Hohner Harmonicas: The XB-40 & The Steve Baker Special - Todd Parrott

[comrade86]

You look so fucking high lol u are my new inspiration in learning harm...

[AceOfHarps]

@comrade86 - LOL... I do? Maybe I inhaled too much harmonica. :)

[biji48]

hey todd,i wanna ask you some question about the xb-40 harp.first of all,did the xb-40 harp you play is a out of the box harp,or you do a little tune in it?does it fits for blues music?thx alot todd.

[AceOfHarps]

@biji48 - It's just an out-of-the-box harp, not customized. I don't really care too much for these personally, but there are some guys who can really make them sing, and they make them sound great for blues. Hope this helps!

[baillar100]

IThanks for this. Great demo of the SBS I just might get myself one of those!

[slaytondrum]

Nothing works out of the box, at Musican Friends does it?

[MrSwamp5]

i like my xb40 not to start with but it grew upon me

[barflew]

The SBS sounds way to good to be right out of the box... Has it been enhanced in any way or what? If not is it your abilities or the harp itself that is shining through.... I have enjoyed all of the videos I have seen of you evaluating different makes and models of harmonicas. Keep them coming please... Thank you very much for doing what you do here.

[AceOfHarps]

@barflew Thanks!

[AceOfHarps]

@barflew  And, no, it hasn't been customized or enhanced in any way. It's just right out of the box.

[hotwacn]

Good!

[PaulinhaPavoni]

hi tod , im a brasilian and i try to found one music (one funky blues music) , and this music is very similar than your penultimate song in this video

can you help me ? whats the name of this music , or a similar song that you know ?

thanksss , and congratulations for this video, is very nice ;D kiss

[AceOfHarps]

@PaulinhaPavoni Thanks - glad you liked the video. There are several great harmonica players who have music you might like, and many of them are here on YouTube as well. Some are funky, some are bluesy, some are both. In this video I was just playing licks - it isn't any particular song. Check out Carlos Del Junco - he's one of my favorite players. Also, if you like the blues, check out Sugar Blue. Hope this helps a little!

[tictoctictoc07]

@aceofharps

Hey Todd just wondering how many harmonicas you have total (all kinds not just diatonic)? One more thing what chromatic harmonica (any brand) would you recommend?

Thanks,

I

[AceOfHarps]

@tictoctictoc07 Wow, good question..... I really wish I knew the answer as to how many I have. I have several shoe boxes FULL of harps, so I have no idea how many I have. Hundreds I'm sure. I'm not really a chromatic player, but I do like the Hohner Super Chromincas a lot and have a couple of those. They come in different keys, which is a feature that I like. I think they even offer a deluxe model now. Hope this helps!

[gunzorro]

Thanks Ace! Nice video -- thanks for the intro to both these. Do you know anything about Suzuki's overblow, Hammond, and valved Promasters? Seem like they might be more compact and easier to use that the XB40. I'll be checking out your videos.

[AceOfHarps]

@gunzorro I like the Hammonds - not crazy about the valved Promaters or the Overdrive harps though.

[he214ab]

still no idea the concept of xb40, and how it runs..

[Thunkful2]

The tuning of the SBS is different from a regular harmonica. Can someone tell me why Baker likes the different tuning? I have the 5 SBS set; You cud get 5 more and file the reeds half step sharper to get 10 more scales. But i am chicken to try & don't know where I cud pay someone to do it for me. I don't know why they don't make all harmonicas w/ 14 holes.

[AceOfHarps]

I'm not sure that Steve uses these as much as he once did. As for other keys, retuning would be an option, but it is very time consuming. I like the concept of the SBS, but I wish it were available in the Golden Melody, as the SBS Marine Band is uncomfortable to hold, and is a little too long in my opinion. Otherwise, it's a great harp.

[TomJous]

seems to me like a great inovation in diationic harmonicas but hohner need time to adjust ad refine it

looks a bit big for a start.

