Hi folks,

not really an "other guitar" topic - but I thought I'd let you all know that my wife just bought an Oscar Schmidt Autoharp - the black '30's reissue model. LinK:

http://www.oscarschmidt.com...

I have to say that as a guitarist with almost 40 years playing experience (and 5 months on mandolin!) I was very snooty and sceptical about autoharps. After all, they're just chord machines for lazy people who can't be bothered to learn to play a "real" instrument, right? (Actually, my wife does play finger-style guitar very nicely, but you get my drift).

Having messed about with it for a while, I have to say that I've totally changed my mind. Yes, you can just bash away at chords, but you can also get real tunes out of them too! In the same way that you suck and blow with a harmonica, you can also go back and forth with the chord buttons to get some really nice melodies and passing notes.

Lilting country ditties like Wildwood Flower sounds absolutely lovely on it - until I hit the wrong button!

In summary - it's no good for rock'n'roll or rockabilly, and it'll never, ever, EVER replace my guitars (or my mandos, come to think of it), but it can be so much more than just a "chord machine" in the right hands (not mine!).

Let's just say I've gone from the "You've got to be kidding!" camp to the "Hmm, that's actually quite nice" camp.

Now hand me that Gretsch!

cheers

John

"In summary - it's no good for rock'n'roll or rockabilly, ..."

Don't tell that to John Sebastian.

Don

Don, Now you're taking me back!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hh...

The Carter girls, particularly Maybelle, were very good at playing "awfulharp" holding it crossarmed on their chest. A woman walked into Gelb once... claimed to be an Oscar Schmidt endorser or something and proceeded to run off "Never On Sunday" on the thing. She laid it flat.

As a challenge I would tune the new ones that came in only using an a-440 tuning fork.

One of my favorite artists play an auto-harp on many of his songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Brian Bowers has a way with one.

always wanted one , last week at this small shop i go to there was one ,, i like mom and pop music stores ,,, i looked at it , thought for a while and said , another time ,,,,, went home , thought for a few minutes and said ,,, oh go back and buy it ,,,,,,,, i go back ,, gone , grrrrrrr 75 dollars , and it looked nice , hard case and all ,,,,, he said funny thing is its been here for 5 years ,,,, figures

I know a guy named Ivan Stiles. When I heard he's a world-renowned autoharp player, I didn't even know what that could mean...like a world-renowned triangle player, or something. When I heard him play, I understood! Pretty cool instrument. He also rips on the hurdy-gurdy.

I know a guy named Ivan Stiles. When I heard he's a world-renowned autoharp player, I didn't even know what that could mean...like a world-renowned triangle player, or something. When I heard him play, I understood! Pretty cool instrument. He also rips on the hurdy-gurdy.

Thanks for the introduction to Ivan Stiles , Charlie, I hadn't heard of him.

Here is an appropriate Flag Day video from Ivan

Also...Drew Smith. I don't think he puts himself out there like Ivan, so he may not be on Youtube, but he's another great Autoharp player. The really crazy thing is, neither one introduced me to the other. I've met 2 killer Autoharp players in very separate circumstances. Karma, you say? We'll see!