Re: [Harp-L] reeds

[Rick Dempster <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks Vern;Of course! Why didn't I think of that?
RD

On 27 September 2012 06:06, Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> IF a reed is straight at rest, then it must bend downward into a curve to
> enter the slot.  All of the bending can not and should not occur right at
> the rivet end.  The bending and the stress that it causes need to be spread
> over the length of the reed for longer life.  If the reed has a gentle
> upward curve, (tangent to the plate at the rivet and passing through the
> upper extent of the gap) then it straightens out as it bends down to enter
> the slot.  Thus the initially-curved reed seems best to meet the
> flat-when-it-closes door analogy.
>
> Sissy Jones' method makes a lot of sense to me.  Before she retired, she
> probably gapped more reeds in a day than most of us do in a year.
>
> The truth may be that it doesn't make much difference and we are splitting
> hairs
>
> Vern
>
>
> On Sep 26, 2012, at 10:24 AM, Mike Fugazzi wrote:
>
> > The correct way is whatever works for you.  I think some terms like reed
> > arc/curve are misleading, as the goal initially was to REMOVER the
> > arc/curve.  At any rate, my preference is straight with the gap coming
> from
> > an angle towards the back of a reed.  Richard Sleigh does a fantastic job
> > describing this in his book.  I've see the analogy of a closing door
> > credited to Joe Filisko.  That is a good way to think of it too.
> >
> > If you look at a current stock harp, you'll see that they are fairly flat
> > to begin with, but often vary in how they sit within the reedslot.  As a
> > general rule of thumb, I've found that flat reeds gapped approximately
> the
> > width of the reed tip is a good starting point.  I say general, as
> factors
> > such as key of the harmonica and the force with which you play is going
> to
> > influence your gaps.
> >
> >
> >
> > On Wednesday, September 26, 2012 11:10:36 AM UTC-5, Brian Stear wrote:
> >>
> >> As Iâve actually just started to take to gapping my harmonicas ( funny,
> >> Iâve always tuned the octaves and such and didnât think about gapping )
> I
> >> too, would like to know the correct way. Iâve seen them straight, and
> >> straight with a slight curve from 1/2 the way up on the reed. Thank God
> >> they play either way! Maybe Steve Baker or someone else from Hohner,
> >> Suzuki, etc. can set us ânewbiesâ straight.
> >>
> >> Brian
> >>
>
>
>
>


-- 
Rick Dempster
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