Re: [Harp-L] reed plate covers

The material of cover plates is not "usually" nickel. Because nickel is expensive, I doubt that solid nickel was ever used.

Cover plates are frequently plated brass. They used to be plated with nickel but so many people are allergic to nickel that the plating is now usually chromium. Chromium plating is more resistant to discoloration. It is much harder and thus more resistant to scratches.

Many diatonics such as Lee Oscar, Hohner Special 20, and probably many others appear to be unplated stainless steel. After iron, nickel and chromium are the largest components of SS alloys.

Some top-of-the-line harps are silver-plated brass.

I don't know what you are writing, but be very skeptical of any claims that choice of cover materials perceptibly affects sound. At SPAH97, there was a blind comparison of CX12s; one with black plastic and one with solid brass covers. None of the approx 30 listeners could detect any difference in sound.

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

----- Original Message ----- From: "Glenn Weiser" <celticguitar1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 10:09 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] reed plate covers


Gang-

Question-what are reed plate covers usually made of? Isn't it nickel or an alloy thereof?
I need to know for something I'm writing.

-Glenn Weiser
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