From: Pat Missin Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 18:08:18 +0100 Subject: Re: harp-l-digest V2 #28
To save a little time, my comments on various points from digest #28, all rolled into one:
First Subject: Rolamonica > >Fellow Harpers, > While attending a local mountain musical fest this week end, I >had the rare occassion to see close-up, something called a "Rolamonica". >I photographed it, and took her name and address for a short >story that I'd like to throw together for the AHN monthly magazine. > Has anyone ever seen or heard of this type of harmonica? > >Edward Dunlevy >Republic, Penna., USA >
Yup - they're a favorite with collectors, but I can't add much more to your description. This one sounds like it was made by the Rollmonica (I think that's how it's spelled) Co. of Baltimore, but there were other makers. THE expert on vintage harps is Alan G. Bates - anyone know if he's still online?
Second Subject: Rory McLeod > >Has anyone ever heard about a harp player called Rory McLeod? One of my >co-workers saw me perform last evening and recommended him to me. Just >looking for more info.
Yeah - he's an English singer-songwriter-musician. He doesn't just play harp and the harp is not featured in every song he does, but he's probably the most interesting harp player in Britain. He draws from a wide range of musical styles and plays both solo and with a variety of bands. Check out Elderly Instuments for his recordings - my own fave being "Footsteps and Heartbeats". I've not seen him live, but those of my friends who have say he's even better than he is on record.
>My friend said he saw him play one harmonica >through another at a show last summer.... but this guy does not play >harp himself, so who knows what really happened. :-) >
Not Me...!
Third Subject: Re: Tuning Tool >
>It's true that Hohner reeds (and reed plates!) show deep and often >fatal file scratches, even the "laser-tuned" Big Rivers. Lee Oskars, >on the other hand have very neat chisle or scraper marks which don't >touch the edges of the reed. Also, Lee Oskars are much much better >in tune with themselves (and much closer to A=440). >
Tombo (who make Lee Oskars) use different tuning tools and a slightly different reed profile, which (IMHO) seems to extend reed life. However, one should remember that Lee Oskars are tuned in equal temperament (actually to A=442, I think) so they will agree far more closely with an electonic tuner than the just-tuned Hohners.
>Doug Tate advocates polishing reeds with "wet n dry" paper and I trust >his experience on this.
Before I reinvented the tuning pencil, I used wet'n'dry and used to swaer by it. I swear by most things Douglas says, although I swear at a couple of his opinions ;-)
>If I ever get a pretty good reedplate I will do >it. Rick Epping (I think) reported that Hohner had tried polishing >accordion reeds but found they failed sooner. Go figure.
If Hohner tune their accordions with the same kind of care that they use on their harmonicas, I'm not surprised that they failed sooner... Seriously, I'm convinced by polished reeds - both by the theory and my own (and others) experience.
Coming soon - the results of "before and after" tests on a chromatic that has been rebuilt with a Vern Smith plastic comb...
Stay tuned,
Pat Missin - pa~lobalnet.co.uk
"...my music's a lot better than it sounds!" (with apologies to Mark Twain) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
