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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Low harps - buy, or make?
Low harps - buy, or make?
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robbert
156 posts
Nov 05, 2012
4:11 PM
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I am finding it increasingly more useful to the bands I am in, to not only be a soloist, but to play effective backup. This has led me to want to acquire a set of Thunderbirds, as I understand they are extremely well designed and playable.
I believe that low range will not only provide a terrific supportive texture to the music, without getting in the way of anything, but could also be great for some lead work.
The problem for me is the expense. They are pricey. I already have Sp. 20 and B.R. Lows in E, Eb, D, F, F#,and these work great...but I am interested in the Low C, G, A, Bb, and LLF, but having tried the Seydel LLF, found it to be very nice, but problematic with banging the cover plate, that age old issue with low harps. Thunderbirds, of course, don't have that problem.
I've contemplated making a set of low harps using solder to weight the reeds, but this is tricky. I've tried it. It's time consuming and requires skill that only a lot of practice would give me. And there is the potential cover plate problem again.
The Seydel low harps available in various makes are less expensive, but not available in all those keys, and if they are like the Seydel LLF, well, I might be better off just spending the money on the T-birds.
Any thoughts? I know the T-birds, by all accounts, are really good...I'm trying to figure a way around the $600.00 +...anyone have experience making low harps, or trying the various Seydels?
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nacoran
6179 posts
Nov 05, 2012
8:01 PM
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You might start off with blue tacking some harps to tune them down. As for reed rattle, some people bang out the cover a little on the low end to give the reeds more room to swing. With my LLF I just learned not to play too hard, but even still, when I'm out of practice on it it rattles sometimes.
I know Jim makes super low harps. He's tuned one all the way down to LLD. He might have some advice on how to DIY the low tuning.
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Nate
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spackle20
37 posts
Nov 05, 2012
8:21 PM
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I just converted a harp to a Power Bender variant using a lot of solder. I think the low notes are fine. The high notes seem a little stiff.
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mustamuri
10 posts
Nov 06, 2012
11:08 AM
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I tuning one suzuki Low F in Low C , and one Low F in Low Eb in my own spesial tuning , the first I practice is old Tombo A thad I tuned in Low F . The low C harp I made insaid wood and cover plates wood and not hit in covers , I am not good yet this things , I just start a month a first one .
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HarpNinja
2862 posts
Nov 06, 2012
11:18 AM
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I LOVE the Tbird and feel they are worth the price. The STAINLESS STEEL Seydel's are great harps too.
My solution to this was to buy Marine Bands in available low keys (and mod the bottom coverplate), buy 1847's in the available keys, and then by Tbirds in the remaining keys (like low A and Low Low F).
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Mike
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arzajac
881 posts
Nov 06, 2012
11:23 AM
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Robert: I recommend a Big River in a low key. You can tune it down further and not have much problems with the reeds hitting the coverplates. If you use BlueTak, you will find that even if the 1 Draw reed hits the coverplate, the bluetak really reduces the effect to being almost unnoticeable.
Apparently BlueTak lasts for decades on harmonica reeds.
Spackle20: I have found that swapping the 9 and 10 hole blow and draw reeds for one another makes it a lot easier to convert from Richter to Powerbender. All that is left to do is lower the pitch of reeds and maybe adjust the pitch upwards by a semitone on one hole (can't remember which one from memory)
I have converted a full set and they all play nicely from top to bottom.
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arzajac
882 posts
Nov 06, 2012
11:23 AM
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(OMG, a double-post! I have been possessed by BBQ Bob!)
Robert: I recommend a Big River in a low key. You can tune it down further and not have much problems with the reeds hitting the coverplates. If you use BlueTak, you will find that even if the 1 Draw reed hits the coverplate, the bluetak really reduces the effect to being almost unnoticeable.
Apparently BlueTak lasts for decades on harmonica reeds.
Spackle20: I have found that swapping the 9 and 10 hole blow and draw reeds for one another makes it a lot easier to convert from Richter to Powerbender. All that is left to do is lower the pitch of reeds and maybe adjust the pitch upwards by a semitone on one hole (can't remember which one from memory)
I have converted a full set and they all play nicely from top to bottom.
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Last Edited by on Nov 06, 2012 11:24 AM
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boris_plotnikov
803 posts
Nov 06, 2012
1:20 PM
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I've made for myself two 1847 in LowBb (one by retuning LC, other by retuning maximum closest configurated). I use lowF, lowEb, lowD, lowC pretty often (I also have lowE, lowDb and two lowF# but almost never didn't use them live). I also have Seydel Favorite in LLF, but I don't feel I'm ready to use it live. LBb seems the lowest harp I'm comfortable with for current moment.
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robbert
158 posts
Nov 07, 2012
6:55 AM
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Thanks everyone, for all your suggestions. What a great forum! I'm going to review all the comments and whatever else comes in. I'm likely going to attempt one re-tuning effort...and start saving for a T-bird or two...thanks again.
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