Re: [Harp-L] Valved players unite!

["S.Doyle Yoder Sr" <doyle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> S.Doyle Yoder Sr writes:
> > Paul, I had asked this same question several years ago, when I first
> started
> > using valved harps.  The response was almost nil, causing me to believe
> that
> > the "Big Boys" thought them problematic, or maybe unnecessary.
> Michelle, replied
> Doyle, first off I'm a bit unclear about what you are calling "valved"
> harps.  Chromatic harmonicas are valved on both the blow and draw reeds,
> though many models don't include valves on the highest reeds as they are
> small enough to not cause a lot of leakiness.  The valves on a chromatic
> serve a different purpose than those on a half-valved diatonic.
Doyle Re-Replied:   Thank you so much, (and I do mean it)  for clearifying 
the difference between valved and half valved harps.  You are correct, when 
you took it, that I play half valved harps. ( If that is what the correct 
name for the "Pro-Valved harps" is.)  Although I've not heard them called 
half valved
  Michelle:   There is lots of fertile territory that is opened up for a 
harper by learning to play a
> half-valved diatonic.  They make you become a better player and they are a
> gas to play.
  Doyle:      I agree that they did help me a lot in learning how to bend 
and control bends.  And yes they are a lot of fun to play.
> http://www.ironmancurtis.com/index.shtml
>
> Of particular note:
>
> http://www.ironmancurtis.com/valvharp.shtml
Doyle had said:    I do know that they tend to stick and delay response a 
while, and as of yet I have
> not found a sure way to correct that problem.
>
> Michelle:   Huh?  If you are talking about half-valved diatonics, I have to 
> disagree.
> All the valves on a half-valved harp are on the bendable reeds, meaning 
> that
> the most problematic lower reeds (1-6; in tems of condensation) are valved
> only on the draw reeds.  Valves on draw reeds don't collect the 
> condensation
> that is carried by your exhaled breath so they usually are not the 
> offending
> ones when it comes to sticking unless they'e dirty or are hampered for 
> some
> mechanical reason.  The higher reeds (7-10) do get valves on the blow 
> reeds,
> but far less exhaled breath is required to make them sound so condensation
> isn't usually a problem there, either.  I can't even tell that my valved
> ProMaster has valves at all, except for the the added ability to bend 
> those
> reed that normally can't be bent on an unvalved harp.
Doyle:   The sticking problem has been mostly intermitent and yes it is do 
to condensation.  I do notice that as I became a little more experienced 
that this situation has deminished.

> > Doyle had said:   There are several songs that I keep my Pro-Valved harps 
> > for.  "Twilight Time", "Down Yonder", "Whispering Hope",  and one of my 
> > favorites" Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" are the ones that I can 
> > think of.  In all of these songs I use the valve on
> the 6 blow.     On" Rose of Sharon Waltz" I find the 7 draw valve 
> necessary.
>
> Michelle:   This is the statement that confuses me.  How do you use only 
> one valve on
> even a half-valved diatonic?  Do you mean that you only take advantage of
> the valves on those specific holes by applying the otherwise unavailable
> bends only on those holes?
Doyle:   If I were able to control a good over blow on the six hole, I would 
suppose that I would not need the assistance of the valve.   I am not sure 
if I have explained my self very well.  Probably due to my lack of any 
actual personal instruction in this area.
Michelle:  Or do you actually install valves only on those  reeds you 
mention?
Doyle:     I understand that there are valves on  reeds 1 through 6 of the 
lower reed plate, and 7 through 10 of the upper reed plate.  And since I 
learned to play most of the songs, that I mentioned, in first position, I 
used the assistance of the valve to allow for a blow bend in the six blow.
          Thank you for your reply that helped me to also understand better 
whwt som of you all have been talking about.  And believe me I can use all 
the help I can get to improve my playing.
Harmonica playing has helped change my out look on a lot of ideas, about 
music that is.

Doyle
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