Re: [Harp-L] long slot short slot -- was: Suzuki Firebreath Reed Update

["John Kerkhoven" <solo_danswer@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A little clarification goes a long way. Thank you for that, Winslow.

I have one further question.

I compare my D and Eb harps. Sure enough, the slots are the same. Hence, the
reeds are of the same length. The 1 and 2 draw reeds on the D have extra
weight at the tips than the respective reeds on the Eb.

So the question is, is there any difference between the reeds that have no
extra weight at the tips? E.g. differences in thickness?

Or is it simply the case that the source ("minted" if you will) reed for a
D-harp 5 draw is identical to the source reed for an E-flat 5 draw, and that
the differences in pitch are achieved from tuning before the harps hit the
market?

I presume the latter, but I don't know for sure. Anyone?

John



Winslow wrote:


> ...
>
> Most diatonics have two overall sizes of reed collections on a
> reedplate; one size with longer reeds for lower key harps (up to C or
> Db), and a shorter sizer with shorter reeds for higher keys starting
> around D. In addition, some models have longer reeds than other models.
> For instance, the Hohner MS series has longer reeds overall than the
> "handmade"  models, and the Toots hard Bopper has long slot reeds,
> while other 270-style chromatics in C from Hohner, including the recent
> (since about 2002) Toots Mellow Tone, have short-slot reeds.
>
>  ...