Re: Comb Material [revisited]

["Rupert Oysler" <orupert@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hey Douglas,

You forgot:
f) Anyone who uses words like "jot" or "tittle" MUST be biased.....

:>))

Actually, I couldn't agree more with that paragraph wherein lie those
magnificent words....

Rupert Oysler
http://www.harprepair.com/



- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Douglas Tate" <dougtate@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2003 6:01 AM
Subject: Re: Comb Material [revisited]


>
> I think it must be Spring again...  Materials matter and all that.
>
> I am biased.   I know this because I have been told by people who do not
> hear any difference:
> (a)  I would say that because I expect it to be so...
> (b) I would say that because making a harmonica with a stainless steel
comb
> (as ILUS does) means I have a financial reason for saying it
> (c)  If you can't prove it then it isn't true
> (d) If you pay a lot of money for something then you are going to defend
> your position about it.
> (e) even if I am considered an upright and honest citizen who doesn't beat
> children etc etc I still can't be believed because in this instance you
are
> biased.
>
> Having said that, whether I think other people can hear a difference  when
> I play or not makes not a jot or tittle of difference to me. It is the
> influence on the way I play guided by the differences I perceive which are
> important to me.
>
> All that Mike Curtis says about resonant and non resonant waveforms I go
> along with... the differences I have observed are quite gross... as is the
> sound difference.
>
> However, even playing resonantly, which I do (although of course you get a
> wider range of sound if you do the range from resonant to non resonant)  I
> feel that the density of the material alters my range of possibilities in
> sound.   My reasoning is simply that the steadier you hold the reed plates
> the less added noise you get from the reed plate flapping about.
> (Test... plink the notes of a hand held reed plate and note that some
notes
> work less well than others.... now grasp one edge of the reed plate in a
> vice and do the same test... then attach it to the comb of your choice and
> do the same thing.  If the body has no effect then you shouldn't get any
> difference.)
> Before you tell me that not many people plink their harmonicas to make
them
> work, and that most actually blow them, this is akin to the way tyres are
> balanced.   Take the thing off the vehicle and twiddle it round and add
> weights....  Unfortunately not many roads are as smooth as twirling the
> thing in midair... but it is a pretty durn good indicator that the wheel
is
> in balance..... plinking a reed and seeing differences is also possibly a
> pretty good indicator..
>
> Try  it
>
> Douglas t
>
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