GermanHarpist
1599 posts
Jun 25, 2010
5:02 AM
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The reed and reed-plate materials were not mentioned on this forum... However obviously it is of importance when it comes to sound and customizability.
Does anybody know which alloys/metals are used for the different harp model reeds/reed-plates?
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barbequebob
977 posts
Jun 25, 2010
9:06 AM
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I can't speak specifically for each individual model but some of the materials that have been used are many different grades of brass over the years (there are roughly 500 different grades, but half of them haven't been made since prior to WWII), poshpor broze (which is essentially a brass), stainless steel, plastic, and beryllium copper alloy, and that's for the reeds, but for the plates, all different grades of brass, plus also aluminum (I have seen some 1040's-early 1950's Hohner 64 Chromatics use them and tho they sound great, but every harp customizer I know of, especially the ones specializing on chromatics have often said they can hell to work with).
Plastic has been used for reeds for models aimed at kids for toys, but I've hard a few chromatic guys talk about them used on prototypes for chromatics with flat out horrible results.
Obviously, there are probably more than this.
The original pre-MS Meisterklasse used beryllium copper alloy as does the Silver Concerto chromatic, and earlier versions of the Super 64X chromatic.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Last Edited by on Jun 25, 2010 11:19 AM
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Oisin
582 posts
Jun 25, 2010
9:29 AM
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The Echo Vamper harps from Hohner (Old European version of MB364) state the reeds are made with Bell Metal (Phosphor bronze). Some of the super Vampers I have state "real brass reedplates" on the box.
Most of the professional customisers and older experienced player like BBQ Bob have said that the pre-war reeds were much better quality than post so there must have been a change in the manufacturing process and I'd imagine that brass or bronze would have been in short supply during and after the war which might explain the dip in quality.
I've always wondered why no-one ever thought about using ceramics not just for combs but for reeds as well. Modern ceramics technology is incredible and I'm sure a reed could be made with the right material.
In the Pharma company I work for we use ceramics in many applications and there are flexible ceramics that, I would imagine, could be used for reeds.
One for Brad Harrison to develop I think!
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Oisin
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nacoran
2272 posts
Jun 25, 2010
10:45 AM
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I'd still like to see something with titanium or one of the titanium alloy memory metals. The big problem would be you'd have to get the reed right. Tinkering tends to undue itself with memory metal. There are also liquid metals, which have some properties that might work for reeds. I have a all plastic Magnus harp. I haven't cleaned it up and played it though.
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Nate
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barbequebob
979 posts
Jun 25, 2010
10:51 AM
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The famous bell metal brass that Hohner once used hasn't been available since prior to WWII, as most of those small factories making them have been out of business since around that time and so there are fewer choices for brass and most harp companies aren't gonna be able to buy it in quantities sufficent enough to make it worthwhile for the big brass manufacturers to do it.
Titanium has been used for comb material and Dave Lavoie makes titanium combs for the MS series, but I have yet to see it being used for reeds or reedplates.
Some metals can be just far too hard and/or far too difficult to work with for use in harmonica reeds or reed plates.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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nacoran
2274 posts
Jun 25, 2010
11:01 AM
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Oisin, actually, some of that ceramic bullet resistant transparent aluminum would be cool for a reed plate! Of course it's still insanely expensive, but it will stop a .50 caliber round! And it's transparent!
Transparent Aluminum
Memory Metal
Liquid Metal
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Nate
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Oisin
583 posts
Jun 26, 2010
5:16 AM
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Watch this space Nate. When the oil runs out so does plastic and that's when ceramics will come into their own.
In 100 years your GMs and Special 20's will be worth a furtune. Tell your grandkids that, then ask for a little of that money up front and go get yourself a HarpGear!
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Oisin
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nacoran
2277 posts
Jun 26, 2010
11:37 AM
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Oisin, there are plastics made from plants though. Still, ceramics are really cool. There are lots of new types of materials coming out all the time. I just read this article yesterday:
Metal Rubber
It may not be a good harmonica material, but it's amazing what they are doing these days. I actually checked the price on the Alon (transparent aluminum) but it would be a couple hundred bucks for a piece for a comb!
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Nate
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