Re: [Harp-L] The final word on Comb Materials

[MundHarp@xxxxxxx]

Before the "SPAH" in Detroit, August 1997, I believed that comb  materials 
had a considerable affect on the sound of the harmonica. 
Vern proved to me at that I was 100%  wrong.
Whereas, I appreciate that to the player there is a difference to the  "feel" 
of the harp when you are playing it, I think that we proved at that  seminar 
that the audience simply can't tell the difference!
No more no less...  And YES, I was the harmonicist demonstrating the  various 
comb materials at that seminar. I WANTED THERE TO BE A DIFFERENCE TO THE  
SOUND! There wasn't. These days I prefer a metal comb on my harmonica, but not  
because of the sound. Because it feels good and doesn't swell and  crack like 
wooden combs do!
John Walden
London
England
 
 
 
In a message dated 23/12/2008 19:37:14 GMT Standard Time, jevern@xxxxxxx  
writes:

Many  have tried to have the last word and then declare the subject closed.

I  may have started the discussions about comb materials in the 90's when I  
challenged the notions that "wood sounds warm" and "metal sounds  brilliant" 
and (worst of all) "plastic sounds plasticky."  On my  part, this has been a 
continuous challenge that resulted in two formal  comparisons at SPAH97 
organized by me and at Buckeye 98? organized by  James Thaden. Another result 
is long-standing $1000 wager that no one can  discriminate among materials on 
the basis of harp sound alone.

The  comb-materials myth seems to me to be fueled by a wish-to-believe that  
arises from the following:
1. The need of those selling harmonicas to  differentiate their competitive 
products.
2. The romantic notion that  the the harmonica is more than just a machine 
and has a mystique.
3.  The false analogy with soundboards in stringed instruments where 
materials  do affect sound.
4. The false analogy that exotic materials should produce  exotic sounds.
5. Failure to appreciate the universal, subjective human  tendency to hear 
what we wish and/or expect to hear.
6. Desire for a  way to sound better that doesn't require practice.
7. The unreliability of  anecdotal experiences and too-small statistical 
samples.

At one  time, there seemed to be a Harp-l consensus that differences arising 
from  material were definitely not perceptible to listeners but might be  
perceptible to players.  Because it is much more difficult to do, it  has not 
been tested under adequately controlled conditions.  Although  I am doubtful, 
there is still some room for discussion here.

Then  someone unfamiliar with the history of the subject on Harp-l comes 
along  and claims that their comb material produces a certain identifiable 
tone  ...and we are back at the beginning.

Whether or not comb materials are  perceptible to the human ear is a 
(scientifically provisional) fact and  not an opinion. If only one person 
could reliably and repeatably  demonstrate the ability to hear the claimed 
differences under controlled  conditions, everyone would be immediately 
convinced.  That person  could also win my $1000 wager.  The truth is out 
there.  We have  two challenges...to find it, and to get it accepted.  Then 
we can  move on.

Vern

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Frank  Evers" <frank@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent:  Monday, December 22, 2008 10:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] The final word on  Comb Materials


Am Dienstag, 23. Dezember 2008 schrieb Tony  Eyers:
> I notice another debate on comb material. Time to end it for  once
> and for all.

Nice try, but lets face it, they LOVE this  particular topic ;)

--  
Gruß,Frank

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_______________________________________________
Harp-L is  sponsored by SPAH,  http://www.spah.org
Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l