[sidebarr7]

Hey Ace,I got a charlie musselwhite Chromatic 12 hole in c ,,, I dont use it and i am not really into chromatic,,,let me know if you want to trade for that xb- 40

[AceOfHarps]

@sidebarr7 Well, that would be one heck of a trade, but I'm not really a chromatic player.

[jugglerjoe]

The hohner xb40 is a horrible harmonica. It has more negative qualities than positives like the price which is way too high. I have one. It is a gimmick. But the SBS are nice and very good for folk playing where you can play with a neck rack (and get extra notes).

[AceOfHarps]

Well, I wouldn't say it's horrible, just different. I would use it on certain songs, but I prefer a regular diatonic over the XB-40. I have to at least give Hohner credit for a good idea on this one. I would really LOVE to see a Golden Melody version of the SBS, mainly because the mouthpiece would be a little more shallow and more comfortable to play. The Seydel version of the SBS would be decent if it weren't missing the last note (hole 10 on a regular diatonic) in the higher register.

[DannyGrease]

Damn Bro,

i allready had the XB-40 in my hands....but didnt buy it..buyed an "super chromonica" instead......

I need that fine thingi, hehe.. Cool Video, awesome playing

Danny

[harpo10]

I ruined a few of those trying to retune stock 364's. Thats a long way to re-tune. The SBS tuning is awesome. The stock layout is not very practical to my way of thinking .I probably should study my positions more though. SBS is such a natural extension of a 10 hole Richter tuned harp.

[harpo10]

That 364 SBS tuning is the bomb!

[PlayHarmonicaEasily]

You're a huge help my friend, thanks. thanks alot.

[Broaart]

Todd, you are a pro on all your stuff and I believe you can play a piece of wood because you are just that good. 5 stars for you. I made a couple videos with the XB-40 just to get a feel for it. But I agree, a Golden Melody is my real choice for a diatonic as you can see on some of my other videos.

Eddie.

[AceOfHarps]

Thanks brother, for your kind words. Glad to know there are other Golden Melody fans out there! :-)

[slingger3]

I did find the clip on the Seydel Blues Session you did. What a great sound. I would still like to hear something on the Big Six.

[slingger3]

The XB isn't something I would care to carry in my back pocket. What do you think about The Big Six Seydel and the Blues Session Seydel. Like to hear you do a Test Drive on these.

[AceOfHarps]

I have a clip about the Blues Session out here as well. Haven't tried the Big Six yet.

[bartendersb]

the xb 40 is it harder to play that regular harmonicas? I heard it's a totally different technic, is it?

[AceOfHarps]

It definitely has a different feel, almost like a chromatic, but I wouldn't necessarily say it's harder to play. It obviously bends pretty easily.

[bartendersb]

thanks for the answer, I end up buying a huang silvertone deluxe vintage model, I really like it, I would say it at the same level with other expensive harmonicas, I'm going to buy the huang silvertone with wood comb on Bb.

cheers mate, your playing it's pretty cool!

[blogward]

To play the notes you would normally overblow on an ordinary diatonic, you have to blow bend the 'next hole up' on the XB-40. This means chromatic scales on the XB-40 require a slightly different technique. Not hard, but probably not a priority practice target either.

[Wharty]

Hello Tod,

I have the XB-40 and am very pleased with it. I have Crazy Chris Kramers "Die XB-40" study book (isbn 978-3-933950-05-5) which is a very good companion to the XB. It is in German but has tabs, a CD and you need an A and a G harp. Ben Bouman (Dutch harper) plays this thing bombastically as well as a German harper/uke player named Janes Klemencic of whom I met in Klingenthal this year. This is a great harp for the begining harpist. Gone is the frustration of how to bend.

[AceOfHarps]

Thanks for your comment and the info. Now that I've posted this clip, I realize that there are several clips on YouTube for the XB-40! Take care.