Modern Blues Harmonica 160 - new album, new harps

News of a new album (Adam Gussow and Charlie Hilbert, LIVE IN KLINGENTHAL) and conversation about new harmonicas, plus a new lick.

To preview and order the new album, go to:

http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/4962364-adam-gussow-and-charlie-hilber...

If you want to learn how to play blues harmonica:

http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Adam
• Gussow
• Charlie
• Hilbert
• blues
• harmonica
• harp
• Klingenthal
• Mundharmonika
• live
• Hohner

[stephenmald]

Hi Adam, can I ask you once again - have you come across out of the box marine bands with the wooden comb not flush with the crome plate? making it painful on the lips!

[KudzuRunner]

Not a problem for me. One out of 8 Marine band harps has that problem when a lot of spit gets in the holes.

[bluesette82]

I think it's because I'm always looking at your hands in your videos as you play, but I keep seeing your wedding ring and ask myself...is your wife musical like you? Will she ever make an appearance in your videos? What does she think of your videos? Etc.  Sorry if they are too personal questions...I'm inherently nosy, and after seeing 100+ videos, hard not to ask yourself who is this guy behind the musician?

[KudzuRunner]

My memoir, MISTER SATAN'S APPRENTICE, fills in quite a few of the details. My wife is a lovely woman from Texas (Dallas) who isn't particularly shy, but feels no desire to broadcast her wicked grin to the world at large through the medium of YouTube. I endorse that decision. She did make an appearance at Jon Gindick's jam camp in Clarksdale, Mississippi, last March, and will certainly repeat her star turn at camp this coming March.

[ZookyoMS]

Hi Adam, thanks again for this new video.

Did you get my DeFord Bailey T-Shirt?

Greetings from Münster

Mario

[KudzuRunner]

Mario: Yes! I just got it from the Post Office. I was meaning to write you. Thank you very much!

[firedancer67]

Adam, what do you recommend about the issue of the Marine Band comb not being flush with the plates. The comb is out 1/32" in some spots. Can I sand it this much if I am careful? And is pure mineral oil best for sealing comb?

[firedancer67]

@stephenmald I have that same problem with my Marine Band- comb not flush with the plates from 4- 7. Was wondering whether I should sand the comb flush and seal. Did you fix yours this way? My lips hurt from playing and I just realized why.

[Giorgigogaladze]

hey man 1 question while you are playing you are breathing in and breathing out right?

[hippieman128]

@KudzuRunner Adam, you never sand and seal your combs do you? if not why?

I ask because the reason why I haven't bought a marine band for a while is because I'm not a fan of the over expansion of the comb. It warps and compromises my playing. I just figured i'd ask what you thought about sealing the harp and making it more air tight.

[alexmacgillivray]

Hey Adam, should you "break-in" a new harp before playing bend notes, or is this just a myth?

I've seen some net sources (less authoritative than you) that say you should not play bends on a new harp, otherwise you'll damage the reeds.

[MYTHIRDSHADOW]

Can one get a "glassy" sound from a draw note?

Also to clarify: One would gap a BLOW reed CLOSER to the reed plate to solve bad sounds and gap a DRAW reed FURTHER from the reed plate to solve bad sounds?

[mwhite1249]

Put a bit of bees wax on that sharp left edge and smooth it out. End of problem.

[mwhite1249]

Musician's Friend is great. They have a huge 4-city block warehouse in Kansas City. Never had a problem with them, quick shipping, great prices.

As for harps, I've started using the Seydel blues harp for C & D. Seydel holes are a little larger and pull more air, so I can play loud without notes sticking. I play in a rock band and loud is essential just to be heard. I can play loud and don't have the feedback problems and sticking I was getting with other harps played hard.

[BluezBro604]

marine band uh? i play special 20's. i wonder if the MB's will help with overblowing. i cant seem to get it on the special 20

[pinkushn2]

I've only tried the Lee Oskar twice, but one of them was awful on the left side. The metal bend of the top plate protruded slightly and cut my lips whenever I was playing the one hole.