custom

My student (thanks Dan) came in with a new case yesterday. It was a RedHead 2-Pistol Aluminum Gun Case, and it was a real nice size and weight, and well built. $50 bucks at Bass Pro shop (http://www.basspro.com/RedHead-2Pistol-Aluminum-Gun-Case/product/1308281...). The foam is perforated so that any shape can be pinched out and it fit his harps really well. continue reading...

It’s important to understand that a custom harmonica will reward good technique and punish poor technique. continue reading...

Lastly, everything's just easier to play on a custom harmonica. The big one is that bending is easier (draw, blow and overbend) and the middle bends are less airy in tone. When playing a 3" you'll notice that there's an airy quality to the bend... this is normal for all harmonicas, but is greatly diminished with a custom harmonica.

Okay, let's review...

Balanced
Same breath for each reed, making playing across the range of the harmonica effortless

Dynamic Range
The main reason for playing custom harmonicas is so you can play softly, giving you great dynamic range

Longevity continue reading...

Longevity
The #1 killer of harmonicas is loud playing. Each reed vibrates at a fixed speed. As you play louder, the reed doesn't vibrate any faster, its arc increases, placing greater forces at its flex point (the base, at the rivet end), causing earlier metal fatigue. Custom harmonicas require less air to sound, and players will commonly play softer due to this, making custom harmonicas last longer that standard harmonicas.

Savings continue reading...

Yesterday I gave you two reasons of why custom harmonicas may not be necessary. Here are the reasons why I personally like custom harmonicas…

Balanced
Though construction and quality control is currently better than it's ever been in the harmonica's history... from the factory, for obvious economic reasons, you’ll never reach the level of attention that a customizer will give your harmonicas. Most simply, a harmonica will play more evenly across the entire range of the instrument. This means that it takes the same amount of air pressure to sound hole 1 as it does hole 10. continue reading...

I'm often asked about the value of using custom harmonicas. Today I'll state why playing a custom harmonica is not necessary or may not be a good choice for you. On Monday I'll speak of why players (including myself) choose to play them.

1) Most professional players started moving to custom harmonicas in the 1990's due to the low quality of harmonicas being produced during that time. Construction and quality control is currently better than it's ever been in the harmonica's history... you no longer have to play a custom harmonica to be a great player. continue reading...

Just released today. Joe Filisko talks about the HOHNER Affiliated Customizers Program https://youtu.be/IkCGb7HXw1A

Hohner released this video today with Joe Filisko speaking on camera about the history of his harmonica customizing work. Check it out, it's very insightful.

Customizing Joe Filisko
https://youtu.be/SHBXPaWyrTg