mickey Raphael for instance says he blows too hard and
> doesn't want to chance screwing up the Filisko's on the road).
> I am always fascinated with the care Filisko puts into the harps, and
> of course, that makes it nearly impossible (as well as expensive) to get
> them in a "timely" fashion, but it's his dedication to the possible
> "sounds" (in my opinion) that drives him. He likes to learn above all
> things, and doesn't mind doing the research to make that happen.
> I also know that Big Walter was crazy about sound (and I doubt
> you'll find many who'll argue that his tone sucked), but I bet if he
> COULD have experimented with a Filisko he would have.
> So, just to wrap up this finger I couldn't resist sticking into the
> "cheap harmonica" pie, I'll say that even before he started to customize
> harps, Joe said he was completely obsessed and entranced (and still is)
> with "this simple little instrument you could put right in your pocket and
> take anywhere." And if you meet him on the street I bet you a fiver he's
> got one in his pocket right now. Back then his favorite instrument was a
> diatonic-out of the box.
>
> Cathi N.
>