RE: [Harp-L] Reed Tune-A-Matic

["Jim, \"Turbodog\" Antaki, \(PhD\)" <turbodog@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks so much for your insights, Phil.
 
I was actually thinking in terms of intonation/temperment.  Some players are
really finicky (no disrepect intended, Pat Missin) about a few cents here
and there. Sure you could use an electric tuner, but I was envisioning an
equal number of players making the adjustments by ear.  Like some guitar
players - by listening for beats and/or dissonance.  I'm sure the Iceman
would concur.
 
BTW - I found a low-cost alternative to exhorbitantly expensive strobe
tuners - if anyone is interested. Its a "virtual" tuner you run on your PC
(I think there's even a smartphone app.) 
 
Most obliged
TD


  _____  

From: philharpn@xxxxxxx [mailto:philharpn@xxxxxxx] 
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 2:35 AM
To: turbodog@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Reed Tune-A-Matic


This idea sounds feasible for just about every harmonica. Even though they
are "tuned at the factory," many harps are not playable out of the box
without some adjustment.. Also, unlike guitars that can be tuned up and used
by any player regardless of skill or attack, there is much variation among
harmonica players on how hard or soft they play the harp, which affects the
tuning. This device would let everyone tune up to his or her own playing
style. Once set up, the harp would play in tune rather than required an
embouchure adjustment for each reed. 


Which reeds would need the adjustment? All. Then everybody would need
special tuners to calibrate their harps!

Phil Lloyd



-----Original Message-----
From: Jim, "Turbodog" Antaki, (PhD), (PhD) <turbodog@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:51 pm
Subject: [Harp-L] Reed Tune-A-Matic


Friends,



While fooling around with the "TurboSlide" harmonica - the one that uses

magnets to bend the pitch, an idea came to me.   Whereas the Seydel version

can bend up to 1-1/2 steps, I was hoping to achieve the same effect by

modifying a brass-reeded harp.  (By modified, I mean that I add a small

patch of magnetic paint to the underside of the reed.) But I was barely able

to get 1/2 step bend. Then it occurred to me: why not use this effect to

provide fine-tuning, and thereby obviate the painstaking and reed-damaging

filing operation. 



(In engineering, this is an example of the precept, "If you cannot fix it,

feature it.")



In other words, I could equip a harmonica with a tuning screw that would

provide continuous pitch adjustment - like the tuning head of a guitar, for

example.



So my question to you - would any of you use such a feature? And if so,

which reed(s)do you most frequently find in need of fine-tuning?  And would

50 cents (1/4 step) make it worthwhile?



Thanks in advance for your constructive feedback.



Turbodog