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Subject: "Best Harp for Overblows?" Archived thread - Read only
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soblow
Charter Member
 Mar-24-03, 06:42 PM (PDT)
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"Best Harp for Overblows?"
 
   I'm trying to learn to overblow with consistency. So far not much luck. Is there a best harp and best key for learning? I know that the Golden Melody is good for this and I don't have one. How is the LO or Spec 20?


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Bill Phelb
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 Mar-24-03, 10:09 PM (PDT)
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1. "RE: Best Harp for Overblows?"
In response to message #0
 
  
Quote
I'm trying to learn to overblow with consistency. So far not much luck. Is there a best harp and best key for learning? I know that the Golden Melody is good for this and I don't have one. How is the LO or Spec 20?

Both the LO or Spec 20 are great harmonicas, but awful for overblows and overdraws. Stick with the Golden Melody. Pick up the Howard Levy video at harmonicastore.com if you don't already have it.

Bill


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soblow
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 Mar-25-03, 07:12 AM (PDT)
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2. "RE: Best Harp for Overblows?"
In response to message #1
 
  
Quote

I'm trying to learn to overblow with consistency. So far not much luck. Is there a best harp and best key for learning? I know that the Golden Melody is good for this and I don't have one. How is the LO or Spec 20?

Both the LO or Spec 20 are great harmonicas, but awful for overblows and overdraws. Stick with the Golden Melody. Pick up the Howard Levy video at harmonicastore.com if you don't already have it.

Bill


Thanks Bill,
What is your opinion of the Suzuki Promaster or Overdrive? I happen to have a couple Promasters an E and Bb. Is a lower keyed harp better?


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Bill Phelb
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 Mar-25-03, 04:20 PM (PDT)
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4. "RE: Best Harp for Overblows?"
In response to message #2
 
  
Quote


I'm trying to learn to overblow with consistency. So far not much luck. Is there a best harp and best key for learning? I know that the Golden Melody is good for this and I don't have one. How is the LO or Spec 20?

Both the LO or Spec 20 are great harmonicas, but awful for overblows and overdraws. Stick with the Golden Melody. Pick up the Howard Levy video at harmonicastore.com if you don't already have it.

Bill


Thanks Bill,
What is your opinion of the Suzuki Promaster or Overdrive? I happen to have a couple Promasters an E and Bb. Is a lower keyed harp better?


I haven't tried the Suzukis, so I'm not the best one to ask. Overblows work best on harmonicas with a certain reed density (not the LOs, reeds seem too thin to sustain the pressure) and the placement of the reed on the reed plate should be as close to the edge of the reed plate and your mouth as possible like the GMs and Marine Bands (note- MBs work great for this technique when its been overhauled by a pro and made airtight, otherwise, they leak too much air to be effective).

If I remember correctly, Suzuki's reeds are more similar to the LOs, so if I had to guess, I'd say no. But again, it's just a guess, I don't have one here. And yes, lower keys can be better to start with except for the difficult overblow on hole 1 blow.

Bill


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bluesfanatic
Charter Member
 Mar-25-03, 08:41 AM (PDT)
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3. "RE: Best Harp for Overblows?"
In response to message #0
 
   You can get overblows (and/or overdraws) with Special 20's, Golden Melody's, and Marine Bands. I haven't heard of anybody having any success with LO's. But it's more the TECHNIQUE and the GAPPING you adjust for the reeds in the slots. You've got to be able to 'CHOKE' the reed you want to bypass, to bend the OTHER reed through the same hole. EG, the #6 draw reed bends when you choke off the #6 blow reed. Unless you re-gap your own reeds, you're going to have trouble with OBs and ODs in general. Regards, bluesfanatic


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Marco
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 Mar-25-03, 09:28 PM (PDT)
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5. "RE: Best Harp for Overblows?"
In response to message #0
 
   I have actually sounded an overblow on a Special 20 in C. The only one I can get to sound is the 5-hole overblow, which on the C harp gives you the missing F#.
It's really unstable though and there's no way I could work it into a song. Not yet anyway. I tried on a coulpe of LO's with no luck.
If you haven't been there, here's a great Site for learning overblows: www.tenhole.com/?page=welcome
There is a sound file there of the Site's author (Tinus) playing a diatonic from 1 blow to 10 blow, hitting every half step all the way up. Incredible!
When you figure out what harps are best for overblows/draws, let us know!

-Marco


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Gren
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 Apr-23-03, 11:16 AM (PDT)
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6. "RE: Best Harp for Overblows?"
In response to message #0
 
   I learned how to overblow (about a week ago) on a golden melody and a hot metal. It was a transition thing. I got my hot metal to make a ringing sound so I did the same thing on the golden melody and it made a good overblow sound. So, I think the golden melody is probably the best choice.


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