Re: [Harp-L] Re: The Comb Debate

[Michelle LeFree <mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

 Rick Epping wrote:
> ...I doubt that the comb material per se affects the sound of the harmonica,
> but I do think that the comb's mass and hardness can affect the efficiency
> of the reeds' performance, by how much the comb either absorbs or reflects
> their vibration as transferred through the reed plates.

Yes...

> And if a reed plate
> can't transfer a reed's vibrations, why is it that when plucking the reeds
> of an unmounted 270 Super Chromonica reed plate, the reed tuned closest to
> the resonant frequency of the plate itself always sounds dull, only to ring
> normally once mounted onto the comb?  It seems as if the loose reed plate is
> vibrating sympathetically with the reed tuned closest to it, thereby
> absorbing some of its energy.  Once mounted directly onto a comb, the reed
> plate has no effective resonant frequency itself but rather contributes to
> the resonant frequency of the plate/comb assembly, which is lower than the
> pitch of any of the reeds and unlikely to vibrate as much.

Yes, yes...

> ...So a comb vibrating along with the reeds is thus perhaps not a good thing in
> that, like the reed plate, it would thereby absorb energy from the reeds and
> detract from their ability to swing freely, affecting
> their response and loudness, if not tone.

Yes, yes, yes...

> A hard, high-mass comb might
> resist vibrating along with the reeds more than a flexible, low-mass comb,
> leaving the reeds unimpeded and unaffected.  A soft gasket between the reed
> plate and comb would partially isolate the plate from the comb, preserving
> some of its ability to vibrate sympathetically and absorb energy from the
> reeds.
>
> Best regards,
> Rick

I'm with you all the way, Rick!

Thanks as always for sharing your unique expertise and perspectives.

Michelle