Re: [Harp-L] Customizing XB-40

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

You can re-bend, openup, and arch covers on an XB-40; I've done that with some of mine.

You can do embossing and reed arcing; have also done those things. 

However, there's not much you can do with the comb. beyond perhaps flattening. The comb of the XB-40 is a complex series of ductwork that make the whole thing work; it's impossible to replace with an aftermarket comb because:

1) It's patented (though some of the patents covering the XB-40 have expired)

2) It's very complex and would cost a fortune to make by hand

3) It's doubtful that a custom comb would improve on the original.

4) Reducing the thickness isn't practical - all that space is need for the internal workings. The XB-40 comb is actually two combs that form three stacked sets of internal air chambers, with valves inside the innermost chamber that need vertical clearance for their movement.

The XB-40 is the same dimensions as a 10-hole chromatic. For  anyone who plays standard chromatic, this form factor is normal.

But for diatonic players who don't play chromatic, yes the XB-40 is huge.

Then there's the SUB-30. Brendan Power and the Suzuki engineers worked hard to get it to the same dimensions as a standard 20-reed diatonic. In so doing they came up with a harmonica that plays very well (though early production models have had the problems that have been discussed here in some detail). 

However, they also had to sacrifice some of the qualities that I value in the XB-40: 

-- The loudness of the SUB-30 is similar to a standard diatonic, while the XB-40 can be driven to amazingly high volumes.

-- The XB-40 has a dedicated bending reed for every note in the harmonica, giving it great flexibility in bending. 

-- And the XB-40 allows you to bend two notes at once without having the responder reeds make unwanted sounds - a big element in its design and something that the SUB-30 does have a problem with.

For all its advantages, the XB-40 hasn't seen widespread acceptance, though, due to its differences from the standard 20-reed diatonic. The SUB-30 certainly has the edge in form factor and in overall similarity to the familiar 10-hole. But it still requires players to approach the instrument on its own terms. Whether players take to it in great numbers remains to be seen.

Winslow
 
Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
            Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
            Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance


________________________________
 From: Edward Hart <hooligan6a@xxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Thursday, November 1, 2012 5:43 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] Customizing XB-40
 
Is anyone doing anything with the XB-40?  Combs or cover plates? Anything to make is more comfortable to play? i like playing it,  but it is so big. can anything be done with it?