HarpNinja
2719 posts
Oct 01, 2012
6:55 AM
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Anyone use the PT valves on a Hohner? I think they are to long/wide for Marine Bands? Thanks!
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Mike
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GMaj7
96 posts
Oct 01, 2012
8:18 AM
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I have.. They are too wide and will get caught on the sides of the comb. The one I installed them on was a diamondwood comb MB Low F. I had to sand down the walls of the comb so the valves could rise and fall without rubbing the edges.
Won't do it ever again unless it were on an aftermarket comb that has thinner tines. Probably aluminum...
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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HarpNinja
2720 posts
Oct 01, 2012
8:28 AM
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Bummer...same issue with a GM or SP20?
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Mike
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GMaj7
97 posts
Oct 01, 2012
8:36 AM
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Definately won't work on SP20, it is possible the Blue Moon aluminum combs for GM are slightly narrower tines and it might work on them. The Seydel valve material can't really be cut any thinner and still cover the slot in my opinion. Even on Seydels where the tines are spaced wider, the suede will pop up and stick if they valves aren't installed in perfect alignment.
They are great valves. I purchased a huge supply 1-slots and just trim the length down to size.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
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arzajac
857 posts
Oct 01, 2012
9:05 AM
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I bought an 8 x 8 inch square of ultrasuede on ebay and cut half-valves to size. They work just fine on a MB.
I glued them on with Krazy Glue.
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Last Edited by on Oct 01, 2012 9:05 AM
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HarpNinja
2721 posts
Oct 01, 2012
9:28 AM
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I just had Hetrick send me an undrilled BR comb, lol. That should work...will be a cool project someday, anyways.
After working on the SUB a bit, I want to give half-valved playing a shot again. The SUB is fantastic, but only in certain keys...and I really, really, really love the Hohner handmade stuff. A half-valved MB or two would be super sweet.
The best part is it takes like 5min to add valves!
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Mike
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
1302 posts
Oct 01, 2012
5:42 PM
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Where there is a razor blade, there is a way.
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David
____________________
At the time of his birth, it was widely accepted that no one man could play that much music so well or raise that much hell. He proved them all wrong.
R.I.P. H. Cecil Payne
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PT
147 posts
Oct 02, 2012
4:49 AM
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Hey guys....before I became a Seydel endorsee I was playing Hohner Meisterklass...the original handmade ones. I put my valves in those with no problem at all. I just trimmed to the width I needed and glued the valve just under the rivet because the depth of the comb required it. They held just fine. In fact they are still installed today and function perfectly. The PT Gazell valves that are sold today from Seydel are cut for the 1847's and the Session Steel but can be trimmed both to length and width. These valves should work on any harmonica except those that have a horizontal support bar running through the comb like old SP20s and Lee Oskars. This would be true of any valve since it is an opening and closing device and the horizontal bar is in the way.
PT
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"Life...10 Holes & 20 Reeds At A Time"
Last Edited by on Oct 02, 2012 4:56 AM
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HarpNinja
2722 posts
Oct 02, 2012
5:39 AM
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Thanks, guys. I had a set of PT valves and quickly used up the pre-sized ones on SUB30's. As time permits, I will cut back the longer ones for the top octave of other harps.
Having played half-valved before, it is a different technique and fairly easy to get unwanted noise when not paying attention. PT uses the term "shade" to describe the use of the valved bends. The half valve bends aren't too different than SUB30 bends other than the fact you can bend the SUB to the floor with no noise and full tone.
I always found the sweet spot of half valves, with my limited experience, to be good to swoop into a note but not wail on. I've had no problems with valving the SUB's, but I am sure it is a little trickier with a regular diatonic?
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Mike
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PT
148 posts
Oct 02, 2012
9:01 AM
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@harpninja.....what kind of unwanted noise are you talking about exactly....I'm not following you here?
Also, I can bend a whole tone on quite a few of my valved bends, both blow and draw.
As far as full tone, I offer my three CDs I have recorded since 2005 as an example. My latest release "2 Days Out" features a lot of Low pitched harmonicas such as low Db and Low Eb and Low F where I do many valved bends both blow and draw.
Of course this will always be a subjective discussion and I will not tell you that single reed bends sound exactly like double reed bends, but I believe with practice one can get very close.
Will Scarlett asked me to demonstrate this at SPAH this year and had me blow bend hole 2 down a half step while he listened. He then had me do a duel reed bend on hole 2 draw. He thought there was almost no difference.
Bending notes in general is in my opinion an advanced technique on diatonic. Bending notes to pitch and holding them is another step up from that. And valved bends or Sub 30 bends are yet another level above that. Both of these instruments require control and practice.
There is no magic bullet!
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"Life...10 Holes & 20 Reeds At A Time"
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HarpNinja
2723 posts
Oct 02, 2012
9:17 AM
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My technique isn't refined enough to be really great at it....and I've only really tried it on higher keyed harps. I can get some whistling or hear the valve flap on keys like D and Eb on holes 7-10.
I think I am bending from too far back in my throat....it isn't the harp or valves, it is my attack. I might have some gapping issues too, IDK.
I have a PT Session Steel in D and a Manji in Eb...I have a Bb Session enroute. The Eb I valved myself, and AFAIK, I valved correctly...light glue fastened near the "rivet" with the valve covering all but the very tip of the reed. Maybe I screwed up? I can get the 7 down almost to pitch, but not past it, for example.
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Mike
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HarpNinja
2724 posts
Oct 02, 2012
9:51 AM
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PT...
I would agree that you can get scary close with single reed bends to the timbre of double. The turnoff, originally for me, was note layout as I am an overbend player. The timbre piece is moot to me. Every method of bending creates a change in timbre.
Now, the note layout is hugely advantageous to me.
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Mike
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PT
149 posts
Oct 02, 2012
10:41 AM
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@harpninja.....understood and I agree. I was just curious at to what you meant by noise.
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"Life...10 Holes & 20 Reeds At A Time"
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jim
1309 posts
Oct 02, 2012
2:39 PM
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They work.
SP20: no problems, easiest to install.
MBs: the big deal is to cut the comb deeper to leave room for valves.
GMs: no idea about the stock comb, I never used stock GM combs.
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
1307 posts
Oct 02, 2012
10:25 PM
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Dear PT,
You Rule.
David
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David
____________________
At the time of his birth, it was widely accepted that no one man could play that much music so well or raise that much hell. He proved them all wrong.
R.I.P. H. Cecil Payne
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