Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2002 18:26:49 -0500 From: "Rupert Oysler" Subject: Re: the tub (was beeswax) /and varathane
There are probably many more ways than I know of to deal with the slots and reeds. There's been a lot contributions on this list from people too numerous to mention but including Pat Missin, fjm, Ted Van Beek, Brendon Power, Bobbie Giordano, Rick Epping, Dr. James Antaki, uh, Winslow must have said something I'll bet and many more that I'm unintentionally leaving out. The way I see it there's a physical thing going on here in a very teeny, almost microscopic world, that involves the reed moving back and forth (up and down?) through the slot. With harmonicas the teeniest, small, micro changes and adjustments make a huge difference. Especially in the diatonic the reed slot tolerance has a huge effect cuz the air you blow or draw intending to activate one reed can also escape between the other reed and slot since there's (usually) no windsaver. There is not only that reed slot relationship, but also what/how the air does to the whole shebang....(Have you read Turbodog's incredible article about the physics of harmonica reed movement?).
Anyway there's different ways that we large, clumsy, mortals go probing and poking into that micro-world to "improve" things: some are borrowed from other free reed instrument lore (accordions...) and some are developed just by experimenting and pondering the little physical universe in there. Embossing is one (This is a term I think coined by Mr. Dick Gardner to indicate narrowing or closing in the slot a bit). But reed-flattening also widens reeds, slot chamfering or tip scooping changes reed/slot/air interaction, smoothing edges and surfaces affects things, changing reed shape, offset etc. changes everything, etc. etc.
It's no wonder Jerry Portnoy said something like "Why do I (explitive deleted) need to (explitive deleted) mess with all that (explitive deleted) stuff...I just wanna play..." when I was talking with him about this.
As for varathane, I picked up my first quart at a local hardware store, but can't get it where I live now (this witness protection program has it's drawbacks...) and what I like is http://www.flecto.com/products/var_w_df.html
Best,
Rupert Oysler http://www.harprepair.com/ - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jp Pagan" To: Cc: Sent: Friday, March 15, 2002 11:39 AM Subject: re: the tub (was beeswax)
> hey rupert, > > interesting post. i was wondering about the water's possible effect myself, > 'cause meisterclass harps are metal, right? anyway... whaddya mean by > "tightening the tolerance of those slots and reeds"? are you talking about > embossing (making the slots "smaller") or something else entirely? > > > p.s. -- where does the average joe get varathane? >
