[Harp-L] The "newest" Stradivarius of Harmonicas!

Sat May 7 15:13:28 EDT 2016

Thanks for posting this. I like the idea of a challenge with a prize, it’s like the James Randi $1 million for proof of paranormal things that has also never been claimed.

This speaks to how the material for the reeds are indistinguishable to the listener’s ear but my question, as the ultimate beginner around here, is, does reed material make a difference to the player? Are some materials easier to do some things than others from the person playing’s perspective?

HH,
cdh

> On May 7, 2016, at 3:02 PM, MundHarp at aol.com wrote:
> 
> Well said Vern!
> John
> 
> 
> In a message dated 07-May-16 7:53:46 P.M. GMT Daylight Time, jevern at fea.net 
> writes:
> 
> IF the  listeners have any way of knowing what comb material is being 
> played, or if  the statistical sample is small, then the comparison is 
> meaningless.  
> 
> In three separate comparisons at SPAH over a number of years,  listeners 
> and players could not distinguish among comb materials as different  as brass 
> and balsa wood.  In all of the tests, players and listeners  thought that 
> they heard different sounds when the same harmonica was played  several times 
> in succession.  Great pains were taken to keep the  comparison blind and to 
> eliminate spurious variables, but to give listeners a  fair opportunity to 
> demonstrate their ability to distinguish among comb  materials.
> 
> Some complained about the conditions of the tests AFTER the  results were 
> known.  Among about 100 participants in these tests, not one  has done better 
> than random guessing.  Some participants claimed that  they heard 
> differences even when their recorded choices indicated  otherwise.  Some attended the 
> test and said that they heard differences  but declined to participate by 
> recording their choices.  Almost everyone  claims to hear differences.  So 
> far, no one has been able to demonstrate  that ability under controlled 
> conditions. Materials effects are a cherished  myth.
> 
> You may be a challenger in my years-old offer of a $1000  wager.  You win 
> or lose the grand if you can or can’t distinguish between  any two comb 
> materials of your choice in a blind comparison..  Putting  one’s money where one’
> s mouth is brings wonderful clarity to this  question.  There have been no 
> challengers in the 15 years that the  challenge has been open.  There is no 
> moral question because it is not  gambling. If you really can recognize 
> materials by their sound, it is merely  taking my cheerfully-paid money and 
> shutting me up. It would worth $1000 to me  to learn that I am wrong.
> 
> Your notion that tone can be different for  the player but not the audience 
> seems strange to me.  If the audience  can’t tell the difference, why does 
> it matter?  IF the tone is affected  by comb material, that is the same 
> whether you are playing and listening or  only listening.
> 
> Vern
> 
> 
>> On May 7, 2016, at 6:59 AM,  Michael Rubin 
> <michaelrubinharmonica at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Vern,
>> At the risk of opening up a can of worms, I participated in the  comb 
> test at SPAH where Tom Halchak had me and many other harp players play  the 
> same brand of harp with different combs.  I definitely noticed  differences in 
> tone.  He gifted me with a special comb, I think it was  brass and it was a 
> favorite harp for a while.  A reed broke and it is  somewhere in the 
> graveyard, but I should dig it up and put the comb on a stock  harp.
>> 
>> Just my opinion, comb affects tone, if only for the  player.  Many 
> audience members stated they also heard variety.
>> Michael Rubin
>> michaelrubinharmonica.com  <http://michaelrubinharmonica.com/>
>> 
>> On Sat, May 7, 2016  at 1:24 AM, Vern <jevern at fea.net 
> <mailto:jevern at fea.net>>  wrote:
>> Oh pshaw, Bob,
>> 
>> I share your skepticism about  the features touted on the website.  I 
> have the following questions and  comments:
>> 
>> * Individual channel covers for each reed.   Many years a ago I had a 
> Hohner 2016 with that feature.  I could not  perceive any special effect.
>> 
>> * Brass comb and channels plus  SS covers.   It must weigh a ton.
>> 
>> * Comb material  doesn’t affect tone.
>> 
>> * Accordion-style individual  reedplates.   Has the hole-spacing grown to 
> accommodate this  feature?
>> 
>> * IF so and with cross-tuning, the button travel  could be very long.
>> 
>> * Details smaller than half a wavelength  won’t affect the direction or 
> reflection of the sound.  That stuff about  chamber shapes is pure BS.
>> 
>> * If a group of listeners can tell  the difference between Psardos and 
> Hohner Super 64s under the controlled  conditions of a blind comparison, then 
> we can start thinking about paying $2k  for a harmonica.
>> 
>> * What about valves?  They are the  things most in need of improvement in 
> chromatics.
>> 
>> Vern
>> 
>>> On May 6, 2016, at 9:50 PM, Robert Coble  <robertpcoble at hotmail.com 
> <mailto:robertpcoble at hotmail.com>>  wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I just received an email from  one Ron Wishnak touting the Psardo 
> Chromatic 64. You too can pre-order for  only
>>> $200.00 down payment, with the balance due and payable once  it is 
> actually manufactured at some point in the
>>> future. The  Silver Elite lists for "only" $2195, and the Gold Bar for 
> "only" $2695. Get on  the priority pre-order list
>>> now, and for "only" another  $2,000-$3,000 you too can be one of the 
> first in line to. . .complain to the  BBB about
>>> non-delivery?!?
>>> 
>>> 
>>> No offense to Mr. Wishnak, who is probably a very well-intentioned  
> businessman. Why do I envision him playing
>>> his innovative new  line of harmonicas on an old tune called "The Road 
> to Hell is paved with Good  Intentions."
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Link to the money quote:  http://www.philharmonicas.com/preorder.html  
> <http://www.philharmonicas.com/preorder.html>
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Why do I have an uneasy feeling I've seen something similar  before?!? 
> Calling Brad Harrison. . .
>>> 
>>> 
>>> If  Mr. Wishnak is legitimate, I apologize in advance, but I would 
> think that if  he is familiar with the prior marketing
>>> of the B-Radical, he  would eschew this business model.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Crazy  (but not crazy enough to anticipate or participate by sending 
> good money after  bad) Bob
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
> 