Re: [Harp-L] triple vs quadruple reed harps

[Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Genius, pure genius. 
smo-joe

On Sep 14, 2012, at 10:10 PM, Richard Sleigh wrote:

> One of the things that makes the SUB 30 a lot more like a standard diatonic is that the three reeds all share the same chamber. In the XB 40, there is a separate chamber with the valves in it that directs the air to additional chambers that each have  two reeds. This results in the extra thickness of the comb. It also creates different internal acoustics, so the tone of the harmonica is, to my ears, unique. It has some of the qualities of a chromatic & some of the qualities of a diatonic, but also a sound all it's own.
> 
> With the XB 40, your breath takes a more circuitous route before it gets to the reeds. I think one reason why they last longer is the extra distance between your breath and the reeds, as well as the constrictions that the air must go through, creates a buffer zone that shields the reeds from extremes of attack. Plus the XB 40 is naturally louder because there is more resonant space to boost the vibrations. Just like the same string on a guitar with a big body sounds louder than if it were on a small body guitar. 
> 
> With a smaller harp, the tendency is to hit it harder to make it louder, and the reeds are getting a direct hit from your breath. 
> 
> One thing that will take some new techniques and general getting used to on the SUB 30 is this: the way you play it can cause the extra reeds to play sometimes when you don't want them to. Three reeds. one wind-saver, means that part of the time you have two reeds in play and one cut off by a wind-saver. The rest of the time you have three reeds exposed to the breath, and one of them rests in the slot to resist the air flow. This third reed can break free and start vibrating under the right conditions (well, really, the wrong conditions - cause you don't want this to happen...) It could be the bending embrochure supporting an overtone or vibration that is close to the pitch the reed is tuned to, causing it to start vibrating. 
> 
> I am learning where this happens, and it is either during a bend with a lot of air pressure, or if I play the wrong chords or double stops. So finessing the air pressure and embrochure is part of the learning curve.
> 
> I believe that a combination of playing technique and reed set-up will eliminate these problems, but it will take some time to sort out, and will be different for different keys.
> 
> Richard Sleigh
> 
> P.O. Box 23
> Boalsburg PA 16827
> 
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