Brendan Power & Alternative Harmonicas Forum

In function it's similar to my Slide-Diatonic, which also allows you to play all notes as either blow or draw. However it requires two reeds for every note. The new idea means you don't need extra reeds, but aside from that I can't see it's any better. No new bends or overbends, they just occur on t...

Thanks Triona. If you think of something, post a scale layout so we can understand your meanibg. The Modular Reed harp is on pause for this year.

An Idea in Need of an Application - Any Suggestions? I've come up with a theoretical way to play any reed in a diatonic harmonica as either blow or draw. It's not simultaneous, you have to manually choose one or the other with a selector mechanism similar to a chromatic slider. When you do, all the ...

I think Diminished is excellent, as long as you know how to bend well.

I response to requests, I've just asked Easttop to make the Lucky 13 in a new model: Diminished Tuning! It will be half-valved, so you can bend every draw note whilst obtaining valved bending expression on the blow notes. Diminished is a great tuning for the diatonic, allowing full chromaticism with...

My unique Look-Dots (small position markers on the front of the comb) make it easy to know where you are on the Lucky 13 Mk2. Here's a video showing how they work for the standard Richter model. The same info applies to the PowerBender, PowerDraw and Paddy-Richter harps too. https://youtu.be/2jQx8uz...

Actually the Lucky 13 in Solo tuning starts on the G below middle C. Middle C (C4) is in holes 2/3 of the 13 holes. Here's the chart:
https://www.brendan-power.com/lucky13.php#lucky13SoloPC

The range is the same as a 14-hole chromatic, without the highest hole.

Basically getting the out-of-the box playability better. Being an un-valved harmonica with a mouthpiece/slider assembly, it really benefits from embossing. I'd like to be able to offer it as an option at the Easttop factory for a reasonable extr sum, but that's proving difficult to implement from th...

Thanks Edvin for your helpful comparison of the two tunings.

One point I take from it is that I should add a Lucky 13 Solo in the key of D to the keys available!

I think it's better to stick with pure Solo tuning. It's a great option for Irish music. However, if you want to do the retune from Paddy-Richter, it's not too difficult but you'd be best using solder to lower the appropriate reeds.