[Harp-L] Gasketing

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Peloquin" <peloquinharp@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 12:42 PM
Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Gasketing


> I say DON'T GASKET ANYTHING.
> makes a mess-ask R Sleigh
> negligible leakage btw comb & plates
> most leakage is between reed & slot

The above is true. One fact should be added.  Most leakage is through the
gap of the opening (unplayed) reed.  On the low notes especially, the
opening reed opens even wider under playing pressure than its at-rest gap.
This leakage dwarfs other sources to the extent that measures to reduce them
are likely to be ineffective.

Valves will stop this leakage but, of course, change the bending behavior of
the harp entirely and are subject to the rattling and popping that plague
chromatics.

Vern