[Harp-L] re: 30 reed all bending harp

[Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Zombor wrote:

"Earlier I have been on the list, but now I am back
again. Finally I have developed the concept and a
prototype of a diatonic harmonica which

- has all bends for all notes (like the XB40)
- has 30 reeds
- is the size of a normal diatonic bluesharp
- sounds like a normal diatonic bluesharp

Has anybody done it before? Is there such a thing on
the market? Any interest?"

Congratulations.  That's a massive effort, and a working prototype is  
a huge step.  I've often made stabs and attempts at new and different  
designs, but the time and amount of effort tends to keep me from  
proceeding (I spend enough time during the week making musical  
instruments that I tend to be worn out for my own projects).

As for your questions, here goes:  Yes, it's been done before.   
Brendan Power was known to have developed a very similar instrument  
(30 reeds, etc...).  Similarly, Richard Sleigh was working on the  
responder-reed idea, though I'm not sure how far he got.  Both  
abandoned their plans after reading about Rick Epping's patent (I  
believe Brendan and Suzuki were looking into manufacturing when they  
found the patent).

That also answers the second question: there is no harmonica like  
this on the market.  The XB-40 is the closest thing out there, and  
it's quite possible that anything else would violate the patent (I'd  
have to see the actual design in question, but the two patents Rick  
holds are both exquisite and extensive).  Moreover, the slow sales of  
harmonicas such as the XB-40 and Suzuki Overdrive are evidence of  
little mass-market demand--most people just want a nice(r) Marine  
Band and that's it.

Which leads to the third question.  I have interest.  I'm sure others  
on this list are interested.  But the mass market doesn't appear to  
be all that interested.  Personally, I'm happy enough with the XB-40  
for this sort of thing.  A bit of modification (as with any stock  
instrument) and it can be quite nice indeed.  I'd be interested to  
see this, either in person (less possible) or on a website to get a  
better idea of the beast.

One question, though.  You say it has thirty reeds.  My assumption is  
that you use responder reeds to create the bends which are otherwise  
unavailable.  Thus, you would have responder reeds for blow notes 1-6  
and draw notes 7-10.  That's great, but it does leave you with two  
notes which don't bend a half-tone: draw 5 and blow 7.  These will be  
as standard, unless an alternate tuning than the standard German  
Major tuning is used.  I just point this out, as it helped me  
consider the XB-40 and how it is implemented.  I believe the choice  
there was to use responder reeds throughout to give the same amount  
of bending on every note (with the exception of the 3draw).  I wonder  
if that will end up being something which has limited sales, and if  
they had gone with a design more like yours (or Brendans) whether  
that might have helped.

I am interested in how your design works, and would love to see it  
produced.  Particularly, I'm wondering how you managed to isolate the  
reeds so that the responder doesn't engage when playing the other  
direction (ie, how you keep the responder reed in hole 1 from playing  
when you are playing the 1 draw).

I'd advise looking into patenting this, and if not patenting it  
making a thorough and possibly even public documentation of the  
design so as to protect your invention.

Again, congratulations on this.




 ()()    JR "Bulldogge" Ross
()  ()   & Snuffy, too:)
`----'