[Harp-L] Re: Harp-L Digest, Vol 51, Issue 17

[Robert Coble <robertpcoble@xxxxxxxx>]

> Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 12:13:54 -0700
> From: "Mad Dog Friedman" <maddog@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] RE: Seydel circular
> To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Is this same tuning as in the Marine Band SBS (Steve Baker Special 
> Tuning)
> Extended Bending Range Harp?  I have less technical background than 
> anyone
> and all those letters just confuse me but the SBS is interesting any to
> play.
> Mad Dog

No, there is a distinct difference.

From Hohner's Web site:

The "Steve Baker Special" (SBS) uses the same construction as the 
classic
Marine Band 365, but the sound range is extended downwards instead of
upwards. The same tuning and bending capabilities traditionally reserved
for the first three holes of a diatonic harp have been extended downward
over an additional octave.  This allows for typical draw bend phrasings 
to
be played over a range of 2 octaves.

From Coast to Coast Music's Web site:

Standard Richter tuning, but the first three holes are the same notes as
normal holes 1-3 but tuned an octave lower on the C, D and F, giving the
player extended range and bending in the first 9 holes. Holes 3-13 are 
the
same as normal 1-10, and hole 14 is an added blow and draw note on the
high end. The A and G start in the same octave as the normally tuned
diatonic, but have additional notes on the high end. This gives the 
player
a 4 octave range with this tuning. 14 HOLES, 28 REEDS, WOOD COMB,
6 1/4 INCHES LENGTH

Steve Baker Special (Hohner 365SBS) note layout:

BLOW - C-E-G-C-E-G-C-E-G-C-E-G-C-E
HOLE-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14
DRAW-D-G-B-D-G-B-D-F-A-B-D-F-A-B

The "normal" C diatonic notes start in hole 4 on an SBS. This would be
middle C (C4). The SBS starts in hole 1 an octave below middle C (on 
C3).
To fill out the 14 holes, B and E are added on the upper end.

Seydel does not produce a 14-hole with Circular Tuning (AFAIK). If they
did, the note layout would look like this (assuming the same starting 
point
(C3) and based on the C major scale:

BLOW-C-E-G-B-D-F-A-C-E-G-B-D-F-A
HOLE-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14
DRAW-D-F-A-C-E-G-B-D-F-A-C-E-G-B

IIRC, according to John Broecker, Seydel will not custom tune a 
Chromatic
Deluxe with a starting note lower than C3.

HTH,
Crazy ('bout Seydel Circular Tuning diatonics AND chromatics) Bob