[Harp-L] Gaskets?

[flyingv8@roadrunner.com]

    Have you ever done flat sanding Vern?Dee
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------ Original message------From: VernDate: Mon, Aug 28, 2017 9:48 PMTo: harp-l at xxxxx;Subject:Re: [Harp-L] Gaskets?Reducing leakage in a harmonica does improve performance.  However, gasketing isn’t a very effective way to do it. In the vast majority of cases, leakage under the reedplate is minuscule compared to leakage through the opening reeds in a diatonic or through the slide in a chromatic. Although gasketing may reduce leakage by a tiny amount, the % reduction of total leakage is imperceptible.After I have gone to the  trouble and expense of gasketing, if I wish and expect to hear/feel an improvement,  I will.  Alas, it is my pareidolia and confirmation bias at work.  This isn’t a character flaw but human nature.  My car runs better when the windshield is clean.  I like Coors beer because it is made with rocky mountain spring water.  I use Ivory soap because it is 99.44% pure.  Etc…………  The thing operated on hasn’t changed, but my subjective perception of it has.Placing gaskets under the plate is like weatherstripping the windows in a room with an open doorway.Why bother?Vern> On Aug 28, 2017, at 1:00 PM, Richard Hunter  wrote:> > "Aongus Mac Cana" wrote:>  tried>  > I used micropore tape gaskets for years, and I agree with Rick Epping:> they're not a good thing.  They trap a lot of crud in the instrument, and> you can't clean them up without replacing them.  On plastic combs, they> leave a residue of adhesive that interferes with solid contact between comb> and plate once removed.  In other words, the improved performance they> deliver is not worth the trouble they cause.> > Dee's gaskets are another story entirely.  They go in clean and stay> clean.  They've improved the performance of my Seydel Session Steels--less> harsh and more even response--for a very reasonable price in terms of money> and effort.> > I think it's worth the $5 it costs for a set of these gaskets to try them> if you're at all curious about how they might affect your harps.> > Regards, Richard Hunter> > -- > Check out our 21st Century rock harmonica record "The Lucky One" at> https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/richardhunter> > Author, "Jazz Harp" (Oak Publications, NYC)> Latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://hunterharp.com> Vids at http://www.youtube.com/user/lightninrick> Twitter: @lightninrick­­­‪­‪­­­‪‪­­‪­‪­‪­­­­‪­­‪‪‪­‪‪­­­‪­‪­­­­‪‪­­‪­‪­­­­