Re: [Harp-L] plastic comb vs wood ?

[Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yeah Mike, I think some of us were talking about 2 different things. Some of us (not me) were talking about the terminal sound coming from the harp. While some of us (me) were talking about the input end.

Now an engineer is interested in the FINAL result of their work. And this is fine. A business systems analyst (flow charter) has to BEGIN somewhere. So I would explain it this way:

IF the player is comfortable with their machette, they will probably do a better job. Without distractions. Sooo even though the audience is hearing one thing, the player is playing what THEY are playing. And if they are being distracted, this can hamper their performance. So, in the end, what does it matter exactly what sound is coming out if the player is fighting their axe. I never debated that comb materials mattered not as far as SOUND. My argument was FEEL. If it doesn't feel right, YOU don't play right. At least not at as high a percentage of execution. 

For example: I started on the Marine Band. A good harp but the reed plates were right in your face. So if you got one that was sharp, THIS would distract you and you had your mind on THAT instead of your creativity. So then you would 'bull nose' the tops of the top plate and the bottoms of the bottom plate. Ok, then if you were acetic (like me) eventually the covers would turn black, tarnish, and eventually the nickel plate would fail. Sooo, now you would have to clean that up OR the plates would cause drag. In the words of the Frankenstein monster: "Drag Baad". 

So then I heard people soaked harps. In cold water. The idea was that the water would tighten up the comb via swelling. AND the cold water would (somehow) shrink the tolerances of the reeds vs plates. How silly. The real thing to do was to just 'dip' the harp. The water on the reeds would then close up the reed slot tolerances via hydraulic presence. Would this change the pitch? Probably. It would probably drop a wee bit. Why? extra hydro weight on the reeds. BUT it would be evenly distributed. Was this necessary? Nope. Because the tines would swell past the reed plates. Leaving you 2 choices. Either razor the tines and always soak..or round off the tines. Rounded tines wouldn't have quite the 'sharp edged' attributes of sharp edged tines. So there's another thing to think about. 

A lot of people like the CBH chromatic. BUT the button is in the back of the harp. To someone whom is used to a button in front and playing a long time, this is distracting. I am a slide slapper and sometimes come from as far as a foot away to strike it. If it is not where I'm used to, I'm distracted..because I have to remember this nuance of that particular model. Ergo: "Distraction Baad". 

See, the way I see it. And I could be wrong. ANY distractions that take you away from what you are trying to concentrate on are negative waves. So, I maintain that if a person is doing fine with a particular harp set up in the way THEY think is best, then that's all that matters. They will feel right, they will have a better chance of playing right. They may even be more creative and let loose. BeCAUSE they are relaxed and comfortable with their instrument and both have become a team, so to speak, Each one complimenting the other. 

Oh, and before I forget (as if I could) most people can't tell the difference of a few cents here or there, or intonation on bends and over blows. Not unless they are wheeeey off. So, while you're playing, the attention will be more on WHAT you are playing and HOW you deliver it, OH, and note choices, than on 'sound minutae'. 

smokey-joe 
  

On Jun 9, 2013, at 2:28 PM, Mike Wilbur wrote:

> That's right Joe, Toms Combs are smooth as glass and again you will always play best with
> ( insert Goldie Locks Rule here ). The Putter, Harp, Fly Rod that's....just right !
> 
> Mike Wilbur
> 
> 
> 
> On Jun 9, 2013, at 2:09 PM, Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
>> I think most of the emPHAAsis was placed on the wrong SylABBle when it came to combs. Everyone seems to be worried about how they sound to the audience. What about the player? Like: the weight, the solid feel, the vibration(s), the mental feeling that the reeds are doing what you want. Maybe it's all psychosymantic, but if a player 'feels' a certain comfortability about how the harp feels and plays, couldn't this be an important factor? Could they not PLAY better because they feel what they are doing. Just a thought.
>> 
>> I am familiar with the Halchak combs...and they just feel right. Maybe it's all mental? Why else would people prefer certain models of harmonica. Meisterklasse, Saxony, 64 standard, 64 PRE-war, super 64, Amadeus, CBH16, Polestadt, Renaisance, Silver concerto. And in the realm of diatonics, the list is huge too. Just a thought.  
>> 
>> smo-joe 
>> 
>> On Jun 9, 2013, at 1:16 PM, Mike Wilbur wrote:
>> 
>>> Comb Material.........revisited.  :(
>>> 
>>> Mike Wilbur
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Jun 9, 2013, at 12:18 PM, "Tom Halchak" <thalchak@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> As a custom comb maker, I am tempted to but I won't get into a dissertation
>>>> about combs made from wood vs. plastic vs. aluminum vs. Corian vs. brass or
>>>> any other exotic material.  However, at SPAH this summer, I am planning to
>>>> conduct a workshop entitled, are you ready for this.........
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> THE GREAT COMB DEBATE
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> It will feature some famous players demonstrating identical harps with combs
>>>> made from different materials.  Those in attendance will be able to
>>>> participate in a friendly competition as they attempt to correctly identify
>>>> which harps are being played in a series of blind tests.  Prizes will be
>>>> awarded to the winner(s).
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> It's sure to be a lot of fun, spark some friendly debate and settle this
>>>> issue once and for eternity.  Stay tuned for further details.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Tom Halchak
>>>> 
>>>> Blue Moon Harmonicas
>>>> 
>>>> P.O. Box 14401
>>>> 
>>>> Clearwater, FL 33766
>>>> 
>>>> www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com <http://www.bluemoonharmonicas.com/> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> =======
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>>> 
>>