Harmonica Customizer
The Grandfather of All Modern Customizers
Joe began working on his own harmonicas shortly after he began playing them. By 1990 he started building, customizing, and repairing them for others, including numerous professional players who were quick to acknowledge the value of his work. More details on this story are available on the Interviews page of this website.
UNFORTUNATELY . . .due to his present workload and schedule, Joe is unable to accept new orders and clients at this time. The good news is that you can have your Filisko Method Harmonica needs fulfilled by contacting Richard Sleigh's Hot Rod Harmonicas or Joe Spiers Custom Harmonicas.
Customizing Harmonicas since 1990
Hohner Affiliated Customizer
Hohner Customizer interview "Joe Filisko, About Harmonica Customizing" video LINK
Filisko Inspired Hohner Thunerbird Harmonica
The Hohner Thunderbird Harmonica
Introduced by Hohner in 2011, the Marine Band Thunderbird utilizes the Filisko conical lower cover design that has been copied by many other manufacturers. Hohner extended the range of the famous Marine band design all the way down to a double low F (LLF) which is two full octaves below the standard tuned F. You can hear Joe play this harp on the song “Sinking In Love” on the Filisko & Noden CD On The Move. Joe’s iconic Instrumental “Roo Chase” (Filisko-Noden "MIssed Train Blues) is another Thunderbird harp song played on a Low “G.”
Joe also highly recommends checking out recordings by Dennis Gruenling, who has played and recorded with low harps specially made and customized by Joe since the mid 1990s.