The OVERBLOW BOOSTER - Overblows Made Easy, New OB Effects

A space for players interested in my specialist harmonicas, alternate tunings, instructional material, recordings etc to ask questions and share information, experiences, videos etc.
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IaNerd
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Re: The OVERBLOW BOOSTER - Overblows Made Easy, New OB Effects

Post by IaNerd » Thu Jul 19, 2018 5:31 pm

Brendan:

Thanks for the reply.

In your post, you addressed "normal bends" only. That's fine, because I failed to specify that I meant "bends" in the broad sense, i.e. including overbends.

As a school teacher I would routinely ask students to rephrase concepts in their own words, as a check for understanding. And so I go out on a limb now and hazard a broad-sense description of bending. Your own words are at the core of my attempt. Please, Brendan or anyone else, feel free to comment and correct as necessary.

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[If the interval between the two unbent reeds of a chamber is in the range of about one to four semitones,] the high reed in [that] hole can bend almost down to the pitch of the low reed, about a quartertone above it. [The transition of this bending can be continuous, i.e. a glissando. This is termed a “normal bend” or “regular bend”, or more specifically either a “draw bend” or a “blow bend”.]

[Additionally, if the interval of the two unbent reeds of a chamber is a about two semitones, the low reed in in each hole can be forced to play at a secondary pitch that is about a quartertone or a semitone higher than the pitch of higher reed’s unbent note. This is termed an “overbend”, or more specifically either an “overdraw” or an “overblow”. The transition in pitch of an overbend is somewhat more immediate than that of a normal/regular bend. The overbent note may also sound softer in volume, relative to a normal/regular bend.]

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Brendan
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Re: The OVERBLOW BOOSTER - Overblows Made Easy, New OB Effects

Post by Brendan » Thu Jul 19, 2018 9:43 pm

Bends and Overbends happen regardless of the reed intervals, so no need to limit them in your definition.

EdvinW
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Re: The OVERBLOW BOOSTER - Overblows Made Easy, New OB Effects

Post by EdvinW » Fri Aug 03, 2018 2:20 pm

So I finally tried the OB!

I started off buying the MB Delux model instead of the Crossover model, I don't know how I could confuse them! I went on a trip before it arrived, so I didn't notice until weeks after when I got home. I then spent a week looking for a MB Delux, and finally found one in D.

I am not as blown away as I had hoped I'd be. I mounted the plastic hoods following the instructions, but they don't seem to be air tight. When I try to do as in the video, and cover the openings with my finger, the note will still play. It might be that general overblows are a bit easier with the OB, and hole 4 works quite well. The overdraws seem to come a little easier then the overblows, and I think that plastic hood is more tight.

Does anyone share my experience? Should I sand the plastic parts? Put something sticky on them? Could it be the harp itself that's the problem?
Edvin Wedin

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Brendan
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Re: The OVERBLOW BOOSTER - Overblows Made Easy, New OB Effects

Post by Brendan » Fri Aug 03, 2018 3:00 pm

There is a fitting video on this page that could prove useful for getting a good seal:

http://www.brendan-power.com/OverblowBo ... lowBooster

Lizzy
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Re: The OVERBLOW BOOSTER - Overblows Made Easy, New OB Effects

Post by Lizzy » Fri Aug 03, 2018 4:42 pm

I actually had one hole on the big insert that did not fit over the screw at all so it did not clamp on or having a good fit like the small insert had. The seal was easier for me to solve with a little more foam.

Alan
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Re: The OVERBLOW BOOSTER - Overblows Made Easy, New OB Effects

Post by Alan » Tue Aug 28, 2018 1:35 am

I've enjoyed the overblow booster on an Easttop.

Looking at the Asiabend, there are a couple of challenges. Like a chromatic harmonica, the blow and draw reeds are on the same side of the harmonica, meaning there would have to be an open and closed channel side by side. (thus a smaller target if you are using your finger to close off a channel.) Also, since the slide holes alternate top and bottom plates, you'd have to remember 1 slide out top, 1 slide in bottom, 2 slide out bottom, 2 slide in top, etc.

The ends of the cover plates are less amenable to a booster bar than the diatonics currently available.

I'm certain Brendan could crack it. Maybe some kind of clamshell pinch mechanism that puts both top and bottom boosters on their respective reed plates....

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