Re: Comb Material [revisited]

[Gatorharp@xxxxxxx]

leone@xxxxxxxx wrote, in part...
<< Some people feel there IS NO difference..and this is a "Positive" to THEM. 
>>

and rdg@xxxxxxxxxxxxx replied, in part...  
<< "There is a difference" is a positive statement.
     "There is no difference" is a negative statement.
     Onus on positive. >>

does "they sound the same" count as a positive statement?

i can't believe i'm posting on this, having successfully avoided doing so for 
nearly five years.  
it would seem to ~me~ that the most logical way to test this would be with 
some wind producing machine as others have suggested.  this eliminates any 
error, compensation, or other miniscule differences to which a human wind 
provider would necessarily be prone.  the wind providing apparatus would be 
perfectly stationary.
combs would be of the exact same shape and dimensions.  the same set of reed 
plates would be held on by clamps with the same degree of tightness.  this 
would also be perfectly stationary.  
the harp sounds would be measured by a device such as mike curtis describes.  
that should settle whether there is any measureable difference.  the harps 
would also be recorded dry for playback at another time to see if there is a 
perceptible difference, that is, if anyone can consistently hear a 
difference, and further, accurately identify which samples came from the same 
material.  in the past, live tests have been contested because the time 
between the break-down and set-up of each comb didn't allow for a nearly side 
by side comparison, such as a high quality recording might.
all that said, i agree with doug in that it's more for the player.  if it 
makes her/him happy, affects the way they play, it should be no skin off of 
anybody else's teeth.

steven j gatorman