Re: [Harp-L] Results of HHC/ERIFAHS Informal Comb Test

[David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The $1,000 wager is a huge non-motivating thing for me because I have such a huge dislike for gambling. I've said this for years, having children to feed, I do not have $1,000 and will not risk $1,000 that my children need, even if I were betting somebody that the sky is blue. Even if I did, I am so against gambling on moral grounds, that I wouldn't do it, even if I were betting that the sky is blue, and I don't want anybody putting up money on my behalf. 

I think my material choice would be flat brass vs. recessed reedplate plastic. The ditty of my choice would probably be for someone with a relaxed embouchure playing a sustained 1 blow.  If they are playing actual songs, I'd never be able to do it. What I really like about this test you have proposed here is that the question is very simple, "Same or different." 

 
David Payne
www.elkriverharmonicas.com


Elk River Harmonicas Forum now available via Iphone app, www.elkriverharmonicas.com/forum


________________________________
 From: Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx>
To: David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
Cc: Harp L Harp L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 2:17 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Results of HHC/ERIFAHS Informal Comb Test
 
Wow!  100%accuracy!  That is impressive.  Sounds like you are the person to win my $1000 wager.  If you can really do that, it would be like taking candy from a baby!

You wouldn't even have to name the material, only state whether each successive play was the same or a different material from the previous one.  Any two materials..e.g. brass & wood would be your choice.  

Conditions:
- Four otherwise-identical harmonicas, two of each material. 
- You keep them for a week before the test to practice with them....learn to recognize the characteristic sounds of the materials.
- Retuned by a mutually-acceptable third party.
- Reedplates switched around by Vern
- 51 plays of a ditty of your choice.
- You call "same" or "different"
- Choice among 4 harps determined by roll of a die. (5 or 6, roll again)
- Scoring and stake-holding by a mutually-agreeable third party.
- Neither one of us sees or touches the harmonicas during the test.
- If you can get 38 or more correct (>75%), you win the $1000
- If you get 37 or less correct (<75%),  I win the $1000


Vern

On Oct 30, 2012, at 7:45 PM, David Payne wrote:

> Tonight, the Huntington Harmonica Club and Elk River Institute of Advanced Harmonica Studies joined forces in the midst of Hurricane Sandy blizzards for an informal comb test. This is
>  important stuff we are doing and junk.
> There were two tests using my ear as the discerning ear. This was done during a break in a crowded room of folks who had come to hear the harmonica club at the pizza place - there was even a
>  little girl's birthday party in there. One with wood vs. plastic. I could correctly identify wood or plastic about 2/3 of the time. We didn't really keep track and I make no claims from that test. The wood vs, plastic test wasn't all that serious, the one I was really interested in was plastic vs. metal.  
> The idea was I have my back turned while two identical notes on two near identical harmonicas were played back to back. So, I hear one, then the other and say "harmonica 1 has a metal comb,"
>  or whatever. THey were both Suzukis, coverplates looked pretty similar to me, reedplates the same. 
> Once I got cocky, and only listened to only one and identified it wrong. 
> 
> But otherwise, when I actually did the test as I supposed to, listening to them both, then making a call, a very distinct pattern emerged. Six times we did the test. I identified the metal comb
>  correctly all six times.
> Jim Rumbaugh was the guy playing the two harmonicas. I have no desire to thrust him in the debate, but if he wishes, he could merely add one of two things:
> 1) These things David Payne says are facts.
> 2) These things David Payne says are lies. 
> Now, I'm not good with math, but I think the odds of me correctly identifying the two combs correctly six consecutive times by mere happenstance is 64 to 1.
> 
> 
>  
> David Payne
> www.elkriverharmonicas.com
> 
> 
> Elk River Harmonicas Forum now available via Iphone app, www.elkriverharmonicas.com/forum