Paddy Power? Mods to Power tunings for Irish music

[PeterH]

Hi Brendan and fellow players,

I’m currently learning to play in PowerBender tuning and absolutely loving it for expressive bluesy playing. I also sometimes use a PowerDraw for more traditional stuff. But I’m also interested in learning some Irish folk tunes.

Rather than buying a Paddy Richter, I’m considering modifying a PowerDraw or PowerBender by raising the 3 blow a whole step — like a Paddy Richter.

What would the unique advantages and tradeoffs be of raising the three hole blow on a PowerBender vs a PowerDraw vs just using a normal Paddy Richter?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, or if anyone else has experimented with this kind of hybrid tuning.

Thanks so much
Peter

P.S. Brendan, when will you be releasing more PowerBender and PowerDraws to buy?

[Brendan]

I'm glad you're enjoying exploring PowerBender tuning!

As far as raising the 3 blow goes: others have tried it, and I have a couple of harps with that mod. You can say absolutely whether it's better or worse than standard PowerBender, it depends on personal preference. As with any tuning change, you gain some things and lose others. The best thing is to "suck it and see": try it and decide for yourself.

If you don't like it, you can lower the reed again with solder or Blutack.

In my experience, Paddy-Richter (or my preference, Paddy-Solo) are better for playing traditional Irish music than PowerBender. That's because the fifths interval in adjacent holes 6/7 of Paddy-Richter works more comfortably for playing the common phrases used in that area in Irish tunes.

We've just received a new shipment of nice-playing PowerBender harps made by JDR in common keys, which will be available soon. Another option for PowerBender and PowerDraw is the Lucky 13. They can also be ordered in more keys and options from Seydel on their Power Tunings page:

https://www.seydel1847.de/powertunings

[PeterH]

Thanks a lot for your reply Brendan.

Looking forward to the new JDR power tunings.

I've tried the Seydel but the bulky cover plates on the Session Steel don't suit me. I've now started switching them out with slimmer compatible cover plates from Seydel.

Cheers,
Peter

[dominico]

We've just received a new shipment of nice-playing PowerBender harps made by JDR in common keys, which will be available soon.

Are these going to be a thing? Trochilus power tunings?

If so that's amazing! It will save me a ton of work from having to retune these from richter all the time to my preferred tunings.

[Brendan]

Sorry, not the Trochilus: it's a 10-hole diatonic

[dominico]

Sorry, not the Trochilus: it's a 10-hole diatonic

That's too bad, trochilus power tunings would open up a ton of cool expressive capabilites I would think.
I actually think a chromatic tuning based on the holes 4-8 of PowerBender repeating would be fantastic.

It looked like in your Freebird Solo video you were playing a trochilus with no slider. I take it you had success with x-reeds on it? If you are establishing a business relationship with JDR then I've got fingers crossed for a slew of new x-reed harmonica offerings!

I tried prototyping an x-reed configuration on one hole with some chromatic JDR valves. It seems to work, though the blow x-reed activates on me sometimes if I blow right after draw bending. It might be a gapping issue, or maybe because its still vibrating after the draw bend.

[Brendan]

Holes 4-8 of PowerBender repeated is PowerChromatic Tuning. The easiest Trochilus to retune to that scale is their Solo tuned model: not too much alteration required.

The 'Freebird' Trochilus does have a slide, but with a thumb button attached to it so I can maintain cupping.