Re: [Harp-L] Stainless steel vs. brass/other reeds



A test to confirm or deny the superiority of SS reeds would involve playing a large number of harps until the reeds failed on a blowing machine.  If the manufacturer's have done that, they have not reported it.  Statistically it won't mean much, but none of the reeds on my hard-working Saxony have failed.

The properties of SS are better than those of copper alloys in that steel has a fatigue limit and copper alloys do not. (Fatigue limit is the stress below which there is negligible fatigue)

There are no certainties,  but I think that SS is a good bet.  I think that the average SS reed will live longer than the average copper-alloy reed.  That said, the  probabilities may overlap so that the best bronze can reed can outlast the worst SS one. 

Vern



On Apr 15, 2011, at 10:10 AM, <bluesbent@xxxxxxxx> <bluesbent@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Seydel claims their stainless reed/reedplate "lives longer" - can anyone confirm? It's worth it to me to minimize changing out worn reedplates if their claim is true.
> Thanks in advance
> 
> --
> Larry Bloomfield






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