Re: 11th position

[Mike Curtis <wd6ehr@xxxxxxxxxx>]

> I'm very curious......how do you valve a Lee Oskar Harmonic?

Maybe I'm reading more into your question than should be - but bear with 
me a moment.

"Valves" are little plastic flaps that seal off unused reeds when you're 
playing the other reed.  They're also known as "windsavers", a name based 
on their function.  Using these on selected reeds allows bending of all 
reeds on a diatonic harp.

This is not the same as the "slide" mechanism on a chromatic.

OK - now that that's out of the way - how do we install windsavers on an 
Oskar?  First, we need windsavers.  Hohner will send you a few if you ask 
nicely.

Next, you need some type of glue.  I've been using Superglue with good 
results, but Hohner recommends something called "Phylobond" (I double 
checked the spelling with the lady on the phone - if this is wrong, 
someone please correct me), a rubber cement available in hardware 
stores.  They say it's better if you ever have to remove the valves.

I take Superglue and a piece of cellophane or other nonporous material 
and place a SMALL drop on it.  I then dip the nippled end of the valve in 
it and apply it using tweezers to position it, then push it down with my 
bare finger to firmly seat it.  But if you use too much Superglue, you 
may end up with more than you bargained for (shall we call it a "finger 
harp" :-)  yu only need the tiniest quantity.  If you use too much, 
you'll glue your reed partially shut and either render it unusable, or 
raise its pitch considerably.


Here's how I valve my Oskars:

1. Take it apart.

2. On the lower reed plate, use a TINY droplet of superglue on the 
windsaver (little plastic flap) and attach it to the rivet on the reed 
plate that goes inside the comb (not on the "reed" side.)  Do this on the 
6 lowest reeds.

3. On the upper plate, do the same on the 4 highest reeds.  These go on 
the reed plate OUTSIDE the comb.

4. Make certain the windsavers are not more than 1/16th inch longer than 
the reeds, and that they're "squared" with the reedplate openings.  This 
makes sure they won't interfere with anything else.

5. If a windsaver sits a little high, it will still work.  If it sits 
VERY high, you might want to try regluing it. 

6. Reassemble the harp with covers and test it.  Remember that these are 
WIND savers, and use a very light breath to play it.  If you play it hard 
like youwould without valves, it will likely choke.

You can now bend EVERY note on the harp, blow and draw in each hole - but
overblows and overdraws are no longer possible.  I find the sound quality
of valved bends to be better and more consistent than overblows/draws. 
All the bends can be sustained with a pleasant sound.