Re: Reed sound, where does it come from?

["Jack Ely" <jely2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hey you guys,

I'm no expert but I've learned a couple tricks from
a few.

1. You can sound a reed (covers off) with a soda straw,
Blow at the free end of the reed, adjust straw angle until
the reed sound is audible - never great but better sound
than plinking.

Disclaimer: Plinking has benefits in addition to testing pitch.

2. Make yourself a mono-comb. I learned this from Richard I. Smith.
It's in his repair manual. Make a tiny box of metal - rectangular - leave
top and one end open. Size to cover one reed. Optimum size will work
on most reeds Put mono-comb over reed and blow. This can be made
out of a flat piece of metal. A few cuts to form the flat stock to size -
and
3 bends. Some sealing of the seams helps. Use solder, wax, glue, tape...
This is intended to work with reed plates off the comb.

Feeble attempt at ASCII drawing below.
Dotted lines are 90 degree bend points.
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Jack Ely

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "the Leones" <leone@xxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 8:17 AM
Subject: Re: Reed sound, where does it come from?


>
> >>From: "IronMan Mike Curtis" <ironman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >
> >>Get a couple of clamps to hold the reeds and comb together, then play
the
> >>note to check tuning.
> >
> >I notice that when I test the re-tuned reeds on the comb without the
> >coverplates, the pitch seems sharper than when I put the coverplates back
> >on. As a result, I try to pinch the coverplates on the reedplates and
comb
> >when I do my final tests so I don't put the whole harp back together only
to
> >discover the re-tuned reed sounds flat.
> >
> >Has anyone else experienced this?
> >
> >Jimbeau
> >
> >
>
>   Absolutely, just get yourself a couple of those "Binder Clips" (the big
ones)
> They look like a gunmetal blue spring shaped like the "stirrup" on a
> saddle, and they have two WINGS  made of chromed wire. You squeeze on the
> wire wings and it flexes the clip open enough to hold the ENDS of the harp
> together. It's so simple.......smokey-joe
>
>
> --
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Jack Ely at Road Runner
(formerly jnely@xxxxxxxxxxx)