Re: [Harp-L] Re: Re:cupping.an odd effect (hazcon)

"hazcon" <hazcon@xxxxxxxxxx> · Wed, 20 May 2009 13:20:51 +1200

Ok i see what you mean Greg,it never occurred to me that the problem as such 
was air leaking along under the covers, only that the back pressure air was

coming out through the back of the harp.I take your point.Sneaky stuff that 
air.;-)
          My next experiment is to build an airtight ridge on the combs and 
covers two faces to seal off holes 6 to 10 from the low(cupped) holes.

That will stop or at least ameliorate the effect that you outline below and 
coupled with tape over the back of the same holes should(might) give the 
same result as a pro's cup.

            This harp will not be pretty ;-0

Now where did i put that bluetack

Rick

back in NZ
              I am still puzzled about how totally sealing the back dosen't 
seem to affect the volume or timbre of a harmonica  though

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Greg Heumann" <greg@xxxxxxxxxxx>

To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:01

Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Re:cupping.an odd effect (hazcon)
Rick,  that is exactly my point. A good tight cup that seals the rear  is 
NOT enough. YOU HAVE TO SEAL THE FRONT. The air goes into one hole,  and 
then can flow back out, under the covers, back through all of the  other 
reeds and out the front. The air moves too freely and we don't  get the 
desired effect. Try this - cover holes 5-10 with tape on the  front. Put 
the rest of the harp in your mouth. Cup it with your hands  to seal the 
back side. Now blow. If you can blow or draw through all 4  holes,  then 
put your tongue over the 1st 3 holes, bingo, you're  tongue blocking and 
you get a single note. But even with the 4 hole  chord you should hear a 
much bigger difference as you open and close  your cup.
/Greg
From: "hazcon" <hazcon@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: May 19, 2009 4:51:30 PM PDT
To: "Greg Heumann" <greg@xxxxxxxxxxx>, <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Re:cupping.an odd effect

When a similar thread popped up a while ago i did some 
experimenting.This was because i am a 100% puckerer so am unable to  get 
that cheek block thing really going.

         What i did was tape up the back of the harp with a sticky 
paper* postage label to completely seal off the back of the harp to  sort 
of imitate someone doing a 'proper' cupping seal i.e. no air or  back 
pressure being lost from the cup back through the high end  holes.I had 
my doubts as to whether or not the harp would even work.

   But what amazed me was that this made no discernable difference  to 
the 'sound' of the harmonica at all in either volume or timbre!

With all the talk about comb materials,cover apertures etc here i am 
with a sealed off harp at the back and it sounds as close as dammit  the 
same.

Now i'd have to admit that compared to some on the list i have  probably 
got cloth ears but shouldn't something so radically counter  intuitive be 
blaring noticeable?

           So is this the 'poor mans 'way of achieving a good cup(it 
after all does prevent any back pressure leakage) or am i on a  different 
planet.

* in case paper was too porous i got the same effect when i used  that 
rubbery stretch duct tape, now that is airtight.

Rick
on Mars

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