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

[Joseph Leone]

I asked this same question when I came onto the list about 20 years ago.
  
"But, does reed material(s) make a difference to the player?" For, it seems to me that IF a player COULD discern a difference, AND that difference made the player more comfortable,
then maybe, just maybe, it WOULD be advantageous for said player TO use that different material. Inasmuch as from a psychological point of view, the player may be more at ease. 
Feeling, maybe even incorrectly, that said material that they felt was ..SWELL..was actually making a difference. So I conclude that even if materials made NO difference at all, it's all
in the EAR of the beholder. There are 7.4 billion people on Earth. Not everyone can agree. 

I never considered the $1,000.oo wager. As I am a recovering compulsive gambler. 

smokey-joe 

On May 7, 2016, at 3:13 PM, Chris Hofstader wrote:

> 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
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
> 
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