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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Delta Frost Conversion to Powerbender
Delta Frost Conversion to Powerbender
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scottfos
1 post
Dec 24, 2013
6:08 PM
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I'm new to the forum, but thought I would share my recent experience converting a Delta Frost to Powerbender tuning. I've been playing on and off for over a decade, but have been recently dabbling in alternate tunings. I really like Bendan Power's Powerbender tuning and I also really like the sound of the phosphor bronze reeds (Delta Frost and Bluesmaster). Combining the two required me to roll up my sleeves and break out the tools. Having done a little re-tuning already, I'm familiar with filing, sanding, and blu-tack techniques. I use blu-tack for big changes (1+ semi-tones), and scraping for small changes to get the correct temperament. The tricky part of the conversion was swapping draw and blow reeds for holes 8, 9, and 10. Since the reeds are welded to the reed plates, I had to build a tool out of an old hack saw blade for removing the reeds. I used the reed replacement technique shown by Brendan at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kChMKU7LEVo. That process worked fairly well, but I'm still struggling a bit with reed alignment and how to easily open up the reed hole so that I can fine tune the placement. I used 18-8 0-80 thread stainless steel screws (http://www.mcmaster.com/#91772a052/=pyd2c5), tapping the holes after they were drilled out (no nuts). I'm wondering if the screws will back out after playing. I've seen references to using superglue to prevent this and will probably try that if needed.
Since I'm a beginner at much of this, the whole process took me about 10 hours for a single harmonica - including a lot of experimenting, setting up tools, and refining my reed adjustment techniques. It's a good think I like doing this and don't have to make money at it. Having learned a lot in the process, the next one should be much faster.
The resulting instrument turned out nice. Gapping is decent, tuning is within a couple of cents on each read, and I even did some embossing for the first time to reduce air gaps. I'm sure it's not perfect, but I'm happy with my first major conversion project.
Comments are welcome, and if any fellow amateurs are going through the same process and have questions, I'll try my best to help.
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Brendan Power
398 posts
Dec 25, 2013
9:15 AM
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We'll done scottfos! Tuning Richter to PowerBender requires 10 reeds to change pitch, and you worked out your own way of doing it including swapping welded reeds. That kind of trial and error process is invaluable for learning.
If you're interested, there are quicker ways. I have done lots of these retunings and have it down to under 15 minutes. After disassembling put small drops of solder on the 8 reeds that need to be lowered. I use a rubber polishing wheel on slow speed to tune the blow reeds up to their new pitches. Reassemble and fine tune the blow reeds. Then raise 5 & 6 draw, which have solder on them.
The trickiest bit is raising 9 & 10 draw. You need to be very careful, but with the polishing wheel you can get them up the 2 & 3 semitones required respectively.
That's how I've made all my personal PoweBenders and many for customers. It gets pretty quick after you have a few under your belt.
The rubber polishing wheel is the key to fast retuning. To make the solder take, lightly buff the end of all the reeds you want to lower before soldering.
Last Edited by Brendan Power on Dec 25, 2013 9:18 AM
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harpwrench
741 posts
Dec 25, 2013
9:24 AM
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I threw a YouTube video up awhile back showing how I solder a reed to lower pitch, if it helps. It's really brief, because the process itself is very fast.
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scottfos
2 posts
Dec 25, 2013
11:36 AM
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Brendan - Thanks for the feedback post. With my rough technique, I've found that tuning reeds (especially the smaller ones) up more than a semitone or two usually results in a premature reed failure. I've not tried the rubber polishing wheel. I recently ordered a couple of Shofu polishing bits and am hoping that will be an improvement. I've not measured them, but it seems like the phosphor bronze reeds are thinner than most brass reeds. While it seems like I don't have to take as much metal off for an equivalent tone change, they are also a bit easier to screw up. I've had much better luck tuning reeds down. That's why I went for the reed swap. I'm assuming that the reed life will be much better.
harpwrench - I'll look your video up. I've avoided solder so far. I like using blu-tack for big changes because it keeps me from accidentally destroying things. However, I don't like the fact that it's tough to do much reed shaping after you get the stuff on the reed - too easy to change the mass distribution. There are always trade-offs.
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Martin
568 posts
Dec 26, 2013
5:23 AM
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Brendan sells these, of course. I wonder which brand of harp is it that he works on?
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rainman
120 posts
Dec 26, 2013
7:47 AM
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I have a low F Delta Frost that I really like and would like to have it converted to Brendan's Power Draw Tuning. I believe it would require 6 reeds to change pitch. Anyone offering that service?
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arzajac
1229 posts
Dec 26, 2013
8:57 AM
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Rainman: I do.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
Last Edited by arzajac on Dec 26, 2013 8:57 AM
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