Re: [Harp-L] Marine Band Crossover

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

There's nothing new about bamboo combs. I made one out of a piece of  
flooring when I did our home. It's a perfect thickness. It's easy.  
Just takes a coping saw. Unlike a chromo (which has 'levels' and  
requires milling).

smokey Joe & the Cafe s (at the Harbouside, no. Ft. Myers,..featuring  
Craig Christman on sax).



On Apr 7, 2009, at 10:20 PM, Vern Smith wrote:

> Bamboo may very well make an excellent mechanical comb material  
> because it is laminated, straight-grained, hard, stable in the  
> presence of moisture, readily available, and blonde.
>
> I challenge the notion that bamboo or any other comb material  
> perceptibly affects the sound of a harmonica.  If anyone can  
> demonstrate the ability to hear differences between pearwood and  
> bamboo combs under controlled conditions, they can win my $1000 wager!
>
> You mentioned a "blind test" and that the participants played the  
> harps "without knowing
> the others' preferences or the materials tested" .  How were the  
> distinguished players or listeners denied the knowledge of the comb  
> materials in the harps that they were hearing or playing?  What was  
> the test protocol?
>
> I am also curious to know the mechanisms by which the properties of  
> comb materials perceptibly affect "volume, tone, response, bending,  
> overblow and general playability".....on a scale of 1 to 10!
>
> Vern