HARMONICA

[splendid moonlight]

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whew. it's a relief to know that.

do harmonicas need cleaning? is it okay to pass around the harmonica the way we do other instruments? bisan kinsa lang puli puli?

[aquafire]

Harmonicas need cleaning but not all the time. You gently tap out the excess saliva if any, after playing. Sometimes if some small gunk or thing will lodge itself among the reeds and it may need an "open harp surgery".

Although the worst thing you could get from passing harp around is the common colds and the less frequent cold sores(herpes labialis) (ugahip). I do not recommend passing the harp around. Rest assured you won't get HIV or TB if you chose to pass it around.

Personally I don't use other peoples harps nor lend mine except on some occasion.

I was watching a blues fest two years ago and Rick Epping was demoing his newly designed hohner extreme bending harp and he asked me to try so I did. I wasn't worried about getting something but more about not able to use the new design properly hehehe.

[splendid moonlight]

hmnn.. i wonder where my other post went.

anyway, ugahip is a scary word. one of these days they're going to invent something you can put on the outer layers of your lips for protection against ugahip. i think that in the past, some people have invented something shaped like a female condom which lovers can put between their mouths while kissing. so inventing something of the same sort for harmonica players won't be difficult. except that it's going to make the person look really really funny.

Rick Epping is not a familiar name to me. but i know now that he teaches harmonica and is the product manager for Hohner Harmonicas. lol. i sure have a lot to learn yet. please bear with me!

[aquafire]

Whoa!!! From ugahip to female condoms...he he he. anyway it doesn't have to get that sterile or aseptic when playing the harp.
Yes Rick Epping is connected with Hohner. He designed the Extreme Bending Harmonica. It is a bit expensive and need some relearning for those who started the regular ten hole. I heard him play irish tunes, blues and even jazz licks with it. I could only stare and imagine how much time he put in practicing. It made me feel like i have been lazy all my life(harp practice sense).
Dont get me wrong , I am not very proficient with the instrument but I may have some things to teach and share at your level. Serpent boy may be another matter. He is an advanced player.
Keep on doing research on the net. It would be easier for anybody to teach harp if your know the terms. The skill will come with practice which I also badly needed to do. hehehe.

[splendid moonlight]

i was kidding. imagine if that were to become real. imagine blowing up a bubble gum and have it explode on your lips - that's what the lip protector would probably look like, sticked to your lips like that. i find the image funny. i know, i have a weird sense of humor.


my aunt will be arriving soon. really really soon. i hope she finds it. otherwise this will be all for naught. that would be sad. : (

[serpentboy]

Serpent boy, if you want a certain type of harp i can probably get it for you at cost. The shop I get it from sells a bit cheaper than Amazon.com (wala nay shipping). So you can scan the amazon site to check the price and specs and tell me what model you like. Then I may be able to get it for you at cost. C.O.D.
with the reciept. You need to get me a bottle of beer for the delivery. hehehe. But i know that the Blues harp models of Hohner sell a bit cheaper in Manila.
Models available here are Hohner (almost all models), Lee Oskar ( better for melodic playing), Suzuki(metal combs that are cheaper than hohner metal combs), Bushmann, Hering (Brazilian) and of course the chinese harps.

The most practical option is get the silver star model of hohner International (china) in the Manila. About 250 pesos.

Nindot kaayo na nga idea master...

I think i can still afford two (2) harps... perhaps a C and an A. Any suggestions on which model and brand is the BEST buy? ayaw lang pud ng baratuhon kay murag disposable man na.

Also add blues instructional material with CD... ingna lang ko kung pila tanan ang magasto aron matiguman daan... dugay pa bitaw ang december hehe!

Dont worry about the beer, Luthienne will take care of it.

[splendid moonlight]

i will get both of you drunk. kung madayun.

my harmonica will be arriving this sunday. i'm so excited.

[aquafire]

I enjoy beer but not getting drunk hehehe. the point is how much enjoying till i get drunk.......

Luthienne I hope you got your harp now. if you got a c harp, you can play the Head over feet. It is played in a c harp but maybe a tremolo model. I'll pm you a partial tab. You can share it but it is not complete.
Ayaw ka discourage kung dili makuha. just get familiar with the instrument. tukar lang sa alone kay dili nya the same key imong sabayan ng kanta.

Serpent boy:

the harps Hohner Special 20, Marine Band, Pro Harp and blues harp are all approx. 1000 pesos each. I may be able to get a 5-10% discount kung mag-sale.
I use Special 20 and Pro harps(hohner) it is similar to Blues harp but with a plastic comb which is airtight and will not swell. Forget that 'warmness' with wood comb. Unless you have bionic ears and play like a pro it will only mean wood swelling and more chances for lip cuts. Nasty!
These harps are expensive but they also break like the cheap ones if abused.
Try to find a cheaper source online.
Blues Harp books/cd are basic level. Would be around 700 pesos. (i would n't recommend it., buy more advance book online) I may bring a basic instruction book which you can copy.

[|dwyt|]

OT: since we'r talkin about a musical instrument, just wana ask if anybody plays the sax here?

[serpentboy]

@aquafire - Approx. P2000... OK bro, ako nang tiguman. Ingna lang ko kung dunay blues harp material aron maapil sa budget. I think I'll have two Hohner Special 20s (coz thats what the master plays) in the keys of A & C. (tama ba akong gipili nga keys? I already have an F). Any other recommendations?

@|dwyt| - Make a separate topic on sax, I'm sure there are lots of sax players around. Just be careful with your spelling of SAX hehehe...

@luthienne - Kumusta na man imong harp 'day?