Re: [Harp-L] Special 20s "built in obsolescence"

[Michael Easton <diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tony,
You never mentioned what reed was bad. Special 20s are not tuned to  
equal temperment.  You need to understand the harp tuning and how it  
will read on a guitar tuner. A quartz chromatic or strobe tuner will  
give you a better overall reading.  The only reeds that will probably  
read null on your meter (if set to the proper A44- setting) is the  
1-4-7-10 blow and the 2 draw.  The accuracy of the reading is  
dependent upon your breathing technique when checking the tuning.

Some players here can fill you in better on how to set the guitar  
tuner to measure reed tuning. I only use strobe tuners so I can't  
tell you how to compensate to get an accurate reading.

The other reeds will be tuned slightly sharp or flat from your tonic  
reeds.   The 5 and 9 draw will read flatter then the other reeds by  
at least 12 cents.

Another thing, reeds can't be bent farther then  the pitch of the  
opposing reed. You may be over bending the reed more then you need to  
causing
premature fatigue.

mike


On Sep 6, 2005, at 9:50 PM, Tony Renshaw wrote:

> I am 1 year into things, and am getting frustrated with the ease at  
> which the Special 20s blow out, or actually bend out. This last C  
> of mine lasted only about 3 weeks and I don't think I was working  
> it all that hard. In fact, I have been in different keys of late,  
> so I reckon it hasn't lasted well at all. It seems they go flat  
> quickly, and I reckon it is the tuning method in the factory that  
> puts many diagonal scores in the base of the reed, where it later  
> cracks. Not good method I reckon. If the reeds need to be flattened  
> initially, well there is something wrong with the initial reed  
> design. I would have thought a reed should only have to be  
> sharpened by the factory. If I am right, well this is built in  
> obsolescence. I was told by a seasoned performer that he uses Lee  
> Oskars as they are significantly stronger reedplates. Is this true?  
> Even my one and only customised is off pitch on one hole using my  
> guitar tuner, and my ear too surprisingly, but I daren't take to  
> the base of a reed intentionally. Any advice or opinion gratefully  
> appreciated.
>
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