[Harp-L] the valve "gargle"

[Vern]

> On Jun 14, 2019, at 12:55 PM, Slim Heilpern <slim at xxxxx> wrote:
> 
> Hi Vern -
> 
> Interesting! 
> 
> So to me it sounds like you're saying the increase in sound pressure is causing the windsaver to lift off the reed plate even though the air flow is trying to hold it down? This makes sense to me, but I never thought of it that way before.

I believe that leakage reduces resonance, reduces the height of the sound peaks and allows the  steady breath pressure to hold the valve against the plate. I suspect that the sound pressure peaks are quite large.  I wish that I had a way to measure them.
The positive sound peaks are trying to push the valve away from the plate and the valve stiffness is trying to hold it against the plate.  Gargling/smoring/growling occurs when the sound peaks win the fight.  At least that is my explanation.  I would be interested in hearing a better one.
> 
> 
> Do you think reed plate waxing would make this less or more of an issue, or have no impact whatsoever? (I've waxed in the past, but of course didn't find it helped with my most common issue, which is the layers of the valves sticking together, so I stopped doing it.)

Waxing would not affect gargling/growling/snoring.  Wax makes the plate un-wettable and thus reduces the hold-down effect of surface tension.   Sticking/popping is when surface tension in the water film holds the reed down as breath pressure builds and then suddenly lets go.
> 

Vern