Re: [Harp-L] Low octave blow bends

[Mojo Red <harplicks@xxxxxxxxx>]

PT Gazell sets up all his harps with a "halve-valved" configuration which allows valved blow-bends on the low end and valved draw-bends on the high end. PT is an amazing  player who uses this set up to play chromatically on his diatonic harps.

I understand that you now can get harps set up with the "Gazell method" of half-valving through Seydel.

Harpin' in Colorado,
--Ken M.


________________________________
 From: Mike Best <mike.best@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx" <Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Friday, June 8, 2012 11:50 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Low octave blow bends
 
I recently bought a tricked-up Golden Mel in G from a guy in Latvia, just to see what it would be like. Turned out to be very airtight, responsive, easy to OB holes 4 5 and 6, a vast improvement from out-of-the-box

One of the things he has done is put windsavers on 1 2 and 3 draw. The effect of this is that I can't OB these holes, but I can bend the blows down. It's a bit harder to control than the upper octave blow bends and I don't know whether I will bother trying to master it, but I thought it was interesting nevertheless

Is this a common mod to diatonic harps? Does anyone out there use this?

Cheers
Mike