Fwd: [Harp-L] Forgotten options for chromaticity

["Winslow Yerxa" <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

The MS Discrete Comb is still available, for US$25 + $5 shipping. 
THis buys you the comb, the longer screws required to assemble it, 
and instructions. You supply the MS-Series reedplates and covers of 
your choice, and you perform the assembly.

Only the LODC (made for Lee Oskar harps) has a lip, as this is 
structurally required to keep the covers from falling over the front 
edges of the reedplates. This requires milling an additional part and 
gluing it on, which made the LODC more expensive to produce.

The reason I used the Hohner MS line is that anyone can put one 
together with a single screwdriver, and the comb can be milled from a 
single block. In addition, the player has a choice of three different 
reedplates (Big River/Blues Harp, Pro Harp, Meisterklasse) and four 
different covers (Big River, Blues Harp, Pro Harp, Meisterklasse), 
all of which fit the MSDC. MS reedplates overbend quite well.

By contrast, the Hohner handmades all have problems. Converting a 
nailed-together Marine Band to screws is beyond the capability of 
many users. The Special 20 has the same structurally required lips as 
the Lee Oskar, which makes manufacturing more complicated, while the 
Golden Melody has a cover shape that is preferred by some but far 
from all. I have had good success fitting Marine band reedplates and 
covers to MSDC combs.

It's true that the Discrete Comb is not my main ax nowadays. When I 
started playing mostly fiddle tunes, my needs changed. Less 
chromaticity (almost none, in fact) and lots more LOUDNESS. The XB-40 
is the loudest harmonica I have ever played and has the chromaticity 
when I need it. I still play the DC, but not for fiddle tunes.

If you're interested, contact me at winslowyerxa -at- yahoo.com

As to Brendan's all-bender, I've played it, once, about nine years 
ago. It was the same thickness as a standard diatonic, but only 
slightly wider, with slightly wider holes. It played like a normal 
diatonic but with full dual-reed blow bends on all notes. Once he 
heard that Rick had taken out his patents, Brendan and Suzuki stopped 
development on the all-bender. Too bad, because the responder reed 
itself is not part of Rick's patent (or so Rick has asserted on 
various occasions); it's the brainchild of Will Scarlett.

Winslow

--- In harp-l-archives@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Paul Bowering 
<paul_bowering@...> wrote:

Since so many are clamouring for ways to make the 10
hole into a twelve tone instrument I'd like an to get
an update on two options that I've heard little about.

The first is Winslow's discrete comb. When I started
trying all the options to gain chromaticity this one
was high on the list. Somehow I'd forgotten about it
but intend to order one soon. Are they still
available? It offers all the flexibility of the Suzuki
Overdrive, a harp I love but ultimately found unwieldy
to become fluid enough on. I'd like to think the
Discrete Comb will be more easy to adapt to than the
Overdrive.

Pictures look like the comb has a lip so that plates
aren't exposed. Great if true. Can someone confirm?
Also, why was the MS series dimensions used as opposed
to the handmades? 

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think Winslow has 
chosen the XB-40 as his main instrument over his own
invention. Any particular reasons? I can appreciate
the XB on its own terms but its tone and size are not
what I'm really after.

The second harp is Brendan Power's all bender. The
lack of discussion on this one has me befuddled. A
standard size harp with standard interface that allows
all blow and draw blues type bends. No overblow
technique to develop, no pesky valves. Sounds like
what most everyone would want. Why aren't these in
production? Why aren't we jumping all over them?

My understanding is that the design employs a
responder reed in a fashion similar to the XB but only
to acheive the missing notes. Since he's not adding a
full twenty responder reeds like the XB however the
overall size doesn't have to increase. That's about as
close as I can figure as Brendan's own web site
doesn't even give a description. If you're one of the
few to have tried these harps please give us your
impressions along with more details about the design
concept.



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--- End forwarded message ---