Hey Frank. This/your video here is informative. Your insights and perspectives on things are important, interesting, and great learning, discussion points. I agree with your points on opening the harmonica up and trying to fix a problem. I've made some worse by messing with them. However they were toast even if I didn't mess with them. However, I've also learned to fix some problems as well, and that's saved me cash and time taking them to a harmonica tech to fix. First couple of years of my harmonica playing I frequently blew out reeds. Once I learned to develop better breath/ breathing control and play softer my reeds started to last way longer. So my experiences is that the harder the inhale, exhale is the less life longevity of the reed(s). Also, for me it didn't seem to matter if I was playing a Hohner or Seydel. Although, seemingly the stainless steel Seydel reeds took longer to blow out than the brass reeds. Fast forward to now and I find softer playing on both Hohner and Seydel has increased reed life to over a year of daily playing, and they're still going great. I feel there is a bit of a break in period. Not as much on my Hohners compared to Seydels. The Seydel reeds when new just seem to feel a bit stiffer for a while compared to Hohner. My favorite harps are both brands. But, Hohner to my ears do seem to provide that little extra traditional old blues sound. But maybe my auditory senses are somwhat influenced by the fact that most of the players I enjoy, such as Sonny Boy 1 and 2, the Little and Big Walters, and all kinds of other pre and post war country blues, Chicago blues players (I guess), all played Hohners. Possibly, if they'd played Seydels my auditory tastes for the traditional blues sound would switch over from Hohner. My favorite keys are A and Bb. Yet, keeping in mind so much of their sounds derived from the amps, mics, pa systems, recording studio setups etc,. Also, I really like the old tunnining of "7 limit Just Intonation" . Which, from my understanding Hohner Marine Band harps were tuned to during the years (or so) that the above players played. So, that has an influence on what or why I like the Hohner sounds so much I guess. I like the 19 limit tunning as well though. My favorite harps are Seydel 1847, Hohner Marine Bands; Special 20; Thunderbirds; and Crossover. I think the Crossover is really an awesome harp in my small, short fingers hands- besides it's sound. Hey, good luck with your physical/mental health, new accommodation, and car. Maybe there's no permanent fix to the daily scales of life's compositions. All we can do is awake, plant our feet on the floor and utilize creative improvisations as a response to the daily struggles and emotions that arise. We just try and change/rewrite the melody, rhythm, turnaround where we can. A new chord progression, melodic framework to better cope with the moments that is different from the script life is handing us at any given time. I'm sure you are already being creative in many ways to cope with your ups and downs. But, remember this (as you very well know), the drinking/drugs will do more to stunt your creativity than grow it imho. I remember when the phenomenal Eric Clapton once said something along the lines that he thought he was playing good music till he sobered up; and then realized just how badly he was playing. To me that indicates the negative effects such behaviors can have on our brains dopamine , serotonin and other brain mechanisms. Not a positive copping strategy as many big time famous muscians would atest to I'm sure. So, since your doing everything that's within your ability to do, consider not pouring more gasoline on your fire with the substances. Use your money to buy more harmonicas. Just food for thought. Looking forward to more of your great videos and harmonica playing. ❤️👍.
I've got loads of different ones, special 20's, Lee oskars, Rockets, marine band deluxe, marine band crossover, different sydels, Fenders, Golden Melodys, some Easttops but man, the Marine Band classic is the very best of all of them, I don't care what people say about how comfortable it is to play or not, I don't care if is got sharp edges or not, I don't care about the nails either, this bloody thing it's THE SOUND of blues and rock and roll man, and no other harmonica feels or sound the same in my opinion, that's why it's the model that I have bought more times, it's the best for me, greetings from Mallorca, Spain and visca el Barça :)
Yes! Thank you! I couldn’t agree more. I love Marine Bands they’re the BEST! MARINE BAND FOR LIFE! Thank you for watching my friend, always nice to have a viewer from my home country watching.
cool vid dude! i carry my B harp everywhere, it is a comfort to just have , its extension of myself
Hey Frank. This/your video here is informative. Your insights and perspectives on things are important, interesting, and great learning, discussion points.
I agree with your points on opening the harmonica up and trying to fix a problem. I've made some worse by messing with them. However they were toast even if I didn't mess with them. However, I've also learned to fix some problems as well, and that's saved me cash and time taking them to a harmonica tech to fix.
