[Harp-L] Gaskets?

[Joe Spiers]

I think the real issue isn't always air leakage, it's resonance leakage, or something along those lines. Impedance maybe? Some keys are affected worse than others by warped plates. Which makes me think there can be noise canceling coming into play on those keys. It can have a huge effect on bending that chro players might not "get". It can also definitely make it hard to tune octaves involving the upper register. On my wood '64 there's a screw hole on the mouthpiece side of the plates, screw long since gone. The reed in that chamber will barely make a sound unless the hole is plugged. Seems there's ample supply of air, that hole is small. I epoxied it shut and it plays great, so the problem wasn't due to lack of clamping force. The other reed in chamber is valved, so no leakage there. There's more going on than people think, I think. 

> On Aug 29, 2017, at 10:43 AM, Joseph Leone <3n037 at xxxxx> wrote:
> 
> Most of what you say is true ‘Super Vern’. The air going around just ONE reeds would be more than a comb leak. BUT a gasket will soak up vibrations and make a harp feel better in the hands. More solid may be the
> word I’m looking for. It all goes back with something I have been saying for generations. The more comfortable a player ‘feels’t has a psychological effect, and just as you say, if you’re looking for a result and you
> come even within a scintilla of said result, you feel better. May have more confidence, and look upon the world as a wonderful place. lolol.
> 
> And on the subject of preaching. Many times I write and people take it the wrong way. They shouldn’t. I am only voicing ‘my’ preference(s). Example? If I were to say that removing a slide spring is dumb, people
> might chastise me for being uncharitable or insensitive. When in fact I am simply saying that ‘for ME removing the slide spring is dumb.’ Otherwise, with harmonica, I try not to cause negative waves.
> 
> sm0joe 
> 
>> On Aug 28, 2017, at 5:01 PM, Vern <jevern at xxxxx> wrote:
>> 
>> 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 <rhunter377 at xxxxx> wrote:
>>> 
>>> "Aongus Mac Cana" wrote:
>>> <I would be interested to hear the experiences of others who might have
>>> tried
>>> <this. Maybe I need to make the acquaintance of "Dee"
>>> 
>>> 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
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>> 
>> 
>