Search found 32 matches

by harpdog123
Thu Jun 15, 2017 2:20 am
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Rampless Chromatic Comb
Replies: 14
Views: 21158

Re: Rampless Chromatic Comb

The action is very smooth. I'd say it's a bit more slippery and light than my East top chromatic, and because the slide is made of pure PTFE/Teflon there are no issues with the slide sticking. I'm in the bad habit of playing while I'm drinking coffee with cream and sugar and wine and all that crud n...
by harpdog123
Wed Jun 14, 2017 4:24 am
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Rampless Chromatic Comb
Replies: 14
Views: 21158

Re: Rampless Chromatic Comb

You nailed it. It's a quirky design with a rubber mouthpiece that rests directly on a PTFE/Teflon slide. The rubber mouthpiece is my simple method of creating an airtight mouthpiece assembly.
by harpdog123
Mon Jun 12, 2017 3:51 am
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Rampless Chromatic Comb
Replies: 14
Views: 21158

Re: Rampless Chromatic Comb

Just got a batch from the machinist. This is the first time I've used a machinist and I am thrilled with the results!
by harpdog123
Thu Apr 27, 2017 1:48 am
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Rampless Chromatic Comb
Replies: 14
Views: 21158

Re: Rampless Chromatic Comb

Hi Winslow, When I say ramps I mean the angled face that many chromatic combs have in the reed chamber like this. What is the purpose of these angled faces? I assume that it facilitates airflow into the reed chamber, but in the testing of my prototypes I haven't noticed a difference between an angle...
by harpdog123
Wed Apr 26, 2017 5:38 pm
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Rampless Chromatic Comb
Replies: 14
Views: 21158

Rampless Chromatic Comb

I've designed a chromatic comb without ramps. I've tested some prototypes and I didn't notice a difference between ramped and rampless combs. What would be the negative effect of a rampless comb? Would the hard edges of a rampless reed chamber add noise when a player breathed into it? (I've attached...
by harpdog123
Sun Apr 23, 2017 3:41 am
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: The need for valves.
Replies: 8
Views: 13007

Re: The need for valves.

You can't use ultrasuede valves. They work in diatonics because they only lie on the bottom reed plate and gravity keeps them laying flat. They aren't stiff enough to hang upside down like they do in chromatics.
by harpdog123
Sat Apr 22, 2017 2:35 pm
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Lipped comb & Hemholtz Resonance
Replies: 6
Views: 22475

Re: Lipped comb & Hemholtz Resonance

Hi Brendan, I was asking because I want to try a double-decker diatonic design that uses two stacked diatonics. I thought that narrowing the reed chamber might offset the extra distance added by the mouthpiece.

Best Regards!
David Pearce
by harpdog123
Sat Apr 22, 2017 2:18 pm
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: The need for valves.
Replies: 8
Views: 13007

Re: The need for valves.

I have a half-valved Seydel chromatic with a mouthpiece assembly of my own design that is extremely airtight and I experimented with taking the valves off inside the comb. There was quite a drop in volume on the blow reeds and opening the gaps in them did not help. I've never tried this but some peo...
by harpdog123
Wed Apr 19, 2017 12:18 am
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Lipped comb & Hemholtz Resonance
Replies: 6
Views: 22475

Re: Lipped comb & Hemholtz Resonance

Yes I did mean the width of the reed chamber, rather than the reed slot.

Thanks for the info!
David Pearce
by harpdog123
Sun Apr 16, 2017 10:24 pm
Forum: Interesting Alternative Harmonica Ideas
Topic: Lipped comb & Hemholtz Resonance
Replies: 6
Views: 22475

Lipped comb & Hemholtz Resonance

I just saw John Cook machine a lipped comb with a mouthpiece that was further away from the comb than a standard diatonic. I know that increased distance can cause problems with the pitch of the reeds and their performance and I was wondering if this problem could be fixed by narrowing the width of ...