Hi. I’m new to this forum, however, I have been playing the harp for 40+ years, and I’m searching information about tubes in my SJ Cruncher Serial #54.
The tube layout specifies 5U4 6L6 6L6 12AU7 12AU7 and 12AT7 or 12Ax7.
For the configuration I received the last tube is a 12y7.
The question is if all 12a<X/Y/UT> can be swapped without problems for the amp.
Thanks in advance Thomas
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Hi Dudes & Dudettes,
My name is Karl from Wales in the UK. I have been practising for about 6 months via a book (it is a very dry way to learn). I investigating and trying the lessons by Luke, they are very impressive …so, I signed up to the ‘Beginner to Boss’ course.
SO, LETS GET MY NAME UP IN LIGHTS.
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Hi all! I’m Dave from NH, I like long walks on the… wait no that’s not right. I like restoring old cars, building things and spending time with my family.(49 year old grandfather of a 2 year old from my 25 year old daughter and my youngest daughter is 9…What have I done haha) Im working through the beginner to boss course and am loving it so far. I do at least 1 lesson a day and try to spend an hour or more. I have been at it about a month. Anyway, I look forward to learning, practicing and learning some more. I am really loving this and look forward to learning from you all.
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Hi all! I am Sheryll, I am an Aussie, and I am a PWP (Person with Parkinson’s Disease).
I thought that I had read somewhere that playing the harmonica was good for PWPs - it strengthens our breathing and helps us to learn how to do diaphram breathing.
I have my old Hero harmonica from my childhood days. I took it to the nursing home in Indio where I was doing therapy for broken left arm bones and my left collar bone.
I can pick up songs by ear so have a basic repertoire that encouraged me to play requests or whatever came to mind. I would get positive feedback from playing it.
With all the sudden rough handling, my 60-year-old harmonica fell apart. In the course of 36 hours or so, I had lost both bolts and both nuts.
Sheryll
(to be continued)
Iwas
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@sheryllnet Welcome Sheryll, yes there has been a lot of discussion on this forum about the health benefits of harmonica playing. Sounds like you need a new harp. There’s a few of us Aussies here, what state do you live in?
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@kjvonly6 Welcome Karl from Wales! Looking forward to hearing how it goes for ya mate!
@davemacinnh I’m not a grandpa, but my kids are 20, 5, and 2, so I get you. 
Welcome! Glad you’re digging the course.
@sheryllnet - welcome to the forum! Time to buy a new harmonica. Luckily, they’re the cheapest instrument you can find! Here’s an article on brands: Which Harmonica to Buy? – The Best & Worst Harmonicas
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Hi Luke,
As it happens, my care-partner Tom’s brother John wanted to do something nice and meaningful for my recovery. He used Amazon to look for the best harmonica for my situation. He chose a package deal of the Hohner MS Series.
This comprised:
- a Blues Harp in the key of C,
- a cleaning cloth,
- an Austin Bazaar Harmonica Beginners Manual (includes songs to play),
- a stout stylish cardboard box
- a black woven zip up case.
I was back home by this time, and when this snazzy parcel was walked past my front door to the house behind mine, Tom was there to bring it to me.
I took my time opening up all the stuff inside the MS Series box. I knew that money was no object to John but it was important to me to learn how to play this wonderful instrument. I realized that I had a lot to learn about my new harmonica once I had Googled how to play it.
That’s where your videos have come in handy. Firstly, my Parkinson’s “off” periods can sneak up on me, then I get into strife with my breathing, as I seem to lose beats.
I need to take my next lot of levadopa tablets, then rest. Lying down helps, but my breathing can be out of whack for a good 3 hours. Meanwhile, music and rhythms that I hear can take over my body, and I will have all the symptoms of a panic attack.
I plan to start watching your videos again, from the beginning, and get the technique right, and then carefully move on, not rushing. I welcome any tips on getting the diaphragm breathing working properly.
