Re: [Harp-L] comb material

["Joe Spiers" <joemopar@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I did the "music box" test, plinking harmonica reeds while holding the 
plate firmly against my wooden desktop. On some reeds, it wasn't 
louder. On some it was certainly louder, as in night and day, anyone 
could hear this. I didn't try different desktops made of plastic, 
metal or tonewoods though, just a cheapo computer desk. If anyone 
wants to stop by, I will be happy to demonstrate. It made a difference 
where I held the reedplate with my fingers, and which edge of the 
plate contacted the wood. This suggests to me that the plates could 
transmit vibration to the comb (and also that nails vs. screws make a 
difference in this context while we're at it?). The comb can then 
transmit vibration to the covers, which can then transmit vibration to 
your mouth, which is pretty close to your ears. Maybe the ears sense 
vibration through this path (a built in "monitor" if you will)- and my 
theory is that your brain combines the total of this and the 
vibrations transferred by the eardrum. The mass and resonance of comb 
materials would then matter, and would explain why many hear a 
difference between metal, plastic and wood. Maybe some frequencies 
that your eardrums can't transmit can make it through this path, or 
maybe it just "fattens up" some that you normally do. Maybe the 
different combs do a better job of transferring vibration to the skull 
and it resonates too. Just ideas here, maybe it's been hashed out 
before.

Have you ever stuck your finger in your ear while the band was playing 
to check and make sure you had the right harp when you didn't know 
what key they were in? Or even played that way? The band's way too 
loud and your finger's in your ear, but you can clearly hear your 
harmonica, or at least I can.

I think that materials throughout the harmonica can potentially impact 
the player with healthy hearing and acutely in tune with his senses, 
but not the listener- because they don't have this built-in "monitor".

To say that "if the listener can't hear it, it doesn't matter" isn't 
entirely true, because if the instrument is offering something that 
inspires the player, the listener can also benefit. IMO.