Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 16:38:46 +0200 From: "Planet Harmonica" Subject: A Review of "Harmonica Repair and Modification"
Here follows a review of Rupert OYSLER's "Harmonica Repair and Modification" videos as it will soon be published in Planet Harmonica. The videos can be purchased directly from Rupert Oysler at orupe~arthlink.net. I have, of course, no affiliation whatsoever with Rupert.
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A few months back, Rupert Oysler released a series of two 90 mn videos entitled : Harmonica Repair and Modification (vol 1 & vol 2) To my knowledge, this is the first effort at releasing a video series which deals not with playing the harmonica but with working on the instrument to make it play better. Since then, I believe another video on the subject was released, but I haven't been able to get hold of it in order to compare. These videos feature only diatonic harmonicas, but most of what is shown is applicable to the chromatic harmonica as well.
Rupert's videos are as simple as they are informative. There's no fancy stuff, it's just mainly him talking and showing you how to do what he's talking about. By the end of the two videos, you'll know all about his looks, his dimples, his damaged right thumbnail, etc. Rupert has a clear and audible voice, and a very humble way of putting his ideas and experiments forth, which makes all this custom wizardry seem very accessible.
Rupert also has a nice dry humor and peppers his video workshop with little anecdotes and jokes that really make it fresh and keep you interested even after 60 minutes of seeing a guy tweaking his harp. Now let's move on to the content :
First of all, both videos start with a feature on tools, where they come from, what they do. A lot of Rupert's tools are homemade, and I guess it's not that hard to do your own although it would be nice to be able to purchase some of the quite clever ones. Maybe Rupert should commercialise a kit of homemade tools along with the videos !
The first video then describes what would be considered as the "basics" of harp adjustment, mainly focusing on gapping and retuning. Both these sections are very detailed and include a lot of little tips that you don't find in any book but are really helpful to make things easier when you try to adjust or retune your harmonica. Rupert addresses the issue of which tuners to use as well and demonstrates both retuning and gapping. He also comments on the most efficient way of doing these adjustments in terms of disassembly and reassembly of the harp itself. While I'm writing this I think I give the impression that it's no big deal, but really, what makes the value of the video is all the little comments and techniques that Rupert uses and demonstrates. Hard to express that in a few words. Also, there's a great value in "seeing it done". It gives the viewer the feeling that it can be done, and that, to be frank, it's not that hard. Of course, Rupert warns the viewer repeatedly tha! t there is a learning curve and that it all takes much time, but to be honest a lot of what's shown is feasible with patience and precision.
The second video is much in the same vein but demonstrates a lot more advanced techniques. It starts with reed replacement, which eats up about a third of the video since there are a lot of specific tools and tehcniques involved, and Rupert demonstrates both a "lucky" reed replacement and one that does not go so well, so you can see for yourself how to cope with both. He then continues with advanced techniques designed to ease overbending capability. I was particularly impressed and pleased to understand at last what chamfering and embossing were all about. This video really gives a good idea of exactly how much can be involved in customising a harmonica, and it puts in perspective the pricetag that we often see on customised harp. You can do it yourself, that's what Rupert does, but you're going to spend a lot of time working on it. Then again, as Rupert repeatedly points out, you're the best person to identify what you like and dislike in the way your harp plays once it's c! ustomised...
All in all, I can boldly say that this is an outstanding product. If you're looking for basics just to get your harps going better, then vol. 1 is probably enough for you, but if you want to understand and experiment with more advandced techniques, you should get vol. 2 as well (or vol. 2 stand-alone if you're already confident on gapping, retuning, etc.) What's great about these videos is that there are a lot of close-ups that enable you to really see and understand what's going on. The video medium is, in my opinion, the most appropriate for this kind of information. Plus you'll be able to say you own a Harmonica DIY video !
One word of warning for non-american customers : the video is in NTSC format so unless your VCR can read NTSC, you're out of luck until Rupert releases the Collector's Edition "Harmonica Repair and Modification" on DVD !!!
