Re: [Harp-L] reed plate covers

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Winslow Yerxa" <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>; "Glenn Weiser" 
<celticguitar1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 4:03 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] reed plate covers


> --- Vern Smith <jevern@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
> > 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.
>
> I could, and I wasn't even part of the test. Blackie Schackner had
> engaged me in conversation, and when I heard the changed CX covers I
> interrupted the conversation to listen because the sound was so
> strikingly different.

I did not find your recorded impressions in the result sheets.

There were times that a cover material was played several times in a row. 
As many of the participants did, you may have heard a difference that wasn't 
there.  I wish that you had  recorded your impressions so that they could 
have been scored with the others against the actual materials played.

Blind comparisons are necessary where human senses are involved in a 
comparison.  That's because even (or especially) the most sincere 
participants can be very certain and very mistaken at the same time. I don't 
believe that any deliberate deception is involved.  Many think that they 
have discrimination  that they cannot demonstrate under controlled 
conditions. I do not exempt myself. I know that my preconceptions influence 
what I perceive. ( I cannot imagine snails and insects tasting good!) 
Charles Shaw ,"Two-buck-chuck", won a gold medal at a recent wine tasting. 
I doubt that it would have happened if the judges had been able to see the 
labels.  It is just human nature.

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