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Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 10:58:09 -0500
From: "Mark Lavoie"
Subject: Re: Thanks: High "A"; Making Bass Harps

Arthur,
I used Hohners MS Big River low D and tuned several of them down to a low
Db, low C, Low B and a low Bb. It took quite some time and PATIENCE!!!! I
used my dremel with a fine tuning bit and stayed in the center of the reed,
and drew a line from the back of the rivet pad to about half way up the
reed. I almost went through the reed. I then used my shofu brownie wheel to
polish the reed for the final tuning.

These have a Big Bass sound with the titanium comb set up with Meisterclasse
Covers.
So far the Low Bb and Low Db have held up fantastic for the last year. A
reed on the Low B and C gave out. Broke right off from the rivet pad due to
taking too much off.

You need a light attack on these Low tuned harps. The reeds on the Low Bb
will hit the covers with the slightest increase in attack.

I wanted to keep the reed profile the same with out adding anything to the
tip of the reed to tune it down. I am sure the reeds would have been hitting
the covers more frequently if I had gone this route.

When ever I play the low Bb through my TOA -PA with a SM58 mic with the
volume turned up, it turns heads. Big Bass Sound!!!

Stay tuned!
Mark LaVoie

lavo~iddlebury.net
http://www.middlebury.net/lavoie/

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Arthur Pellerin"
To: "HarpL"
Sent: Wednesday, January 08, 2003 12:22 PM
Subject: Thanks: High "A"; Making Bass Harps

>
> Hi Folks,
>
> True, the high A is really high. Thanks for saying that it is possible
> to make/buy them.
> I preferr those lower notes myself. I have a low D...now that's
> cool. What about lower on a regular diatonic? How much of a real bass
> harp can you get from a regular diatonic? Can you take old organ reeds
> and make a true bass? Or is it easier to take a low D or a Hohner #365 C
> and tune down those reeds to something like a low G? Any thoughts on
> this would be appreciated. Thanks
>
> Sincerly,
>
> Brian Pellerin
>
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