Re: [Harp-L] The shapes of the covers

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

As harp-l's self-appointed, skeptical old curmudgeon, I hear the call of 
duty to bust another myth.

There is nothing about the acoustics of the harmonica that suggests that the 
covers play any role in the generation of the sound.  The covers define the 
shape of the sound passage from the reeds to your ear.  They might 
conceivably affect the coupling of the sound to the outside air as does the 
bell of a horn.  They might have a slight effect on loudness but not tone.

Because the human ear has a logarithmic response, small changes of sound 
energy are imperceptible.

I predict that in a blind comparison of machine-blown diatonics, listeners 
could not distinguish between groups of harps with covers and no covers 
(much less covers having minor design differences) by the sound alone.  I 
suggest that any effort to achieve nuances of tone (warm, bright, etc.) by 
means of cover design is wasted.

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

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>
To: <lavoie@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2008 2:57 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] The shapes of the covers


> Mark,
> What effect do vented covers (Big River, Marine Band) have as  compared to 
> unvented covers (Mesterklasse, Golden Melody, Promaster)  or very slightly 
> vented vented covers (Proharp)?
> JP
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