First couple of years of my harmonica playing I frequently blew out reeds.
Once I learned to develop better breath/ breathing control and play softer my reeds started to last way longer. So my experiences is that the harder the inhale, exhale is the less life longevity of the reed(s). Also, for me it didn't seem to matter if I was playing a Hohner or Seydel.
Although, seemingly the stainless steel Seydel reeds took longer to blow out than the brass reeds.
Fast forward to now and I find softer playing on both Hohner and Seydel has increased reed life to over a year of daily playing, and they're still going great.
I feel there is a bit of a break in period. Not as much on my Hohners compared to Seydels. The Seydel reeds when new just seem to feel a bit stiffer for a while compared to Hohner.
My favorite harps are both brands. But, Hohner to my ears do seem to provide that little extra traditional old blues sound. But maybe my auditory senses are somwhat influenced by the fact that most of the players I enjoy, such as Sonny Boy 1 and 2, the Little and Big Walters, and all kinds of other pre and post war country blues, Chicago blues players (I guess), all played Hohners. Possibly, if they'd played Seydels my auditory tastes for the traditional blues sound would switch over from Hohner.
My favorite keys are A and Bb.
Yet, keeping in mind so much of their sounds derived from the amps, mics, pa systems, recording studio setups etc,.
Also, I really like the old tunnining of "7 limit Just Intonation" . Which, from my understanding Hohner Marine Band harps were tuned to during the years (or so) that the above players played. So, that has an influence on what or why I like the Hohner sounds so much I guess. I like the 19 limit tunning as well though.
My favorite harps are Seydel 1847, Hohner Marine Bands; Special 20; Thunderbirds; and Crossover. I think the Crossover is really an awesome harp in my small, short fingers hands- besides it's sound.
Hey, good luck with your physical/mental health, new accommodation, and car.
Maybe there's no permanent fix to the daily scales of life's compositions. All we can do is awake, plant our feet on the floor and utilize creative improvisations as a response to the daily struggles and emotions that arise.
We just try and change/rewrite the melody, rhythm, turnaround where we can. A new chord progression, melodic framework to better cope with the moments that is different from the script life is handing us at any given time.
I'm sure you are already being creative in many ways to cope with your ups and downs. But, remember this (as you very well know), the drinking/drugs will do more to stunt your creativity than grow it imho.
I remember when the phenomenal Eric Clapton once said something along the lines that he thought he was playing good music till he sobered up; and then realized just how badly he was playing. To me that indicates the negative effects such behaviors can have on our brains dopamine , serotonin and other brain mechanisms. Not a positive copping strategy as many big time famous muscians would atest to I'm sure.
So, since your doing everything that's within your ability to do, consider not pouring more gasoline on your fire with the substances. Use your money to buy more harmonicas. Just food for thought.
Looking forward to more of your great videos and harmonica playing. ❤️👍.
Packing and leaving often helps life issues.
I've got loads of different ones, special 20's, Lee oskars, Rockets, marine band deluxe, marine band crossover, different sydels, Fenders, Golden Melodys, some Easttops but man, the Marine Band classic is the very best of all of them, I don't care what people say about how comfortable it is to play or not, I don't care if is got sharp edges or not, I don't care about the nails either, this bloody thing it's THE SOUND of blues and rock and roll man, and no other harmonica feels or sound the same in my opinion, that's why it's the model that I have bought more times, it's the best for me, greetings from Mallorca, Spain and visca el Barça :)
Yes! Thank you! I couldn’t agree more. I love Marine Bands they’re the BEST! MARINE BAND FOR LIFE! Thank you for watching my friend, always nice to have a viewer from my home country watching.
Bro I have a Mallorca towel that my grandma gave me when I was a kid, still use it to this day. Cheers brother
@@formansbasement2311 well, if you ever come to Mallorca let me know, I'll take you to see some life music and we can jam together man😎👍🏼
I use Rocket and Rocket Amp’s. I own a few Seydel session steal’s but I find the cover plates are too fat and I don’t get a tight seal with my lips.
i plan on eventually copping a marine band after i replace my pignose amp. and when money isn't so fuckin short lol.