Re: [Harp-L] making my own "melody maker" - question

[G <gigs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi John,
  Go for it.  A couple of semitones is usually no problem with blow hole 3
reed. 
Melody Maker(tm) is a practical tuning to do yourself.  For low reeds of
most harps its more work to replace them than to retune the existing reeds
a few semitones.  

  When replacing reeds, use reeds that are the same dimensions, in many
cases you can find reeds of the same dimension that are higher or lower in
pitch to the reed you are replacing.  Sometimes because of the rivet hole
location, they may not seat center, in which case you need to enlarge the
REED's rivet hole (not the reedplate's), to allow some adjustment as you
progressively tighten the rivet.

  Its a bit more work but you can use longer reeds for replacement, as long
as they are the same width.  Then you can carefully trim the reed to proper
length using an equalling file, supporting the reed with feeler stock or
similar, but it can be time consuming, and you need to keep checking
regularly as you bring it down to size.

Cheers,
-- G.

Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 15:16:06 -0400 
From: "John Kerkhoven" <solo_danswer@xxxxxxxxxxxx> 
Subject: [Harp-L] making my own "melody maker" - question 
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 

>How far can one safely raise the pitch of a reed?
>I'd like to convert a standard Special 20 into a "Melody Maker"
>(Lee Oskar Melody Maker tuning).
>
>This requires upping the 3 blow a full tone and upping the 5 and 9
>draws a half tone.
>
>I'm not worried about raising reeds half a tone, but is it alright
>to raise the 3 blow reed a full tone, or am I better off replacing
>that reed with one of a higher pitch -- though it seems to me that
>it's a bad idea to have a reed too short for the slot for reasons
>of air leakage.
>
>Thanks,
>
>John