[Harp-L] Spiral Tuning == Circular Tuning? YES!

[Robert Coble <robertpcoble@xxxxxxxx>]

I first saw the term "spiral tuning" in a Steve Baker book. I was 
immediately intrigued,
but AFIK no manufacturer (at that time) produced it in a commercial 
harmonica. I was
pleasantly surprised to see it promoted as Seydel's Zirkular (Circular) 
Tuning. Again,
AFIK these are the same tunings.

I owe John Broecker a debt of thanks for posting information about a 
Seydel Chromatic
Deluxe Baritone that he had purchased with Circular Tuning. His lowest 
note is C3,
one octave below middle C, with the standard A=440Hz reference pitch. I 
just ordered
a variation with the lowest note G3, the G below middle C, and a 
reference pitch of
A=442Hz. The total price was $136.00 (including shipping) through 
Rupert Oysler, the
Seydel USA rep. PLEASE NOTE: due to currency fluctuations, this price 
may NOT hold
good for future orders; the dollar is taking a beating in global money 
markets.

Why buy a custom-built harmonica? Because I wanted a GOOD chromatic 
that has
exactly the same note pattern as my set of Seydel Blues Session 
Circular Tuning harps,
with the slider raising every note by a half-tone. I practice primarily 
on the G (which is the
lowest standard harp) and which is actually based on the C major scale. 
So, I get chord
triads and extended chords on EVERY diatonic scale note for the keys of 
C-C#/Db AND
I get over 3 full octaves in range on a 12-hole chromatic.). Seydel 
builds these special
harmonicas from scratch to specification; they do not retune an 
existing harmonica.

My wonderful wife got her dream Christmas present (the latest Bob 
Timberlake
painting) and encouraged me to get my dream present - a Seydel 
custom-built and tuned
Chromatic Deluxe with Circular Tuning. Hopefully, it will arrive before 
Christmas.

I am SO EXCITED! I may actually learn to play this chromatic and use it 
on gigs!
Crazy ('bout all kinds of Circular Tuning harps) Bob