Re: [Harp-L] Just Intonation and Difference Tones

["Bob Maglinte" <bbqbob917@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "fjm" <mktspot@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "h-l" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 11:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Just Intonation and Difference Tones


> > Sorry if i'm being repetitive, but..........
> >    What is the difference in the sound that is produced between 7  limit 
> > JI and 19 limit JI?  What was the Hohner tuning scheme used  in harps in 
> > the days of LW, SB II, and WH ?

Hi,
It was DEFINITELY 7 limit JI, and the only diatonic presently using this is 
the Hering 1923 Vintage Harps. For traditional blues, especially when 
playing chords, the 7LJI sounds smoother and warmer and the 12TET chords 
tend to sound really harsh to my ears, and harmonica reeds tend to give off 
more overtones than most any other instrument, and I believe Pat Missin 
mentioned, if I'm not mistaken, many of those overtones, are of the odd 
numbered ones and odd numbered overtones usually sounds harsh to the human 
ear, much like the way distortion from many solid state amplifiers do 
because those are the overtones they emphasize (and tubes do the the 
opposite). Most people who are going to prefer the 12TET will usually be 
either the overblow players or those who play 99% linear in their approach 
with almost no chords or double stops.

The 19LJI was used by Hohner diatonics from about 1985-1989 (at least that's 
when those were here in the USA), but actually the Huang diatonics began 
using this when they first came out in the early 80's.

Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
MP3's: http://music.mp3lizard.com/barbequebob/