DATE: Thu, 03 Nov 1994 05:12:33 CST From: CAnth~ol.com Subject: Marine Band MS vs. Traditional
How much different are the modular Marine Bands from the normal ones? I've grown to love my Marine Bands' sound and haven't found another harp that sounds as good. Golden Melodies supposedly (?) use the same reed plates, but they don't sound nearly as bluesy to me. Anyways, I've learned to overblow and I've found that that adjusting the reed gap is definately essential (thanx Winslow ... when's HIP Vol. 5 gonna be out?). With my Golden Melodies, this isn't a problem, but the Marines Bands have those wanna be screw-nails and you have to pry them apart. If the modular series aren't any different, then this would be cool. However, according to HIP overblowing harp guide, the modular series have thinner reeds (which is why I gave up on Lee Oskars). Is this so? If it is, forget it ... I'll stick the the traditional Marine Bands.
Another thing, since I've fallen in love with Marine Bands, I've been seriously considering buying a Filisko MB or two (or six). However, I have a few questions about them for those of you priveleged to own one.
1) Does the wood-treating change the tone any? Do they sound exactly like a standard MB?
2) How long do they last? I know he bolts the coverplates on. Can these be removed constantly? Can the reed plates be easily replaced with ones from another MB? Does the wood eventually wear out, even with the treatment? I can afford to buy a new MB every once in a while at $13, but not at $50. My current MB in A has this minor problem: the 6 hole seems to be getting wider with each use. It's only about 2 months old (how about that Hohner QC?), but the wooden comb is warped which is magnified by moisture. Since most places don't let you return a played harp, I'm starting to think that they should allow me to at least disassemble them first.
3) Exactly how much are they and where can you get them? I know you can order them from Filisko himself, but can you buy them at say, Kevin's, and are they cheaper or more expensive?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Interesting tidbit: I went to see Whiteboy James this week (a very derranged local cat), and Phil Alvin [The Blasters] was there. He popped up on stage to do a few numbers and while he was singing, he shoved a harp in his mouth and let go of it with his hands. By simply holding the harp with nothing but his lips, he was able to play from a 1 blow, all the way up to a 6 draw without touching the harp with his hands. And it was a Lee Oskar at that. I guess that just shows what you can do when you can toungue-block and have a mouth as big as Phil's...
