Brendan Power & Alternative Harmonicas Forum

Thanks for this David!

Thanks for your interest and reminder! I'm on holiday for a few weeks, will make a note to do some final checks on a new Gasket-valve material I'm using for the Forerunner.

I suggest go on Amazon reviews to find a replacement. If there are many and they're mostly positive, you should be onto a reliable engraver.

Mine are not expensive and they've lasted years. They use replaceable batteries.

I haven't tried Krazy Glue, but what I use is either viscous (thick) Superglue, or Superglue Gel. It gives you plenty of time to adjust the position of the valve before it sets.

The OctaHarp Selectable is one of my favourite harmonica inventions, dating back to 2017. I'm happy to announce it's back again - by popular demand! The OHS now features Gasket-Valves, making assembly fast and easy. Here's the release video, combining as a Tech Tuesday episode: https://youtu.be/vgoX...

Re. the Turboslide, you wrote: "It is kind of a gimmick, nice to have, but not essentially to harmonica playing anyway." Honestly Triona, I disagree! Certainly for its INTENDED use of lowering the blow notes for chromatic playing, I find it unsatisfactory. The 'magnet blow bends sound quite metallic...

Thanks for your comments Triona. You're not alone in disliking valves: probably most diatonic players would agree! I meant two Turboslides under the top coverplate: one with magnets lower, for semitone blow bends, and one with magnets set higher for blow vibrato only. But it's just a hypothetical id...

Sorry David, I only just saw this post now... That's an interesting idea. However, I'd feel it was a waste of the full potential of the Turboslide if that were its only function. If you could have this micro vibrato effect plus the full semitone lowering effect, that would be ideal. But I don't thin...

I know what you mean... That traditional multi-part slide assembly is prone to leakage. Try using slider oil on the slider, and Vaseline between the stationary parts, to improve the airtightness. Besides the integrated mouthpiece/slider, I have designed a low profile two-piece 'self sealing' slide a...

If you're using the Suzuki Promasters, the low F# will fit fine on the Suzuki sandwich Switch-Harp.