Sheryll
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Hi Everyone. Pieter here from the netherlands. Piano player in basic and always had some harmonica’s laying around somewhere to spice up my panic attacks, just kidding. I love to see and hear a great player bending and screaming through a harp and love to be able to. I do own a basic set ( cheap ) and willing to expend en replace by greater ones.
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@pieter_heine Nice to have you here. You will find very knowledgeable people here, who are more than willing to assist if you looking to get a better set of harmonicas. Be careful cause it could lead you into the same place as me with G.A.S gear acquisition syndrome lol.
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Hi Moman, I am well aware of this syndrome, haha. yet it still is one step at the time
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Yes I agree. I wish I could play the guitar but my hands won’t let me they go numb very easy, I did try a couple of times but sense I also do know how to read music etc it makes it difficult. But when I bought my first cheap harmonica and went on line and learned some things. I kinda created my own style of playing by ear. With the help of a friend/band leader that gave me a chance to play with the band I’m now in for the last 2 years and enjoying it a lot.
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I am a newbie but I feel as though I already have GAS… At this point I am buying to find the one that is most comfortable and natural to play for me. Im a bit over a month in and have already got 2 besides the one I started with, Bluesband then Easttop 008k then to SP20, I have a Rocket on the way, Lee Oskar and will be buying a Golden Melody today. 
Just having fun at this point but for now this is a much more affordable habit than ones I have had in the past with cars etc…
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I also have the east top, blues band and a SP20. I use the SP20 the most in the key of E. I will eventually get a Lee Oscar. I would like to try some of the wood comb harmonicas but it’s not as easy to keep them clean as the plastic comb ones. I like to disassemble my harmonicas and put them in a ultrasonic cleaner with distilled water and vinegar. It really works good.
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GrooveRat – nice vid clip. I’m hearing a little Butterfield in that sound. Keep up the good work and welcome!
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Thanks! I’m lucky to have some good players with me in the band. I guess it’s no coincidence that Butterfield is one of my favourites to listen to! Very occasionally audience members will make a similar comparison - always Butters, so I guess the hours and hours of listening have left a faint trace 
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I play keys but for the band i play in, keys is not always mandatory and sometime struggle with the thoughts of what i can do to be fill in a void instead of getting drinks for everyone. Harmonica can give some hands on, when played well.
I have to get over the mindset of second position and find what what you can play instead of can’t with a set key of harmonica. With a piano it is dead easy.
For instance Lucinda Williams Can’t let go is written in G with some standard blues pattern. According second position table it can be played with a D harmonica or is the second position with a C harmonica… → error…
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Hi Pieter,
Try 3rd position for Minor songs that will give you a different voice. And you can play blues in first position too Kim Wilson was doing this on a lot of early Thunderbirds albums, it does give you a varied tone. 3rd position is very Jazzy ( you can play. It in a few faster track like the hustle is on, and T- bone shuffle because they have Jazzy inflections that make it work, but it’s incredibly good for Minor blues tunings get a C backing tracks play in D I’m sure you will pick it up.) I used to play 3rd position sparingly but now I play Chromatic and have started to pick that up quite well, it made me delve in 3rd position more. In fact now I have practice sessions dedicated to position playing now.
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Ok, so this song is written in G, second position is C harmonica, third position is F harmonica, right?
Hi Pieter yes that’s right. Get yourself a backing track. You will soon figure out there are certain holes you can’t play. Like the draw 7 for example. I’ll figure it out for you when I get the time. ( Tbh something I need to do myself, as I said I’m coming from playing Chrominica in 3rd position, to playing diatonic in 3rd.) But I’ll bet you’ll find a vid or two on this subject on YouTube. I think Ronnie Shellist does one on the lower notes and Liam Ward does one on the higher notes if you combine the two lessons should be all you need. I hope that’s helpful. Plus it’ll save you a truck load of money buying minor harps and figuring all that out!
Many thanks! Expecting a new LF rocket to add to the collection and experiment the hell out of it, until i pass out of oxygen.
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