Search found 824 matches

by Brendan
Sat Apr 06, 2024 9:32 am
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Ideas for changing a diatonic harp tuning on the fly
Replies: 22
Views: 140

Re: Ideas for changing a diatonic harp tuning on the fly

Good to hear you're home and back on this interesting project, Dom. On a couple of points in your last post: "I find retuning chromatics much more tedious than retuning diatonics, each model seems to put the slide-in and slide-out reeds in different places. it's nowhere near as easy as a "draw plate...
by Brendan
Wed Apr 03, 2024 3:13 am
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Ideas for changing a diatonic harp tuning on the fly
Replies: 22
Views: 140

Re: Ideas for changing a diatonic harp tuning on the fly

Using a segment of a chromatic harmonica reedplate as your modular reed insert is a good idea Roman. One reed will need to be swapped over from draw to blow or vice versa, but it means both reeds will be on the same plane. That should make selective muting easier, although I still can't visualise a ...
by Brendan
Tue Apr 02, 2024 11:05 am
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Ideas for changing a diatonic harp tuning on the fly
Replies: 22
Views: 140

Re: Ideas for changing a diatonic harp tuning on the fly

Here's another idea for true "on the fly" instant tuning swaps whilst playing, which Dominick is really after. It involves adding an extra reed to the appropriate comb chamber (hole 3 in his case, to swap between Richter and Paddy-Richter - G and A on a C harp), then add a muting mechanism - basical...
by Brendan
Tue Apr 02, 2024 10:18 am
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Ideas for changing a diatonic harp tuning on the fly
Replies: 22
Views: 140

Re: Ideas for changing a diatonic harp tuning on the fly

Here's a practical idea for quickly changing between harmonica tunings in the same harp, which I've been using for a long time. However, I don't know if it qualifies as "on the fly". If that means within the same song whilst playing, then not! But if it means to switch tunings between songs, it coul...
by Brendan
Fri Mar 29, 2024 4:23 pm
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Ideas for changing a diatonic harp tuning on the fly
Replies: 22
Views: 140

Re: Ideas for changing a diatonic harp tuning on the fly

My twin diatonic Switch-Harp is currently the only option that would give you alternate tunings in a relatively small size harmonica: https://www.brendan-power.com/harmonicas-twin-diatonic.php#twin-harps-diatonic-switchharp However it's still bulkier than a standard diatonic. I have something in the...
by Brendan
Fri Mar 29, 2024 4:15 pm
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Converting an EastTop T10-40 to an "XB-40" style harmonica
Replies: 4
Views: 54

Re: Converting an EastTop T10-40 to an "XB-40" style harmonica

Re. OverValves: Conventional valves are mouthed on the reedplate opposite the reed they're intended to mute. OverValves are different: they're mounted on a plate directly on top of the x-reeds, on the same side as the reed. They stop interference between the x-reed and the active reed of the same br...
by Brendan
Wed Mar 27, 2024 10:20 pm
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Resin 3d printing reedplates
Replies: 3
Views: 16772

Re: Resin 3d printing reedplates

Just saw this thread... I don't do resin 3d printing, but I'll try to answer your questions: - Is the material food safe? From a quick search, apparently not. However this wouldn't be a problem if the reedplates were behind a mouthpiece, so your lips are not in direct contact with them. - does the m...
by Brendan
Wed Mar 27, 2024 5:34 pm
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Converting an EastTop T10-40 to an "XB-40" style harmonica
Replies: 4
Views: 54

Re: Converting an EastTop T10-40 to an "XB-40" style harmonica

The Easttop T10-40 is the latest in a slew of Chinese valveless chromatics modelled on an old Seydel design. That's where the individual comb channels and tuning/slider combination format came from. The Seydel precursor is discontinued, but the design concept lives on. The Easttop version is better ...
by Brendan
Wed Mar 27, 2024 8:52 am
Forum: Brendan's Custom Harmonicas, Tunings, etc
Topic: X-HARPS : Personal Experimental Harmonica Project
Replies: 12
Views: 35687

Re: X-HARPS : Personal Experimental Harmonica Project

I've continued experimenting with different designs for this project. There are so many theoretical ways to follow to achieve what I'm after, but none is easy! It's been a two year journey so far, and the stack of crazy-looking prototypes that have resulted surprises even me when I go back and look ...
by Brendan
Wed Mar 27, 2024 8:27 am
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: 3d Printed comb ideas to improve responsiveness
Replies: 11
Views: 81

Re: 3d Printed comb ideas to improve responsiveness

Welcome to the forum Dominick! It's nice to have a trained engineer with obvious curiosity about harmonica design and the skills/tools to make stuff accurately contributing here 😊 The general consensus about diatonic comb design is that it's better to have small chambers in the top octave (for good ...