[Harp-L] XB-40 retuning

[dmf273@xxxxxxxxx]

I remember trying one of the first prototypes of the XB-40 at a SPAH. Rick  
Epping gave me about an hour alone with it and that was all it took for me  
to recognize how it could be improved. Making every hole bend a whole step  
(except the 3 draw to keep it close to Richter) is arbitrary and not  
musically optimal. To me it makes more sense to tune the responder reeds so  
that every note in the chromatic scale has a stable home, either fully bent  
to the max, or unbent. Those in-between bends are just too easy to  
overshoot. And the responder reed system actually makes it easier to play  
bends in tune than with a standard 20 reed harp because you can tune the  
responder reeds a little bit flat so that the fully bent note is perfectly  
in pitch. (Pat Missin tuned my XB-Melody harps.)

I chose Melody Maker tuning for other reasons, but my idea should work with  
other tuning schemes too. But I'm not sure if its possible to give all 12  
notes each a stable home with Richter tuning. Maybe Winslow or someone else  
can confirm that. Once again, here are my XB-Melody demos for anyone who  
hasn't seen them already.

http://youtu.be/Hbvh8-coLqw "Moody's Mood for Love"

http://youtu.be/H6ksUBFk9So "I Say a Little Prayer (medley)"