[Harp-L] RE: Hole spacing on different harps (Was Seydel Blues Favorite)

[<alliance@xxxxxxxxx>]

Zig:  Well, Joe Filisko I am not, but I'll give you my opinion of the
double-reed plate harps he's made for me.  They are all in lower than
standard key harps (down to a low-C that he made me) . . . I know that
Howard played them almost exclusively (all keys) for a time . . . 

I think the idea was that the 'sound' would be bigger, which it is . . . As
far as bend and reed responsiveness . . . 

My experience (again, only with the lower harps) is that it takes more
effort because you have to bend it further (on both bends and overblows).
Also, there is more stress on the reeds, again because they have to bend
further (remember that harmonica bends include complimentary sets of reeds
bending towards each other).  

Finally, I have found it more 'challenging' to maintain a warm tone, they
sound more harsh to me, especially in a the studio; so I usually use the
single reed-plate harps in recording situations (except the low-C, which is
the only one that I've got) . . . 

This is probably not what you wanted to hear, but it's the best answer I can
give you . . .  

 

Paul Messinger/Chapel Hill NC

 

From: Don Z [mailto:dzeller@xxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2006 11:05 PM
To: Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
Cc: whitener@xxxxxxxxxx; alliance@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Hole spacing on different harps (Was Seydel Blues Favorite)

 

Zag, I mean Don, said:

"Zig,  I have a Seydel Blues Session with the plastic comb.  In this model,
the center-to-center hole spacing is slightly greater than other brand
harps.  Do you observe the same with the Blues Favorite Black?  I would
assume so, but would like to confirm.  

Zag... No, No! Make that CDon"

 

Don, I pulled out all my harps to compare and that is an  absolutely correct
observation: both of the two Seydels  do stretch the 10 holes out slightly
wider(7.75 cm) than Hohner( 7.2 cm), Hering (7.2 cm), or Oskar ( 7.3 cm).
The Blues Session has a substantially thicker comb(plastic) than the Blues
Favorite Black(black anodized aluminum) but from end to end they are the
same width, but the Session has larger square holes with thinner comb space
between reeds while the Favorite has narrower holes with thicker combspace
between which is slightly rounded/contoured with biconcave shape. 

To take it a step further, looking at comb thickness: listed from thinnest
to thickest: the Aluminum Blues Favorite black thinnest, then Marine Band,
then Golden Melody= Hering, then Seydel Blues Session=Lee Oskar=Special 20.

The Seydel Blues Favorite Black has the thickest reedplates BY FAR.  Can
someone more knowledgable than I please tell us what thicker reedplates
impart compared to thin?  Where's Joe Filisko when you have a question like
this!?  Paul Messinger: I know you know the answer to this one as you own
some Thick reed-plated Filisko and Sleigh harps!

Now you've got me wondering whether responsiveness of a harp as far as
bending/overblows is at all related to comb thickness or reedplate
thickness, as the Favorite seems so easy and the thicker combed harps(Oskars
and the Sessions) traditionally are poor , squaking overblowers.  (or is it
reed material, length to width ratios etc). I call for a scientific
investigation!

Zig, scientist