Re: [Harp-L] Recording / Lee Oskars / Air leakage

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Alex - 

Could it be that the front edge of the cover has lodged between the front edge of the reedplate and the comb "fence" or mouthpiece? That's one source of leakage I've encountered before, and all it requires is removing the covers, loosening the reedplate screws, then realigning the parts and reassembling the harp.

Winslow

Winslow Yerxa

Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5

--- On Mon, 11/10/08, Alexander Savelyev <Alexander.Savelyev@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
From: Alexander Savelyev <Alexander.Savelyev@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Recording / Lee Oskars / Air leakage
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Monday, November 10, 2008, 6:02 AM

Hi, 

I decided to use the same rig as Lee Oskar does/did for recording harmonica -
Beyer M160 mic, Lee Oskar harps, decent preamp. I added M130 to M160 and
recorded a couple of solos in the M/S mode. Result? Wow, I couldn't believe
my ears, these ribbon mics get you such a mellow tone given you have one in your
head and throat:) With a decent reverb - just a bit, the sound is huge and
pleasing to the ear. No blues here, just some melody lines. 

Apart from success with the tone, etc., I had an extreemly annoying problem
associated with the air leakage that my Melody Maker appeared to have. As I
listen to the recorded tracks and then again check it in live by playing to
myself and listening I discover that harps leak air like a pump%$&???  I
check my another Melody Maker and the same story with that one. Then I pulled
out a couple of other Harmonic Minor harps - more or less same story depending
on the register - low keys primarily. Good sound, but in holes 1 thru 4 these
harps have obvious air leakage. I didn't expect that from Oskars - I check
the positioning of the reedplates, tightened the screws, checked the gapping,
etc. Almost no difference - I guess the comb and the reedplates are not flat and
100% sealed - hole dividers must be of different hight. 

Now a question goes like this: 

I know pretty well what to do with these harps in terms of gapping, sealing,
etc., I'd rather would like to know your experience with the newly purchased
Lee Oskar harmonicas (I know the harps are laying in the warehouse for a couple
of years before the get sold, but hopefully yours are fresh - I bought mine some
6 years ago and didn't play until now)? Any comments on air leakage of Lee
Oskars bought lately? Will I be free of extra fuss with finetuning them or
it's inevitable anyway? I'd rather buy a bunch of new harps free of such
unacceptable artifacts (if you compare such a harp wih the SP20 - it's like
night and day, I guess some bad quality control). Yes, and I talk about Lee
Oskar harps only. 

Thanks in advance, 

Alex

 








This e-mail message may contain confidential and/or privileged material. 
Delivery of this message to any person other than the intended recipient(s)
does not in any way waive privilege or confidentiality. 
The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to whom
or which it is addressed. 
Unauthorized use, disclosure or copying is strictly prohibited. 
The sender accepts no liability for the proper transmission of this
communication or for any delay in its receipt.


_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l