Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Re: Vermona 48 Chord Harp

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

The material you're talking about might actually be leather..just really  
old and so dried up so as to be unrecognizable by now....or, something 
someone  used as a substitute somewhere along the line. You've already re-valved, 
but at  some point should you decide to re-valve yet again in a perhaps more 
authentic  way, you might wish to try the ultra-suede used by PTGazell and 
later Brendan  Power, although I'm not sure about its use for a chord. (PT  
half-valves his diatonics). It seems to be a very good non-popping 
replacement  for diatonics and chromatics. (Lots of valve material discussions are in 
 the Slidemeister archives as well).  Either PT or Brendan might have  some 
info posted somewhere on how they use that material
 
It does sound like a fun (and exciting) project and Dave Payne's  videos 
would also be a good source for consultation..I believe he still has one  
posted one on his site showing a step by step refurbishing of a 10 hole  
chromatic.  Great stuff. Walter (Wally) Peterman is also a great chord  
player/customizer/fixer who could probably be a source of information...although  I'm 
not sure he has enough time to post here very often.  
 
Elizabeth
 
AC writes (snipped)
 
"Aside from that the harmonica is in great shape. When I opened it up  I
realized why it sounded so bad: all the windsavers were non-functional.  
They
are made of some kind of cardboard looking material and almost look  like
they got wet and later dried out completely. They are basically "frozen"  in
place with just enough gap to let some sound through, but not much.  I
re-valved a section of the harp and cleaned up some residue that made  some
reeds stuck and it now sounds great! It will take me a while to  finish
valving the whole thing, but I should be done with it in a couple of  weeks 
-
pretty exciting stuff!" 

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