The SlipSlider Mk2 - Special 20 on Steroids!

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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Brendan
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The SlipSlider Mk2 - Special 20 on Steroids!

Post by Brendan » Fri Jul 20, 2018 12:12 pm

I'm very proud of this nifty new SlipSlider Mk2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3Hf-CHikWU

Lots of great new features, and considerably cheaper than the Mk 1 SlipSlider.

More Info, photos & ordering:
http://www.brendan-power.com/SlipSlider

Thanks to Roverharp for the inspiration to create it :-)

Lizzy
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Re: The SlipSlider Mk2 - Special 20 on Steroids!

Post by Lizzy » Fri Jul 20, 2018 2:54 pm

Could maybe be applied to Seydel session to?

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Brendan
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Re: The SlipSlider Mk2 - Special 20 on Steroids!

Post by Brendan » Sat Jul 21, 2018 3:34 am

Yes - a lot of testing of various brands/models has happened over the past couple of months. I've made a couple of Seydel Sessions, plus Suzuki Harpmasters, Easttop T004 and other similar types into Mk2 SlipSliders. They all work, but the precision of the fit of their covers to the reedplates is inferior to the Special 20, so they require tricky extra work to fettle this and that.

In addition, Hohner has the best reed/slot tolerances, so the end result in terms of sound and response on the Special 20 version is better. The S20 is also cheaper to buy, so the final cost of the modified instrument can be lower.

All these factors added up to it being the best choice of base model for the SlipSlider Mk2.

Lizzy
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Re: The SlipSlider Mk2 - Special 20 on Steroids!

Post by Lizzy » Sat Jul 21, 2018 1:19 pm

Yes, Seydel often have some drawbacks regarding their overall design to apply your ideas on.Mainly to Slipslider concept. I also noticed that small particles from the stainless reeds (or from my working table) got stuck on the magnets when tuning the reeds or working on reedplate with rotary tools. Maybe only a coincidence or bad luck but to be sure its safest to take out the magnets before working on the reeds. They are also more sensitive to collect junk from my saliva in the reed slot between reedplate and teflon plate which needs a little more attention so the reeds dont get stucked. Even if i really like the Slipslider (is also great for righthanded) its now discontinued so no more slipslider is available for Seydel anyway.

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Brendan
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Re: The SlipSlider Mk2 - Special 20 on Steroids!

Post by Brendan » Sun Jul 22, 2018 1:59 pm

Never say never. The advantage Seydel has is that their harps can be ordered in alternate tunings, so it would be good to offer a Mk2 SlipSlider in the Session format for that reason.

Right now it's a bit busy for RnD, as I have trips to France, China and the USA in the next few weeks, but I'll look at it again in time.

Lizzy
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Re: The SlipSlider Mk2 - Special 20 on Steroids!

Post by Lizzy » Sun Jul 22, 2018 2:59 pm

Yes, alternate tunings is the reason why i keep playing Seydel. Its so easy to just press the button in the custom shop and there you have it. And I also have a go on the overblow booster when its ready. I guess that the overblow booster and inserts for powerbender have to wait until you are back from your trips?

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Brendan
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Re: The SlipSlider Mk2 - Special 20 on Steroids!

Post by Brendan » Mon Jul 23, 2018 5:41 am

Yes, I think so. I'm in France now and then only have a short window before flying to Beijing for the APHF festival, and after that only a week till SPAH. in the gaps I'll be busy with orders and preparing stuff for the festivals.

Making alternate versions of things takes care and attention and quite a few iterations to perfect small details. Will get to it when I have the time to do it right.

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Re: The SlipSlider Mk2 - Special 20 Gets the Bends

Post by Brendan » Mon Jul 23, 2018 5:49 am

Since these harps have never been made before, interesting new effects/abilities from the sliding reedplates keep coming to light. Roverharp (who made the first prototype Special 20 version) thought of one:

If you move the draw plate only half-way in either direction, the draw reeds are stopped by the comb tines. This makes overdraws easier, since only the blow reed is free to play. It's like the effect of the Overblow Booster on the overdraws, through a different method.

It also gives valved-style isolated reed expression on the blow notes, which could be nice. Especially on blow notes that don't bend even in the SlipSlider, like hole 4 blow. You can now add vibrato and isolated-reed bending to it.

The Law of Unintended Consequences can work out positively sometimes :-)

Lizzy
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Re: The SlipSlider Mk2 - Special 20 on Steroids!

Post by Lizzy » Mon Jul 23, 2018 8:26 am

Brendan wrote:
Mon Jul 23, 2018 5:41 am
Yes, I think so. I'm in France now and then only have a short window before flying to Beijing for the APHF festival, and after that only a week till SPAH. in the gaps I'll be busy with orders and preparing stuff for the festivals.

Making alternate versions of things takes care and attention and quite a few iterations to perfect small details. Will get to it when I have the time to do it right.
Yes, about perfect small details....Did two good slipsliders from rawparts but the third build still dont work after serveral adjustments. It is more sensitive to problems with serveral small parts that must work/fit perfectly with each other and especially if they also are moving parts. So i know you are spending a lot of time/attention to make it perfect.

Lizzy
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Re: The SlipSlider Mk2 - Special 20 on Steroids!

Post by Lizzy » Sun Aug 12, 2018 8:33 am

I have now played with Slipslider mk2 for a while. I agree that this is a better version of the slipslider than mk1. But i experienced a couple of minor issues with mk2 but it could also be me and my way to handle the slipslider wrong. I noticed that it had some slippery surface on the lower reedplate which i assume was vaseline or some other lubricite.The left/right action actually worked better without lubrication and it is no problem to get rid of it if you dont want it. Even so the left/right action sometimes got stucked in the positition and did not get back automatic and you have to move it back with with your finger. I also noticed that the coverplate/plates sometimes lifted slightly from the comb in the front when i played and did left/right action, maybe because i have finger and thumb further back, and even a tad over the ridge of the coverplates...either i have a very rigid or hard handling on the harmonica or that the magnets are little to weak for me?

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