HarpMitch:
Hello everybody, I'm a harpplayer from Germany. I'm a Dutchman who lives in Germany. I play about 10 years harp. For me the harmonica is the most beautiful instrument with which I really really available to show my emotions. My favorite harpplayers are Little Walter, Rod Piazza, William Clarke, Mark Hummel, Gary Smith, Mitch Kashmar, Rick Estrin..... I try to develop my own style to be authentic. It's a very difficult thing to do that. But I'm still working on it. My favorite amp is the Harpking 6x10. My mic is a shure 520 with a blacklabel element of 1949. I hope to meet a lot of players to talk the harpthings what we all so speak about.
Greetz Harp Mitch 8)
Eric Stahl:
Welcome, Michel
A 6x10 Harp King - that's quite an amp!
-Eric
jzinmass:
Mitch, You sound like you know your blues. Great list of harp influences - maybe we can start a list of favorite albums for each performer. You hit the nail on the head regarding developing your own sound/ your own blues style and the challenge therein. First one learns from the masters and then tries to figure out who S/HE is (i.e., what they want to express) - at least, that's the path I travel. Others, you may find, have different approaches. Looking forward to hearing from you. BTW, if the site technology (getting backing tracks downloaded, etc.) gets confusing/frustrating - just ask for help (or look into Forum history). The more people that join in, the better this site becomes. thanks Jeff
HarpMitch:
Hello Eric, thank you for replying my posting. Yes the Harpking 6x10 is quite an amp. I'm very happy with this 'giant'. Last year September I had the opportunity to buy a blond Harpking from a famous dutch harpplayer. I'm a fan off the big Piazza-sound. So I started the search for a Harpking 4x10 or 6x10. I had already a Kinder Soulful 2x10 amp. But for the chromatic harp it is not the right amp for me. And now after almost a year I have the feeling to get my own sound. Yesterday I played in Germany Meppen Int. Blues & Jazzfestival. We played openair and I had this big sound with the HK6x10 and the Soulful2x10 connected. It's a great feeling when you have enough power to do your thing. It's also a great amp to play with at small gigs. With lower volume you have you tone. I will never never want another amp. I have found my amp which is my companion for the rest of my live.
Greets Mitch 8)
HarpMitch:
Hello Jeff, thank you for replying my posting. Well the only thing that I'm trying to do is to express my emotions and feelings the way I like to do. I've heard a lot of harpplayers who really can play. It's the biggest challenge to hear yourself. I mean that you got the feeling 'It's ME!!' That your own sound is influenced by the great harpplayers as Little Walter, Big Walter Horton, George Harmonica Smith and many others, I think, it is the most normally thing. I even think that it is a special feeling to let these harpplayer live in your playing and sound and try to make it a mixed up with you own signature. That's what I'm trying to do. To start with the list of favorit albums: 1992 Alphabet Bluese Black Top Label