Re: [Harp-L] RE: Fatigue and Reed Life: An Objective Test?

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Apr 19, 2008, at 7:54 PM, Jonathan Ross wrote:

> Smo-Joe writes:
>
> "Also, I find it interesting that while Hohner made brass reeds for  
> all it's harmonicas AND accordions, no matter HOW expensive they  
> might be, they chose SS for Harmonetas."
>
> I am pretty sure that Hohner accordion reeds have been steel since  
> before World War II, the same as with most of that industry.  I  
> have an early 20th century 2-row diatonic Hohner which has steel  
> reeds, and I believe that is from the 1920s or so.

You're right Johnathan. I should have explained that further. Most of  
the cheaper diatonic accordions (like my Cajun model) use brass. The  
slightly better ones use blued steel. The large expensive accordions  
use blued steel. I think my brain had a twitch in it when I was  
writing. The point I was trying to make (I guess) was that you would  
think that an expensive premium grade harmonica would have had the  
"Harmie's" stainless steel reeds in light of the price. This tells me  
that Hohner didn't WANT the harmonicas to last as long. Given the  
price tag of an Amadeus or Silver Concerto, I think this is a shame.

When you buy a trumpet (even a cheap one) it is built for life. Mine  
is. Made in 1905. Try THAT with chromatics. I stand by my convictions  
that harmonicas (especially chromos) are designed to last a finite  
time. They can't help it. It's the reeds. I seem to be able to get 16  
years out of one. At which time, they get 'dull' and no amount of  
tuneing/hot rodding/re-vamping/race building seems to work. They just  
get tired.

smo-joey
>

>  ()()    JR "Bulldogge" Ross
> ()  ()
> `----'
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