RE: [Harp-L] Tremolo

["Steve Shaw" <moorcot@xxxxxxx>]

> Buy a double sided G & C Hohner Comet
> (The Yellow Sandwich) I use it for zydeco tunes in
> both positions. The double octuves reeds sound 'like
> a diatonic accordian!  Eh-Twah!
>
> James Day

Thing is, if it really is a tremolo you want, a Comet isn't it.  It's 
double-reeded OK but the reeds are octave-tuned, so no tremolo effect.  I 
agree with what you say about them though.  My tremolos are double-sided 
Hohner Echos.  I have one in A/D and one in D/G.  They're OK (except for 
those endearing Hohner nails which are about two centuries behind other 
makers - sheesh) but they're tuned like a blues harp at the low end with the 
missing 4th and 6th in the lowest octave.  They are not tuned to equal 
temperament either (I think they are even further away from it than SP20s 
etc., though I'm not sure - I retune mine).  At least two people I know who 
play tremolos a lot more than I do recommend the Tombo Band Deluxe, the 
cheaper Tombo (name and number escapes me) or the Suzuki Humming Tremolo.  I 
may be being unfair to Huang here, but look out for quality control issues 
with their harps, going from my experience with their 10-holes.  Great if 
you're up for working on them, not so great if you're not.  And a tremolo 
that needs working on is a tougher proposition than a single-reeded harp.

Steve


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