Designed and Developed in Canada by Roly Platt
“The Harp Wah, it’s cool … sounds like a trumpet mute.”
– Ronnie Shellist
“The Harp Wah has it’s own thing – a different sound than a tradition cup. It’s cool…
and YES!!!! The Wah Claw handle makes it even better!”
– Jason Ricci
“Love it! This is THE sound I’ve been looking for in a cup style wah. It’s waaaay more comfortable to use than a coffee or tea cup, plus it’s much easier to direct the sound into a mic. I look forward to recording with it.”
–
Your Choice:
Either the classic “Silver” anodized aluminum Harp Wah
or the black anodized “Midnight Edition”
Branded custom drawstring bag
Instructions
Until now, the only way to get resonator “cup mute” effects was to raid the kitchen cabinets for cups, mugs or used tin cans.
I wanted something better.
Features:
- Fully forward-facing design aims the sound directly out from you and into your mic
- The Harp Wah™ becomes an extension of your regular hand cupping position – making it feel natural, with minimal effect on your playing style
- Convenient to use – non-attaching
- Shape focuses the sound into narrow, controllable field
- Anodized polished aluminum – creating a safe, rock-hard and extremely durable finish – inside and out
- Light weight and durable, for a lifetime of road-worthy abuse
- Universal shape and gender-neutral size accommodates a wide range of harp players
- For left or right-handed players
- High-quality protective drawstring bag
- And of course, it sounds killer
Is the Harp Wah right for you?
The Harp Wah has been carefully designed to work for most diatonic players. Please read these technical considerations to ensure the best results.
Technical Considerations
- The Harp Wah was specifically made for acoustic diatonic harmonica playing.
- The design and “input slot” width will accommodate any standard diatonic model, (including 12, 13, 14 hole models) with a total cover height (thickness) of less than 23mm – all major brands tested fall well within this slot width and include standard models from: Hohner, Seydel, Suzuki, Lee Oskar.
- Thicker harps: Even the overly thick models such as Seydel’s “Low Low” tunings with their wider cover plates work using a slightly modified grip.
- Higher notes on a 12, 13 or 14 hole model will extend beyond the Harp Wah’s slot length – but the most important holes 1-6 work great.
- The higher notes (above holes 1-6) on any harp are not as “affected” as the lower notes by the nature of the higher frequency, less resonating reeds.
Playing Style/Grip
The Harp Wah can be used by left or right-handed players but is not generally recommended for players who play with the low notes towards your fingertips (as opposed to the typical way – low notes towards the palm).
The Harp Wah™ was designed to work with what I call the “classic grip” hand positioning – with the harp held between the index finger and thumb. It may also work for players with an alternative grip, but please keep this in mind.
Customized harps and harps with customized covers will also work.
As with using any new device, some adaptation and practice is suggested to maximize the all available tones and effects of the Harp Wah.