Re: [Harp-L] Comb test

[Matthew Smart <matthewsmart@xxxxxxxxx>]

I think that the most important thing about that test and in regard to whether after market combs are worth it is the performance! Tone differences cannot be heard by most when you compare similar materials like woods or wood vs Corian. Although Dave said he could hear the metal combs right away. 

The big thing is the resonance and seal. A plastic comb doesn't resonate well imagine if a guitar was made from abs plastic. It would have no tone. But this may be controversial but I will say it :

99 percent of stock combs whether aluminum, wood, plastic, etc ARE NOT Flat. That is the biggest reason aftermarket combs are better. The harmonica companies cannot afford to run combs on a lapping machine or hand flat sand them. I've tested them all  too, every manufacturer,  I have a huge box. Nearly every one failed a flat test. 

M

Hetrickharmonica.com

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 27, 2012, at 2:12 PM, David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> He definitely had contempt for that test - which I witnessed as a member of the audience. He must have spent 5 minutes arguing before the test started with stuff like "How do I rate them as sounding good? I mean, none of these are going to sound as good as my customs. So, how can I possibly say if they were good or not?" This went on for what seemed like forever. 
> If I hadn't been a paid representative of a harmonica company, I'd have said something. I so wanted to jump up and tell him to shut the h..l up.
> I was in audience, but paying attention and keeping track. I wasn't difference in the plastic or wood. I could get the brass about 90 or 95 percent of the time and that 5 or 10 percent of the time, I don't think the brass sounded like itself because the brass comb sounded really obvious to me. 
> 
> 
> David Payne
> www.elkriverharmonicas.com
> 
> 
> Elk River Harmonicas Forum now available via Iphone app, www.elkriverharmonicas.com/forum
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx>
> To: harp-L list <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
> Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2012 4:29 PM
> Subject: [Harp-L] Chris Michalek
> 
> At SPAH2010, I helped Brendan Power organize a blind test to determine if any of a panel of well-known players could distinguish among combs of different materials.  We did this by changing a variety of combs into the same set of covers and reedplates.  Members of the panel played the harp and noted their impressions of Power-chosen attributes.
> 
> Only Michalek wrote in the same rating for every attribute of every comb.  This could have been an honest indication that he could not distinguish differences.  However, I interpreted it as contempt for the test.   The other panelists cheerfully cooperated with the test protocol.
> 
> On another occasion, I had a pleasant interaction when he requested and I supplied the CNC program for cutting 270 combs.
> 
> With certain people, you must tolerate their quirks with amusement and admire their accomplishments.  From what little I know, Chris was a net plus.
> 
> Vern