[Harp-L] Magic Harps

[Steve Baker <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As mentioned in other postings, Magic Dick and Pierre Beauregard  
patented a range of alternate tunings for the 10-hole. These are  
aimed at rendering the instrument more suitable for melody and  
related chord playing in various different styles without the  
necessity of overblowing. Hohner made them a bunch of prototypes  
based on the Classic Marine Band in the late 90s and I possess three  
of these samples. Jerry Portnoy was testing them for Dick & Pierre  
and used them during his time with Eric Clapton to play numbers such  
as Layla.

The ideas are great and without question allow you to play things  
which would be impossible on standard tuning. Unfortunately they  
possess the same potential advantages and disadvantages that  
characterize all alternate tunings (also for guitar). You need to  
learn your way around each one and draw a mental map to be able to  
use it in a musically meaningful fashion. How many guitarists can  
really cope with alternate tunings? My experience suggests maximum 10  
- 20%. I once asked Lee Oskar what proportion of his production was  
alternate tunings (natural minor, melody maker, harmonic minor). He  
told me all together 2%. Most harp players I know can't deal with  
country (major 7th) tuning, even though it offers enormous advantages  
and only one note is different from standard tuning.

Hohner need to make fairly large production runs to reduce the costs  
of retooling for each tuning and key. Dick and Pierre need to be able  
to offer the instruments at a competitive price. As there are a  
significant number of different tunings, all in different keys, you  
need to multiply each run by both those numbers to get the total  
number of instruments produced. The sums involved are considerable,  
so the whole thing has as yet not happened. These tunings are all  
patented and Dick and Pierre understandably want to market them  
exclusively, so it seems to be questionable whether both the  
economics and the protection of intellectual property can be reconciled,

Steve

Steve Baker
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