Re: "Paddy Richter" tuning

["Tim Moyer" <wmharps@xxxxxxxxx>]

Larry Boy wrote:
> The question I have for the harp techs is, Would you re-tune the 
> 3-blow reed or would you just replace the 3-blow reed with a reed 
> of the correct note?  It seems liek a replaced reed would last 
> longer. 

If tuning is done properly, it should last as long as a replacement, 
in my opinion.  Tuning should be gentle and in some cases can even 
improve the condition of the reed by smoothing milling marks.  

Larry, I'd say this is a perfect chance to learn some basic tuning 
skills, and it's fairly simple.  It's only one reed retune.

I have a whole set of paddy richter harps and love to play them.  Do 
all your normal blues licks and they just have a slightly different 
flavor when you cross that note.  Tunes that have a strong melody 
component can benefit from being able to hold that scale note cleanly 
without bending down to it.  Add a 5 overblow and you've got the 
second position major scale in the second octave.

- -tim