RE: [Harp-L] magnets

["John Balding" <John.Balding@xxxxxxxxx>]

I think the real question here, which I am surprised that no one picked
up on, is whether the magnets are ceramic or alnico. Surely the alnico
magnets would give a more vintage tone...

John Balding
Tallahassee, FL


-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Vern Smith
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 7:51 PM
To: Leonardo Kenji Shikida; Harp-L
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] magnets

Magnets placed near the reeds, if they have any effect at all, would
tend to 
dampen the vibration of the reed.  The reed is a conductor. The magnetic

field induces electrical currents in a moving conductor...the reed.
There 
is no large loop but there could be small loops within the reed in which

case the currents are called "parasitics". The effect may be very small
if 
the field is weak. The currents would convert mechanical vibrational
energy 
into heat.

The main effect would be that you would have to blow a bit harder to get
the 
same amplitide of reed vibration.  Magnets and shorted coils are placed
in 
micro balances to dampen their oscillations.

Magnets, because of their unseen fields, are favorites for scamming the 
non-technical consumer, especially the ones sold to be worn near the
body to 
allegedly alleviate pain.  If the body responded to magnetic fields, an
MRI 
scan would be instantly fatal because the field strengths used are
orders of 
magnitude greater than those from little permanent magnets.    If one
has an 
implanted pacemaker, then he must avoid strong magnetic fields because
that 
is how information is transmitted to change the pacemaker modes and 
settings.

Vern
Visit my harmonica website www.Hands-Free-Chromatic.7p.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Leonardo Kenji Shikida" <shikida@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "Harp-L" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:51 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] magnets


> from:
>
>
http://www.harponline.de/index.php?page=specials/hering/specials106_gold
blow_01&lang_id=en_GB
>
> Hering released new diatonic harps, customized for overs.
>
> Among several interesting characteristics, they're using magnets near
the 
> reeds.
>
> I am curious about what is the effect of such mechanism. How magnets
> change the harp sound? Do they influence over harmonics? Ou maybe do
> they make overs easier?
>
> What are your thoughts?
>
> TIA
>
> Kenji
> _______________________
> http://kenjiria.blogspot.com
> http://gaitabh.blogspot.com
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
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> 

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