Re: Subject: Re: [Harp-L] 270 Brass Comb?

[Larry Sandy <slyou65@xxxxxxxxx>]

Elizabeth, I assembled a brass comb 10 hole using MB replacement reedplates slightly tweaked and flattened surrounded by Big River SS covers.  It is definitely my favorite F harp.  Plenty loud and very easy to play.
 
I also have three 364's with Chris' brass combs, which I dearly love.  I don't know if they play louder but I feel the vibrations more, I believe, than with my wooden combs.  Their heft is no problem with me but I do not think they yield better control.  
 
I would love to use more brass but lately my upper and lower lips feel kinda weird and less sensitive after playing thru them for just a few minutes.  Regretably I'm probably becoming allergic to brass.
 
I do recommend you give brass a try, with expectations you will love it.
 
Are you coming to Virginia Harmonicafest this week?  I'll have them with me.
 Lockjaw Larry
 

From: "EGS1217@xxxxxxx" <EGS1217@xxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Cc: 3N037@xxxxxxxxxxx; joe_hagins@xxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2014 3:47 PM
Subject: Subject: Re: [Harp-L] 270 Brass Comb?


Well, whether Smokey thinks it's 'that much louder' to an onlooker, I  can 
attest that it actually is--as can anyone else who's heard him play that  
particular chromatic compared to his other normal chroms. In the afternoon  
Lobby Jams at SPAH Smokey has the disconcerting habit of playing much too  
quietly--making everyone strain to hear him...especially in the very noisy  
clatter of voices surrounding the players--hallway traffic, loud laughter, etc. 
I remember in Minnesota where from just a few feet away (granted it was a 
huge  area shared by everyone--even the vendors' store through some doors 
probably 20  or so feet away), I could hear everyone else in the Jam during 
their turns  except Smokey--and I have excellent hearing.


Another time, when he put down one chromatic and picked up his bronze  
bodied one, the difference in sound was quite dramatic to my ears. I'd heard  
this before--turning around to see just who was now playing, surprised  to see 
it was still Smokey - on a different harp. I LOVED its sound.


Personally, I don't care about all the naysaying from those who can't  tell 
the difference, since I attribute it to their own particular hearing (or  
lack thereof). I know what I can hear--as do so many others of us--and it 
cannot  be dismissingly attributed to 'expectations' since in most of these 
cases  there were none. I've always believed no one really knows precisely what 
it  is others can or cannot hear. It's never been an 'exact science' but  
depends on the individual and their body and head cavities.


When I put wood covers on one of my several Super 64's the sound was  
immediately 'muted' compared to the others--and noted by other chromatic  players 
I played to--even though a couple of them hadn't yet seen the  chromatic.

**Ok. This happened at a Garden State club meeting. Charlie Toker (a  
beautiful chromatic player who led his own band) was sitting far across the  room 
as I went up to play. Charlie rarely looked at the player during these Open 
Mics--keeping his head down looking at the table top or floor as he cocked 
an ear towards the player while listening 'hard'. My long hair and long  
scarf contributed to hiding the instrument. I did occasionally glance  
towards Charlie and Phil --since their opinions mattered. Charlie never looked  at 
me but I saw a quizzical look on his face throughout and after the applause 
he immediately called out asking what on earth I'd been playing--'that's 
not  your usual chromatic, is it' as he peered towards me. Like me, his eyes  
were bothered a lot by the fluorescent fixtures in the room. He then came 
right  over and before so much as seeing the chromatic  said my playing was 
very different that night--good, but  different. What WAS it I'd been 
playing? When I showed him he was  entranced by the covers (custom made  
inexpensively by a Slidemeister member who no longer does  this)...and commented that 
'there was a completely muted sound he had never  heard before from me--he'd 
no idea why that would be until he saw the wood  covers, then it made 
sense'.**
PS: Charlie had great ears and usually played very 'bright'  himself. He 
excelled at Klezmer type music. I still miss hearing him.


The weight wouldn't be a problem for me either--one of these days I will  
buy a brass comb from Chris--likely for my Super 64 (if the ones he'll  make 
for the 280's fit). I like the heft of a heavier chromatic. If Val  Redler 
Caltabellotta (who's a tiny woman) could play a big 48 chord and lug it  
around everywhere, I can certainly play a heavier 16-hole chromatic. In  
actuality I feel the weight would give me better control? Ymmv.

Elizabeth

"Message: 7
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 14:51:08 -0400
From: Joseph Leone  <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] 270 Brass Comb?
To: joe  hagins <joe_hagins@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Harp L Harp L  <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

I have a comb made from porous bronze.  (basically same as brass). I L O V 
E it. Most people can tell when I use it.  Mine IS louder. But I don't think 
it is really that much more so. Important  thing for me was to cut voids 
throughout the comb in places where it wouldn't  hurt anything. Otherwise the 
comb ALONE will weigh well over a pound. MY 270  weighs 14.5 ounces total. 

smokey-joe 

On Mar 22, 2014, at 11:40  AM, joe hagins wrote:

> So I have been thinking of replacing my 270's  wood comb with a brass 
unit from Blow Your Brass Off. Now I know that there is  debut about if the 
material of the comb actually makes a difference, but I am  more focused on if 
my stock 270 will be any louder. My main reason for brass is  that it will 
last for ever it's not plastic. 
> 
> What do you guys  think?
> 
> Cheers,
> Joey