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Asia bend, Auto Valve comb and the Lucky 13!!

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 6:29 pm
by Cathal
I am digging the New Asia bend harmonica. Challenging but I like that. Great sound. Looking forward to delving deeper into it... Nice one Brendan.
I am also digging the Auto Valve comb in Easy Thirds. Great to play with a melodeon player, one can learn a lot from a Melodeon player on harmonica.
I must get one of Brendan's Lucky 13 harps. I'd say it would work well in Easy thirds too... To be continued!
P.S. Also digging this new forum!!

Re: Asia bend, Auto Valve comb and the Lucky 13!!

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 11:26 pm
by Brendan
Thanks Cathal. Yes, Easy Thirds tuning would be a good option for the Lucky 13 for sure :)

For those not familiar with it, Easy Thirds duplicates holes 4/5/6 of the 10 hole-diatonic lower down. So on a C Lucky 13 it would be:

BLOW C E G - C E G C E G C E G C
HOLE 1 2 3 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
DRAW D F A - D F A D F A B D F A

Hmmm, note to self: must find a better way of displaying harmonica tunings in this forum!

Re: Asia bend, Auto Valve comb and the Lucky 13!!

Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:40 am
by Al Price
Hi folks.

I bought an Asiabend recently and i love it. I really need tae apply myself more too it though. Such a different instrument.

Looking forward tae hearing other peoples tips and stuff.

All the best wae the new forum Brendan. Sure it will be well received.

Al.

Re: Asia bend, Auto Valve comb and the Lucky 13!!

Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 2:30 pm
by Sachlaw
@Al,
I have an AsiaBend as well. I had posted on mbh on it yesterday and as luck would have it, when I went to check the forum, I saw this forum had opened. I look forward to any collaboration on the instrument.

It's really a great instrument. I hope it's sells well and we get more keys in the future. I would recommend to anyone wanting to learn a bit about theory to grab one. Moreover, given so many bends, it's a great harp to simply work on bend control.

I have been really working over the layout and developing as much muscle memory I can with it. It's lends itself well to picking out melodies. I have been trying to get in my approach that it is more like a free reedish sax/trombone.

It is definitely a challenge. I am going to work on the holes 5 and upas much as a can today with a tune, so I can work on those finesse bends. I got moderately addicted to honking on the front end....

Re: Asia bend, Auto Valve comb and the Lucky 13!!

Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 5:10 pm
by Brendan
Glad you're liking it Sachlaw. If they are of any help, there are a bunch of videos on the AsiaBend page of my website:

http://www.brendan-power.com/harmonicas ... p#asiabend

Re: Asia bend, Auto Valve comb and the Lucky 13!!

Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 12:45 am
by opendoorharmonicas
I've been a fan of the Auto Valve Hybrids for years and was an early adopter of the Power Combs for them. The D and G plates are my favorites for Irish session music. Easy third or Paddy tuned. Also got an Asia bend a while back but must fess that I need to play it more. My second Lucky 13 showed up today (an A). Again there are a few tuning issues on the lowest draw reeds, but Brendan and I have discussed this and I think the fix is in for the newer models. The lowest draw note B is almost a semitone flat from the 4 draw. Closer to Bb. But nothing a bit of filing and adjusting can't fix. The rest of the octaves and the blow plate are pretty spot on with no beating. The intonation seems centered around 442Hz which is about right for my rack playing with other instruments. Glad to be a part of the discussion here. Thanks Brendan. Burke T. www.opendoorharmonicas.com

Re: Asia bend, Auto Valve comb and the Lucky 13!!

Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 11:58 am
by Brendan
Thanks for joining us Burke, I always enjoy reading your thoughts in emails and other forums.

I will emphasise to Easttop again the importance of maintaining standards with tuning. Bit it's good that more and more players, not just harp techs like you, have the skills now to fine tune and gap their own harmonicas. To me these are essential skills for any committed harmonica player, as we all play differently and it makes sense to e able to set up our harps for our own preferences.

Re: Asia bend, Auto Valve comb and the Lucky 13!!

Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 3:58 pm
by Weetin
Hello there to you all. Thank you for the forum Brendan. I have also been a long term adopter of auto-valve hybrids (plates fixed on 260 combs) so was thrilled when Brendan's combs came on the market. I have around a dozen of them, as I play the auto valves constantly as part of a traditional Cajun band. Also have a set for when our old timey session gets large. And those reeds suffer a lot of stress in such a wind efficient environment! So I have multiple back ups in case I blow one flat during a gig. Also some altered tuning. These instruments need constant tuning maintenance but are very dear to my heart. I was stricken when Hohner ceased production, but I have stock piled a very healthy collection of second hand autovalves over years so have plenty of reed stock. I had tried some other custom milled 260 combs but the Power Combs are the gear. I have ordered a lucky 13 and am familiar enough with the layout through playing melodies on the Seydel Solo 12- I haven't actually looked at the note layouts side by side, but is the Lucky the same with the extra note on top? As for the Asiabend- I am presently so happily engrossed in the possibilities and limitations at hand that it will wait a while..cheers, Pete.

Re: Asia bend, Auto Valve comb and the Lucky 13!!

Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 9:34 pm
by Brendan
Hi Weetin, glad you're liking your Auto-Valve PowerCombs :)

The Lucky 13 is not Solo tuned, it's 10-hole Richter with an added lower octave. Here is the scale layout for key of C:

Code: Select all

BLOW	C	E	G	C	E	G	C	E	G	C	E	G	C
HOLE	1*	2*	3*	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
DRAW	D	G	B	D	G	B	D	F	A	B	D	F	A
Check out the Lucky 13 page for more info and videos:
http://www.brendan-power.com/lucky13.php

Re: Asia bend, Auto Valve comb and the Lucky 13!!

Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 10:01 pm
by opendoorharmonicas
Hi Brendan:

I can can find some time, I could make a short Video of DIY tuning your own reed on a Lucky 13, but I think there are plenty of things already out there on You Tube. The older G still needs to come down in pitch overall as its clocking in around 445Hz or so. Cheers-
Burke T.