Re: [Harp-L] Hohner reeds

[Steve Baker <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 07.07.2008, at 19:07, Vern Smith wrote:

> > I find their explanation incomplete and unsatisfying.  It sounds  
> > to me as if they are claiming more effect on performance than is  
> > warranted by a miniscule change of flexibility.  I assume that  
> > Steve is repeating Hohner's claim and has not thought this through  
> > for himself.


I was trying to clear up a number of misconceptions about Hohner  
reeds which have been voiced here in the last few days, assumptions  
which were sometimes way off the mark. It's correct that the reed  
tips (not the whole reed though) are now slightly thinner in order to  
increase flexibility, I didn't express myself quite as clearly as I  
should have done here. However, it's pretty condescending to suggest  
I'm parroting what some mythical overlord at Hohner has told me to  
say, as I was directly involved in the development. My observations  
(not Hohner's claims) on reed life are based on my own experience  
over the past three years of playing around 100 live shows a year  
from clubs to festivals on these instruments, in the course of which  
they take a serious hammering. I would say that's a fair basis on  
which to judge. The number of complaints about reeds actually  
breaking off has dropped drastically since these changes were  
introduced. That's a fact.

I won't comment on Vern's remarks about different kinds of wood or  
breaking in instruments gently, but feel obliged to point out that  
other manufacturers make claims which are at least as questionable as  
that and which are unproven in practice. The jury is still out on the  
longevity of stainless steel reeds, for example.

One of the reasons I joined this forum was to try to improve the flow  
of information from Hohner to the playing and paying public and the  
other way around, something which has been much neglected in the past  
and has not surprisingly led to the habit of Hohner-bashing on the  
part of frustrated players. The realities of commercial harmonica  
manufacture are sometimes difficult to convey to the outsider but I'm  
happy to give it a try if members are interested.

Steve

steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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