Well, I've been working on a SUB30 in A since SPAH (about two hours total time). After following Brendan's lead, I've got it playing well, for the most part.
Even after some pretty intensive work, it has a very mellow and warm sound - sounds nothing like a Marine Band or GM...maybe like a stock SP20?
The issue I am having is noise from the valves on the draw side (or I think that is what is making the noise). I get a slapping sound when moving to blow 1-4. I thought maybe it was the extra reeds on the blow plate, so I taped those off. The harp plays better, but the noise is still there.
It plays great, but makes a flapping sound when I attack the note regardless of pressure. Holes 1-9 play very well (the 3 bends are money, but I need to tweak 1 and 2). The 10 blow bend needs some work, mostly on my end, I am sure.
For a straight Richter harp, it plays really really well now, but that was putting in the same sort of mods I'd do on a full custom. In addition there are 30 reeds and wind savers (damn you wind savers!).
I wouldn't hesitate to play this live right now if it weren't for the flapping - which I am sure there is a fix for.
Hi Ninja--I just saw this video by Richard Sleigh--who has also been working on this new harp. I haven't got one yet--but Richard seems to have a solution for low-end slapping. . .
Hi Mike, if you follow Richard's suggestion and tape off the bottom 4 Sympathetic Reeds, you can remove the inside valves on holes 1-4. They will be the cause of the slapping sound.
They are only required for the stock configuration. You'll notice a small reduction in response on the blow reeds, but the feel with them removed will be the same as any normal unvalved harp.
Last Edited by on Sep 08, 2012 12:54 PM
Sweet! I did tape the reeds off (before op). Is there a preferred tape, etc? I just used regular tape as it was what I had after seing the Sleigh vid last night.
Problem solved. I lose the extra bends in holes 1-4, but don't care. The one ob is there and 4 is too, really. Thanks again! ---------- Mike VHT Special 6 Mods Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas - When it needs to come from the soul...
Hmmm. I don't get it. Giving up those 1-4 blow bends seems too much of a sacrifice to me. For someone with your customizing skill, Mike I would have considered replacing the valves.
I haven't seen a SUB30. I'm guessing they have plastic valves which are more prone to slapping. I make valves from a swatch of ultra-suede. I quickly pass a flame under the material to burn away some of the fuzz and make them a touch stiffer but still flexible enough to open and close. This material doesn't get sticky with condensation; hence no slapping.
Last Edited by on Sep 08, 2012 6:53 PM
Roverharp.. Good point..I replaced the top 4 using ultra-suede. Of course, that was out of need, not design. I muddled up a valve when I got careless taking off the top cover. They do work well...though, the new valves
Not to jack the thread.. Mr. Sleigh put out some great information in keeping with his outstanding rep. Thx Richard!
Thx also to Mike for the contribution.
---------- Greg Jones 16:23 Custom Harmonicas greg@1623customharmonicas.com 1623customharmonicas.com
Last Edited by on Sep 08, 2012 7:44 PM
I'm wondering if the slapping is more pronounced in an A sub. I have a C and I think that the slight taps that I hear in my harp are barely noticeable. The windsavers in my chromatic are louder and I don't much mind them either.
Is this something that gets picked up by a microphone? I just can't see that happening with my harp. I think some players make a lot more noise doing other things that I tend to hear (like smacking their lips).
Mine's not perfect, but overall I think the thing is a real trip.
Last Edited by on Sep 09, 2012 1:33 AM
@HarpNinja - try using doctors tape, it can handle moisture pretty well.
@Chickentheif - possible that the microphone/videocameras inbuilt limiter/compressor takes up the slapping sound. I dont hear it so much acoustically on my A SUB30. On the higher keys of SUB30, I have not notice the slapping sound. ---------- http://www.filipjers.com
I thought I had micropore tape like that, but couldn't find it. I think I threw it out this spring when spring cleaning, but for initial testing, regular tape worked well. Thanks!
The slapping was very evident moving from draw to blow. Totally would have been picked up. Eventually, I will try revalving with different material, but I have no need to at the moment.
I didn't notice the slapping before taping, but I then took tape off and it was still there. I think in customizing the reeds and slots, I made it air tight enough sans tape to create the noise. If you block off the sympathetic reeds with a finger, you can hear what it will sound like taped up. It was slight by then for me, but as I was more worried about a great playing Richter harp, a no brainer to tape.
Wondering why so many adjustments have to be made on these supposedly breakthough harps? Seems at $200 a pop they would have come out of the gates a well oiled machine.
