Re: [Harp-L] Bending on chromatics

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

You are correct in attributing lack of "bendability" to 
leakage.  My theory is that the leakage of the AC sound (not 
the DC breath) dampens the resonance of your embouchure that 
is required to pull the natural frequency of the reed to 
another pitch.

The price and the lack of a button may place a 
Hands-Free-Chromatic (HFC) outside the category of 
"chromatic" that you have in mind.  However, I believe that 
any HFC owner will confirm that its freedom from leakage and 
its "bendability" is unexcelled.

Modifying the U-channel of the mouthpiece to reduce 
clearance and leakage through the slide can substantially 
improve the performance of your 270.   This is an operation 
that can be done by certain technicians using special tools. 
It is described in Schackner's and Tate's books on harmonica 
repair. Almost all of the leakage in a chromatic occurs 
through the slide from the hole(s) being used to the 
adjacent holes.

Vern

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Ryan" <daveryan35@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 1:29 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] Bending on chromatics



Hi,

I'm new to the list. I just wondered if anyone had any 
recommendations for chromatics that bend particularly well? 
I have a Hohner 270 but it's very leaky and bends sound 
pretty awful on it.

Dave
_________________________________________________________________
More than messages–check out the rest of the Windows Live™.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l