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New PowerBender and PowerDraw Harps

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 3:53 pm
by Brendan
I'm pleased to announce the release of my new-generation PowerBender and PowerDraw 10 hole harp models in five keys: Low F, G, A, C, D.

Made to my specifications by the respected Easttop harmonica company, they have phosphor-bronze reeds, close reed/slot tolerances, riveted reeds, traditional sandwich-comb design and higher covers to eliminate reed rattle in the low keys. Affordable quality harps, they make a good introduction for those wanting to try PowerBender/PowerDraw without breaking the bank.

Here's the demo video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_Wc7Iqqt9s&t=94s

And the webpages:
http://www.brendan-power.com/harmonicas-10hole.php

I'll have some with me at the Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival in Beijing this weekend and SPAH in St. Louis immediately after.

Re: New PowerBender and PowerDraw Harps

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 4:59 pm
by triona
Not that this tuning were an option to me at the moment, but
Brendan wrote:
Tue Jul 31, 2018 3:53 pm
... riveted reeds ...
Image

Back to the roots. Is this an exception, or does it mark a new standard in the Easttop production? Will Lucky 13 maybe return to riveted reeds too one day? This would be an advantage for maintenance and repair. And it could eliminate some problems with correct alignment of reeds as well.


dear greetings
triona

Re: New PowerBender and PowerDraw Harps

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2018 12:31 am
by Sachlaw
Great to hear these are now available.
I went directly to all PB on diatonic and have not looked back.

Re: New PowerBender and PowerDraw Harps

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2018 2:50 am
by Tyler
Sounds great!

Re: New PowerBender and PowerDraw Harps

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2018 6:17 am
by Brendan
Hi Triona, AFAIK Easttop are sticking with welded reeds for the bulk of their models - the popular T008K diatonic is an exception. My new PowerBender/PowerDraw use T008K reedplates combined with the open-back covers from their Blues Player model, but with a single central cover screw.

Riveted attachment does make reed replacement easier, but it's not that hard to swap welded reeds either. A Lucky 13 player posted a good video on how he does it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAiMsUXQpLc

Re: New PowerBender and PowerDraw Harps

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2018 8:19 am
by alexa
Great vid!

Re: New PowerBender and PowerDraw Harps

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 10:54 pm
by BluesMonkey
I'm looking to get a Lucky 13 as I prefer Low register for many songs. Thinking that either PowerBender or PowerDraw tuning would be useful - which would be best for Blues/Rock?

Re: New PowerBender and PowerDraw Harps

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 4:08 pm
by Sachlaw
BluesMonkey wrote:
Sun Nov 11, 2018 10:54 pm
I'm looking to get a Lucky 13 as I prefer Low register for many songs. Thinking that either PowerBender or PowerDraw tuning would be useful - which would be best for Blues/Rock?
I think much of this would depend on your style:

If you want to keep the 2/5 holes as a draw spilt and the pattern 4-7 holes licks you are used to, then you may want to go with Powerdraw, because it will be the same as Richter tuning, except for holes 8-10. If you like to play multiple positions, you may prefer powerbender. The big difference is holes 4-7, which is the same breath pattern as the powerchromatic.

You can always buy a powerdraw and convert it to powerbender with blu-tak and try out the powerbender, with out actually doing any reed scratching. My original jump into alternate tunings was the purchase of a powerdraw, which I converted in short order to powerbender and never looked back.

In regards to powerbender, Brendan has a very good instructional manual with CD with backing tracks that will teach you the tuning in multiple positions. There are also some good backing tracks for each position and a final multi-keyed backing track for the harmonica overachiever. For 14.50 GBP (Under $20.00 USD) you can get "scruffy" book off Brendan's website of that manual. (http://brendan-power.com/special-offers.php) It comes with the CD. The CD alone is worth that much imo.

I go to blues jams and sit in with with singer/songwriters in my area locally and exclusively play the powerbender tuning. I have recently started incoporating using the Lucky 13s in the PC style tuning, as I find I can phrase the melodies easier, and I perfer the octave range Brendan offers on that harp. For example, if someone calls blues in A, and I want to play second position style (or mixolydian patterns), then I can use a D tuned Lucky 13 in the powerchromatic tuning instead of standard D Richter harp, which starts on a higher octave.