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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Golden Melody harder to play?
Golden Melody harder to play?
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BlueDoc
69 posts
Oct 05, 2012
10:50 PM
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Hey GM players,
I've been playing GMs for a while now, and I generally like 'em a lot. But with several of mine, it seems harder to blow through them than it does with my other kinds of harps (SP20s, MBs, etc.). With GMs, I seem to get less volume of sound for the same amount of breath pressure, if that makes sense. When I blow through them, it almost feels as if something is limiting the flow of air, but I've taken them apart and have found nothing wrong.
Do you think that this is:
(a) Just a random fluke--I just happened to get more duds when I bought GMs over the last couple years than when I bought other kinds of harps;
or:
(b) Something more or less inherent in GMs.
In either case, can something be done to improve the performance of these harps? Different comb? Better seal between comb and reed plates? Open up the back of the covers? Embossing?
Thanks in advance for your experience and insight....
Mark
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arzajac
861 posts
Oct 06, 2012
4:23 AM
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GMs are typically very loud. The first one I got was so loud that I was embarrassed to play it because I played so badly and didn't want anyone else to hear me practice.
The problems you describe can be addressed.
-The gaps are certainly wrong on yours.
-The reed profiles may be a problem, too (when you push the reed through the slot it should all go through at the same time; if there is a "dip" or if one part goes through before the remainder of the reed, then it won't play properly no matter what the gap is)
-Embossing will make your harp brighter, but this will not address any of the symptoms you describe here. In fact, it will make them worse.
-Stock GM combs are airtight enough so that they are quite playable out-of-the-box. However, you may have a defect or something in yours.
There is no magic solution, though. For example, you can't just buy an aftermarket comb and expect that to solve your problems.
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harp-er
196 posts
Oct 06, 2012
8:50 AM
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I don't do more than adjust the reed gaps for 4-5-6 OB's (mostly concerned with the 6)and the 7 OD, and go back and adjust them again as needed if they get to small for what may be my little bit harder style of playing. I've found the GM volume to be pretty loud too. Recently I've replaced the stock combs with either bamboo or corian, and I like them. I've tried several other harp models, like everyone, and overall I like the GM best. Can't say that I experience them as more difficult to blow.
I'm far from any kind of expert, for sure, but my experience suggests that those darned reed gaps are pretty important.
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Matthew
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laurent2015
447 posts
Oct 06, 2012
10:24 AM
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Hem...
I bought the whole set -twelve in Major- and I can say that only five have no problems.
Make your choice, for the 7 others, among those issues:
-1D has a metallic noise
- 2D 3D: not good bending
- 10B: not good bending
- on the twelve pieces: the reedplates stick out from the comb and make kind of relief.
I'm not lodging a complaint, I'm just saying that statistics are mediocre.
The sound seems however good IMO.
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BlueDoc
70 posts
Oct 06, 2012
9:24 PM
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Thanks, guys. I will check those gaps.
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jiceblues
91 posts
Oct 07, 2012
11:06 AM
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I tried 3 GM's , i find these harder to play OOTB than SP20's , MB's or even BH's .I don't know why .I suppose that some models are suitable for some persons and others no...It seems that i just can't play on GM's...
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