I
got into the harmonica mainly because I was
crap on the guitar. I tried to learn guitar
but just couldn’t buckle down to practice
but when I bought my first harmonica, whilst
living in Melbourne, I found it was the thing
for me. I then moved back to the farm and did
most of my practice on the tractor. (It helped
keep me awake on the 12-hour shifts).
Jim and I were forming a band back then and
I was lucky to learn in a playing situation.
This, and the unavailability of lessons, helped
me develop improvisation skills through having
no choice but to try and make the right noises
at the right time (still trying!)
Early on, before I took up the harp, I used
to listen to Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee a
lot. Also a Muddy Waters album with James Cotton
(I think). These two players influences came
through when I started to catch onto how to
play. I have been pretty slack in one respect
as a harp player by not buying every album with
harp on it that I could find. This has helped
me develop my own style (once again,”
I think”).
Presently I am using an old Musicman HD 130
head with reverb and tremolo through a 12”
Fender speaker. I will change to a 4 x 10”
open back Fender cabinet when I locate the right
one. I go via an AKG mic into a Yamaha Flanger
to an Ibanez Tube Screamer then into an old
Morley Chorus then into a graphic then into
the amp. Sometimes I will use my Kendrick 5
watt Fender Champ copy for small venues. This
thing Growls! For the acoustic performances
I go straight into the PA from the mic.
I use Lee Oskar harps. I have a fairly aggressive
approach and they last the longest and are a
lot smoother on the mouth. I prefer the tone
of the Honer but they just do not last for me.
I repair and tune my own reeds by changing and
filing and this saves heaps of money. If you
want more info on this just Email me. |
