Search found 818 matches

by Brendan
Sat Sep 22, 2018 2:23 am
Forum: Brendan's Custom Harmonicas, Tunings, etc
Topic: Harmonicas with Modular Reedplates
Replies: 22
Views: 127413

Re: Harmonicas with Modular Reedplates

Indeed Alan, that's exactly the stuff I'm mulling over. A modular reedplate system opens up a lot of possibilities, but also many questions! One way to keep the cost down for buyers is to sell sets of reeds and ancillary parts that can be attached easily to existing harmonicas. Taking the Special 20...
by Brendan
Fri Sep 21, 2018 2:18 am
Forum: Brendan's Custom Harmonicas, Tunings, etc
Topic: Harmonicas with Modular Reedplates
Replies: 22
Views: 127413

Re: Harmonicas with Modular Reedplates

Thanks for your thoughts on this. Though I've always loved the idea, and it's a fun challenge to turn it into a practical reality, the more I think of it, the less I can see much initial demand for general playing. Your comments tend to confirm that. Certainly it would be handy for trying out differ...
by Brendan
Thu Sep 20, 2018 7:45 am
Forum: Brendan's Custom Harmonicas, Tunings, etc
Topic: Harmonicas with Modular Reedplates
Replies: 22
Views: 127413

Harmonicas with Modular Reedplates

This is another topic first discussed in the Any News thread. I've been doing some testing of the idea, and am getting closer to the point where I think it could be practical to offer modular reedplate harps for sale. Not definite yet, but it's looking more possible. But this is unlike anything I've...
by Brendan
Wed Sep 19, 2018 5:35 pm
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Natural Minor Lucky 13's and New Case?
Replies: 5
Views: 10780

Re: Natural Minor Lucky 13's and New Case?

Retuning becomes very fast with practice and the right tools. You could do the change in under 5 minutes from full assembled to reassembled and ready to play if you learn the skills.
by Brendan
Wed Sep 19, 2018 5:32 pm
Forum: Brendan's Custom Harmonicas, Tunings, etc
Topic: beginner harp for irish/folk
Replies: 20
Views: 35879

Re: beginner harp for irish/folk

Yes, transpose down. Use some slow-down software to hear the tune in G, and then learn by ear.
by Brendan
Wed Sep 19, 2018 5:29 pm
Forum: Brendan's Custom Harmonicas, Tunings, etc
Topic: Melody Maker vs Paddy Richter
Replies: 10
Views: 17633

Re: Melody Maker vs Paddy Richter

Personally I don't think so, because you'd have to constantly bend the 5 draw in the most common positions used in Irish music. These are, in order of use: First, Fourth, Third, Second If you wanted to play Melody Maker based in 2nd Position, the equivalent positions would be: Second, Fifth, Fourth,...
by Brendan
Wed Sep 19, 2018 5:29 am
Forum: Brendan's Custom Harmonicas, Tunings, etc
Topic: Harmonicas with Accordion Reeds
Replies: 0
Views: 17263

Harmonicas with Accordion Reeds

We started discussing these harps in the "Any News" thread, but I think they deserve a thread of their own.

I just posted a video demonstrating a couple of variations:
https://youtu.be/jejsiCD172E

There are some interesting queries posted in the Comments by Winslow Yerxa and others.
by Brendan
Wed Sep 19, 2018 5:22 am
Forum: Brendan's Custom Harmonicas, Tunings, etc
Topic: Any news?
Replies: 32
Views: 49012

Re: Any news?

Yes. It's based on 12 chromatic notes per octave over 4 octaves (the range from hole 1 of a G harp to hole 10 of an F# harp). Actually it should be 48 reeds to cover all the notes, not 47. This is the stock of reeds a company would need to keep. They could be blow or draw reeds depending on orientat...
by Brendan
Tue Sep 18, 2018 7:39 am
Forum: Brendan's Custom Harmonicas, Tunings, etc
Topic: Any news?
Replies: 32
Views: 49012

Re: Any news?

I mentioned earlier that a manufacturer of modular reed harmonicas would only need 47 reeds to cover every key harp in 4 octaves, from G to F#. That's if they use the same reeds for blow and draw breaths. The simplest way would be to adopt the normal blow reed configuration where the reed is attache...
by Brendan
Tue Sep 18, 2018 7:16 am
Forum: Brendan's Custom Harmonicas, Tunings, etc
Topic: Any news?
Replies: 32
Views: 49012

Re: Any news?

I was contacted by a Brazilian player called Gaspar Vianna, who has apparently been using modular reedplates secured by coverplate bars for some time. Hopefully he will send some photos of his harps to check out.