[Harp-L] Suzuki SUB-30 & "Double Reed" bends

[Michael Rubin]

Laurent,
Just to be clear, I like the sound and responsiveness of overblows.  I just
think a lower priced, available X Reed is a better solution to the playing
the diatonic in a chromatic manner issue than overblows.
Michael

On Tue, Aug 22, 2023 at 12:17 PM Laurent Vigouroux <
laurent.vigouroux at xxxxx> wrote:

> Hello Tom
>
>
> Thanks for the clarification regarding “Double Reed” bends.
>
> If I’m correct, some regular bends, like the 3”’ are actually only
> produced by one reed (3”’ = 3°!!), but I see what you mean.
>
>
>
> Going back to comparing overblows and “double reed bends” sounds, I don’t
> really share Rick’s and Michael’s opinions.
> For me, overblows actually are as easy to make sound well and blend with
> regular notes as bends. And even easier than the 3”, which is so difficult
> to make sound well.
>
>
>
> Regarding the Sub-30, I’m disappointed it didn’t find its place in the
> market. I was enthusiastic when I tried Brendan’s prototype back in the
> 00’s. But it seems that producing a factory harmonica with this design was
> a big challenge.
>
>
>
> Cheers
>
>
>
> Laurent
>
>
>
>
>
> *De : *Harp-L <harp-l-bounces at xxxxx> de la part de Tom Halchak <
> info at xxxxx>
> *Date : *mardi, 22 août 2023 à 18:58
> *À : *Michael Rubin <michaelrubinharmonica at xxxxx>, harp-l at xxxxx <
> harp-l at xxxxx>
> *Objet : *[Harp-L] Suzuki SUB-30 & "Double Reed" bends
>
> So far, nobody has got it quite right when describing how a SUB-30 works.
>
> SUB-30s 30 reeds (hence the name SUB 30) on two reed plates.  The top reed
> plate has 20 reeds and the bottom reed plate has 10 reeds. The additional
> reeds on the top plate are referred to as Sympathetic reeds or Extra Reeds,
> which is where Brendan Power got the name for his custom SUB-30s.  The
> lower six chambers have 2 blow reeds and 1 draw reed.  The upper four
> chambers have 1 blow reed and 2 draw reeds.  X-Reed Harmonicas.  Part of
> the genius of the SUB-30 is that it is set up just like any other Richter
> Tuned harmonica.  Same blow draw breath pattern.  Same draw bends.  Same
> blow bends.  The difference between a SUB-30 and a standard Richter Tuned
> harmonica is that you can blow bend on the lower six chambers and draw bend
> on the top four chambers.  You cannot overblow or overdraw on a SUB-30.  A
> standard SUB-30 has 10 valves installed on the bottom reed plate, which
> enable you to control the airflow to the proper reed.  I make a component
> that I call an External Valve Plate that adds 10 more valves to the SUB-30,
> which dramatically improves the response.
>
> Regarding double reed bends.  Double reed bends are hardly exclusive to the
> SUB-30.  Any time we bend the pitch on an unvalved harmonica, we engage the
> reed on the opposite plate, hence all bends are actually doube reed bends.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> *Tom Halchak*
> *Blue Moon Harmonicas LLC*
> *P.O. Box 14401 Clearwater, FL 33766*
>
> *www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com <http://www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com>**Blue Moon
> on Facebook* <http://www.facebook.com/BlueMoonHarmonicas>
> *(727) 366-2608*
>