[Harp-L] The Comb Debate

["Aongus Mac Cana" <amaccana@xxxxxxxxxx>]

At the Willie Clancy School a year or two ago, I remember that Rick Epping
remarked in passing while discussing another topic, that he had participated
in a recording session where a harmonica player presented with a harmonica
having some exotic comb material (i.e. not wood). He said that the sound
engineer picked up right away that the sound of the harp was as he put it
"too bright"
As Rick has fettled, designed, and built - not to mention played more
harmonicas than I have had hot dinners I am prepared to defer to his opinion
that there may be a perceptible sound difference to the educated ear or the
audio instrument arising from the use of different comb materials. 
I recall that he also did not think much of my simplistic engineering
proposal of achieving air tightness by using a paper gasket between reed
plates and comb.
Beannachtaí
Aongus Mac Cana