Search found 818 matches

by Brendan
Mon Apr 17, 2023 3:12 am
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Turbo-slide for sax like vibrato?
Replies: 7
Views: 127559

Re: Turbo-slide for sax like vibrato?

Thanks for your comments Triona. You're not alone in disliking valves: probably most diatonic players would agree! I meant two Turboslides under the top coverplate: one with magnets lower, for semitone blow bends, and one with magnets set higher for blow vibrato only. But it's just a hypothetical id...
by Brendan
Sun Apr 16, 2023 7:42 am
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Turbo-slide for sax like vibrato?
Replies: 7
Views: 127559

Re: Turbo-slide for sax like vibrato?

Sorry David, I only just saw this post now... That's an interesting idea. However, I'd feel it was a waste of the full potential of the Turboslide if that were its only function. If you could have this micro vibrato effect plus the full semitone lowering effect, that would be ideal. But I don't thin...
by Brendan
Thu Mar 30, 2023 4:52 pm
Forum: Brendan's Custom Harmonicas, Tunings, etc
Topic: INTEGRATED SLIDER-MOUTHPIECE - Tech Tuesday #7
Replies: 2
Views: 33687

Re: INTEGRATED SLIDER-MOUTHPIECE - Tech Tuesday #7

I know what you mean... That traditional multi-part slide assembly is prone to leakage. Try using slider oil on the slider, and Vaseline between the stationary parts, to improve the airtightness. Besides the integrated mouthpiece/slider, I have designed a low profile two-piece 'self sealing' slide a...
by Brendan
Sat Mar 25, 2023 4:00 pm
Forum: Brendan's Custom Harmonicas, Tunings, etc
Topic: Switch-Harp mixing low and regular tunings
Replies: 3
Views: 34076

Re: Switch-Harp mixing low and regular tunings

If you're using the Suzuki Promasters, the low F# will fit fine on the Suzuki sandwich Switch-Harp.
by Brendan
Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:14 am
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Chromatic with Offset Tonics (COT) as applied to PowerChromatic
Replies: 6
Views: 43306

Re: Chromatic with Offset Tonics (COT) as applied to PowerChromatic

Sorry Patrick! I went off on a tangent, talking about a different way of looking at the PowerChromatic scale only and not attending to your main point. Combing COT with PC in either direction might give a curious result on paper, but I'm not sure its that musically appealing compared to just raising...
by Brendan
Tue Mar 07, 2023 11:05 am
Forum: Brendan's Custom Harmonicas, Tunings, etc
Topic: INTEGRATED SLIDER-MOUTHPIECE - Tech Tuesday #7
Replies: 2
Views: 33687

INTEGRATED SLIDER-MOUTHPIECE - Tech Tuesday #7

My horizontally moving Slider-Mouthpiece invention has some useful advantages over conventional harmonica slider assemblies. Here I describe its back story and essential features:

https://youtu.be/iU-TrFzMbh8
by Brendan
Sat Feb 25, 2023 8:34 am
Forum: Brendan's Custom Harmonicas, Tunings, etc
Topic: Chromatic for Irish-- there can be only one! (For me at least)
Replies: 8
Views: 44834

Re: Chromatic for Irish-- there can be only one! (For me at least)

Another interesting alternative is to make your own Irish Session Harp from a Low D chromatic. You can keep both keys in Solo Tuning by displacing the D and G scales. This works on both straight and cross tuned chromatics. Here's how it would look: SLIDE OUT: DE. F#G. AB. DC#. DE. F#G. AB. DC#. DE e...
by Brendan
Sat Feb 25, 2023 5:49 am
Forum: Brendan's Custom Harmonicas, Tunings, etc
Topic: Chromatic for Irish-- there can be only one! (For me at least)
Replies: 8
Views: 44834

Re: Chromatic for Irish-- there can be only one! (For me at least)

There are several ways of using a single slide harmonica for playing in keys D & G for Irish music. This post could come under the category of "Too Much Information!", but it's something I've thought about a lot - so here are some ideas to mull over: FLIPPED SLIDER SOUND Using a D chrom to play in D...
by Brendan
Tue Feb 21, 2023 7:32 pm
Forum: Brendan's Custom Harmonicas, Tunings, etc
Topic: STAGGERED REEDPLATES UPGRADE - Thanks Edvin!
Replies: 3
Views: 35390

STAGGERED REEDPLATES UPGRADE - Thanks Edvin!

Recently I posted here about a Richter diatonic harmonica design with staggered reedplates and a front slider. It had 13 bends (compared to 8 on a normal harp), but I hadn't seen how to add the crucial 14th bend on hole 7. I designed the harp between 2016-18. It was very promising but that missing b...