How would you retune an Asia Bend?

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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Re: How would you retune an Asia Bend?

Post by Brendan » Fri Apr 21, 2017 8:50 am

Oops yes, spiked fiddle :-)

rsca415
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Re: How would you retune an Asia Bend?

Post by rsca415 » Tue Jun 27, 2017 9:33 am

I just received my asiabend. I'm wanting to tune it down at least a fifth or even an octave down. I can't unscrew the screws of the reed plates with my jewelers screw driver (they're too tight) - anyone have any suggestions?

I'm assuming the reeds are brass, and therefore, the solder will adhere to them?

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Brendan
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Re: How would you retune an Asia Bend?

Post by Brendan » Thu Jun 29, 2017 7:16 am

Use a screwdriver with a bigger handle but the correct small tip.

The reeds are phosphor bronze. They will take solder well if you lightly scrape or polish off the outer surface. However taking them down a fifth or more could dull the tone. It would be better to alter them less by starting the tuning you want on a note higher up its scale.

Lizzy
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Re: How would you retune an Asia Bend?

Post by Lizzy » Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:10 am

Brendan wrote:
Sun Apr 16, 2017 8:25 am
The x-reeds simply need to be bent out a bit for tuning, so they have a normal gap and sound when blown. When you have them at the pitch you want return them to zero gap.

Only the blow x-reeds should be sharp, the draws tuned as you normally would.
Does the Unibender also require tuning of the x-reeds?

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Brendan
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Re: How would you retune an Asia Bend?

Post by Brendan » Mon Oct 16, 2017 9:42 am

The UniBender has no set tuning or key - it's up to the buyer what scale and bends they want. That can be done via theier Configurator for the Seydel version, or by retuning standard reedplates for other brands.

Assuming you have chosen a tuning you like, you won't need to retune reeds unless you want different bends.

When it's ready to launch I will do a detailed video on the possibilities.

Lizzy
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Re: How would you retune an Asia Bend?

Post by Lizzy » Fri Oct 27, 2017 7:29 pm

Still waiting for the Unibender...close to release? :D
Im used to play halfvalved. Is the technique to do bends with xreeds similar to halfvalved?

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Brendan
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Re: How would you retune an Asia Bend?

Post by Brendan » Sat Oct 28, 2017 9:17 pm

Yes, a typo - should be spiked fiddle or Kamanche. Iranian/Kurdish instrument:

https://youtu.be/_V5HWOgYDBE

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