Re: [Harp-L] THE COMB DEBATE REVISITED: SPAH Test

[JohnnieHarp <johnnieharp@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Brendan,

Another thing you might investigate are cover plates. For instance
design, material, custom mods, etc.

As you are already going through the effort for comb materials, it
might be worthwhile to throw in some quick tests to see if further
investigation is warranted in other areas of harmonic lore and design.
For instance, is there a perceptible benefit to modifying cover plates
and cover plate materials? (ie opening up the backs, cutting side
slots, etc.)

I say this as I have switched around modified and non-modified cover
plates on the same harp and not been able to perceive the differences
that are often claimed to be had by modifying the cover plates. (ie
louder, different sound, etc)

Further, when I play a Harpmaster and a Bluesmaster in the same key, I
definitely “hear” differences in the sound of the two harps but when I
play back a recording of both harps switching back and forth, they
both sound the same to me.

Another issue is, even if the audience could / can tell the difference
between the sounds coming from different combs or cover plates, is the
difference significant enough to affect their opinion of the music.

The above testing assumes acoustic playing. Once a mic and amp are
added into the equation, combs / cover plates made of papermache or
stale bread likely would be non-differentiable from brass and birch.