Stretch Harps
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 5:10 pm
I've been experimenting with building some 11 hole stretch harps. I like this alternative size; still small enough to comfatably hold and you can use the stock cover plates which are just long enough to cover the extra hole. The tuning is essentially an extension of PowerBender into the top octave and I've made them in two variants:
And, this one that is a little closer to Richter
The great surprise was the relative comfort of the seam where the chopped reed plates meet. I had been prepared for a lip shredder that would make the whole exercise pointless. However, if you have reasonably straight cuts and gently sand it isn't really a problem. Having said that, I would love to be able to make these with SP20's but I find it quite difficult to get a true 90 degrees with the ABS, recessed combs. They warp and melt when trying to sand them down to the correct length and they have less mating surface between the chopped pieces. I've tried about five times to make a Stetch SP20 and only succeeded twice. Too expensive to keep doing that so I switched to MB plates and combs.
Of course, our host has that covered too and has in the past made Stretch SP20 that look great. How do you do it Sir Brendan?
Code: Select all
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C E A C D F A C D F A
D G B D E G B D E G B
And, this one that is a little closer to Richter
Code: Select all
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
C E G C E F A C D F A
D G B D F G B D E G B
The great surprise was the relative comfort of the seam where the chopped reed plates meet. I had been prepared for a lip shredder that would make the whole exercise pointless. However, if you have reasonably straight cuts and gently sand it isn't really a problem. Having said that, I would love to be able to make these with SP20's but I find it quite difficult to get a true 90 degrees with the ABS, recessed combs. They warp and melt when trying to sand them down to the correct length and they have less mating surface between the chopped pieces. I've tried about five times to make a Stetch SP20 and only succeeded twice. Too expensive to keep doing that so I switched to MB plates and combs.
Of course, our host has that covered too and has in the past made Stretch SP20 that look great. How do you do it Sir Brendan?