Category: Custom Harmonicas

I thought you might be interested to know that there is a small family of uniquely designed and hand crafted Silverfish Electric Instruments; although I’m no longer making these commercially. They include a series of individually designed and built electric violins and electric cellos. These are literally hand carved out of solid pieces of wood. I also do all the piezo electrics.

I think it must have been my fathers influence and teaching (he made beautiful classical acoustic violins) that inspired me to design a range of contemporary and uniquely different stringed instruments – particularly showing off the beauty of natural wood and organic designs. The darker instrument has a larger sister – an electric cello – of the same design; using the same solid hard wood and form with open f-holes. The wood is incredible in that it is treated only with light finishing oil and ages over time taking on the patina of a fresh concker with an amazing grain like “tigers eye”.

These instruments also play beautifully and have a very easy action and rich sound. I love playing the electric fiddle as there is so much potential to modify and shape the sound using effects and a basic graphics equaliser. They also sound great simply plugged into my Laney (LA30C) amp and produce a superb and rich sound which is a refreshing contrast to the classical acoustic sound of a violin.

I guess I wanted to give you some confidence that the custom silverfish harmonicas and microphones  are made by an experienced craftsman to precision standards. The silverfish harp gear also gives you an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of a natural wood finish; through either the gorgeous flecked grain of the bamboo comb of the custom harmonicas or the hardwood of the Silverfish Harp Mics.

Cheers: Rick

www.silverfish-harmonicas-com

Customised harmonicas

These are high quality precision – hand made customisations mostly using bamboo. This produces a hamonica with a comb that is as hard as nails (and highly resilliant to moisture), looks absolutely superb  but most importantly feels comfortable in your hand and mouth.

If you are interested see photos on this site or at my facebook page: (www.facebook.com/customharmonicasandmics)

Styles vary from oversized and rounded – fitting your hand like a glove – to a neat squared off comb that replaces the existing one producing a quality and unique instrument with a comfy feel and good looks.

The benefit of customisation goes beyond looks in that the harp is a LOT more comfortable to play with the holes slighted edged off and the rounded wood in your hand.

A range of colour tones – from natural through to very dark coffee coloured allows you to differentiate between your different keys through colour and style of the custom harps. In other words – it’s an excellent idea to have a range of different custom harps for different keys within your set! Although obvoiusly this would cost a bit so you may like to stick the ones you play most!

Please note: that custom harps are sometimes defined as those with reeds different than the standard manufacturer’s production harps. These harps have not been adjusted or re-tuned/gapped as it is extremely difficult to provide a modified reedplate that suits everyone. You can probably appreciate that these would produce both advantages and disadvantages – compared to the factory (out of the box) harps – so I’ve decided not to go down that route!

Anyway – if you are interested in envesting in either customising oneh of you much loved harps or getting a new one – then let me know and we can discuss details.  The shop on this website also alows you to buy a new custom marine band of a key of your choice (selected at the time of purchase).

£130 isn’t a lot when you conisder how long a hand crafted precision harp takes to build… roughly two days! If you are mad about harmonicas then it’s worth it!

 

I’m Rick Park and welcome to my custom harmonica and mic web-site and store! I hope you like my custom harps and mics and find time to leave a comment – not just about the site and my stuff, but anything about harmonicas. Please help me get this site going – whether or not you fancy buying any of my harp gear!

I thought I’d start by explaining how I started my love affair with the harmonica.. it kicked off when I was ten (back in 1971) when my dad gave me my first harmonica – a diatonic honer harmonica in G – and taught me to play ”home on the range”. It was such a cool sound and that was before I discovered the blues! I’ve loved the soulful sound of the harp ever since then although I’ve still got a long way to go in all the instruments I play – harmonica, banjo and violin; especially the harmonica.

My coolest moment with a harmonica was during my travels on a motorcycle around Australia, a couple of years after finishing my marine biology degree (that’s my trade). As free as a bird I was traveling with my girlfriend and living in a tent; hardly any cash, wild camping and cooking meals in the open – living under the stars. It was good – really good! I had with me my Hohner Chromonica which I’d bought at uni, and I’d often pull a few tunes in the evening – enjoying the moment and passing lazy times.

I was in Queensland in a really remote spot, at the end of miles of dirt road, not far from a wooded creek which was lush with tropical growth and there was plenty of wildlife kicking about. It was another fabulous night – hot and humid with a sky full of stars. It was late and I was playing a few tunes when the wild dingo dogs joined in! If that doesn’t qualify as cool what came next definitely does. Excited and enjoying my wild accompaniment I was taken aback when suddenly a squeeze box joined in and skilfully played along! Now we were really remote so this was quite a surprise – but kept playing a while; ending in cheers, distant clapping and laughter! Another couple, German I seemed to recall, traveling and living their dream.

I’d love to hear what it is about the harp that does it for you, and some of the good times you’ve had playing along. Cheers – Rick