I'm going to a harp workshop next month with Phil Wiggins and Grant Dermody--one of the things being taught is swing and jazz using a Bb melody maker harp. It seems that Lee Oskar doesn't make them in that key.
Anybody know where I can get one? The brand doesn't matter--just the tuning.
Mm is where both 5 and 9 draw are raised a half step? I've been using CT and that is really cool for jazz... As for buying one...I don't know, I just broke out a file. It's not too challenging
2001 posts! At first I thought it was a very old post, then I realized this site wasn't around back then!
I know Seydel will let you lay out a harmonica any way you want for a fee, but I'm not sure what the turnaround is on that. That's the only place short of a customizer or DIY I know of.
Hi. Not sure where you're based but here in the UK I got a MM harp from a guy called Sugar Caine. He retuned a standard GM for me. It's a great harp. I know he ships worldwide, if you're outside the UK.
I'm too backlogged to get it done and back to you in time, but I only charge $5 extra on top of the service fee (any level service) for this kind of retuning.
I think DIY is the only way you'll get it done in time. I don't think Seydel's custom tuning from the factory can ship it out that fast. I may be wrong.
Here's what I can offer. If you have concerns around retuning a reed because you're worried you will wreck the harp, I can offer you a safety net. If you wreck a harp or two in the process (which I doubt you will...), I will service the harp(s) and fix the damage at no additional cost.
Yeah--I think I'll have to DIY it--I haven't done any of this kind of stuff for a long time, so it's painful. The 5 and 9 draw get raised a semitone--which is doable without too much trouble--but the 3 blow gets raised two full semitones--I started trying that last night and it was making me crazy.
This morning I worked out a way to do some reed swaps that will probably work. I just gotta find a C and a B harp that I don't need in my bone yard.
Very generous offer, Arzajac--I'd definitely be doing it through you if I had found out about this sooner.
I used to have a shop for this kind of thing--but I don't have that any more. I do still have an extensive bone yard though.
The three blow is the easiest because there's lots of brass there to begin with. Focus on the last 1/5th of the reed at the very tip. You will cover a lot of ground by working on the very tip of the reed. It's in the low octave so use gentle breath when you check the tuning or you'll think the pitch is a lot lower than it actually is. It can seem like you are getting nowhere if you blow too hard.
Don't worry if the tip curves while you are tuning it. Get the pitch where you want it and then apply a little pressure/counterpressure with a toothpick to straighten out the tip.
The 5 draw and 9 draw are a lot thinner - it's more involved. But on the flip side, you get there faster on thinner reeds. Again, stay on the tip of the reed - the last 15 per cent of the length for the most part.
Sometimes rather than raising the pitch i'll just replace the reed to the desired pitch. I do this when dealing with very small reeds that can't afford to lose much brass.
---------- Affordable Reed Replacement Marks Harmonica Tune-up
Well, I've put a bit of time into retuning an old MB, but I'm really rusty at this stuff.
I did find out that Rockin' Ron can supply Seydel MM tuned harps in any key in a fairly short time--I'll be ordering one from him as soon as I establish the exact key I need--since Lee Oskar labels these like the minor harps--in the cross key--it of course confuses the whole issue of exactly what key do I need to get--will it be played in F, Bb, Eb--or whatever. . .
I've got them already built in (Bb).. It would have to be 1847 to get it out by tomorrow.. Or Session Steel and out by Thurs ---------- Greg Jones 16:23 Custom Harmonicas greg@1623customharmonicas.com 1623customharmonicas.com
@Superbee--\ Yes. Melody Maker is Paddy Richter plus double country--so if you retuned a C harmonica, you would raise blow 3 to A and draw 5 and 9 to F#. So to make a Bb, you would start with an Eb.
Last Edited by Gnarly on Aug 10, 2014 11:12 PM
Too late, GMaj7--I already ordered from Rockin' Ron. Turned out that I need an F and a Bb. Rockin' Ron himself called me about 5 minutes after I placed the order and assured me I'll have them hot from Germany by next Monday--pretty amazing service!
I wish I had figured out that I needed to start with an Eb, Gnarly--but I'm just not that smart anymore. I was working with a Bb that I eventually messed up before I gave up on it. Oddly enough, I would have ended up with an F MM harp--which I could have used.
The LO naming thing for minor harps and MM just makes me crazy!! ----------
Eld Whaler. Nice to see you posting. That cd that you sent me a few years ago popped up in rotation the otherr day and I was thinking about you. I see you are back to the Wiggins Dermody thing. Cheers, dude.
Eb is so high, I would think an Olive or a Hammond would make a good candidate. Or a SP20 with Turbolids--that's probably the best solution. Update--found an old SP20 Eb, cleaned it up and tuned it up. So now I'm ready, if I need it, it's there. I have a Bb Major cross already in the kit, but sometimes you want those big bends--no flat 7 on hole 2 with Major cross.
Last Edited by Gnarly on Aug 13, 2014 3:58 PM
I like the harp I put together, but it's pretty high! Holes 7-10 on an Eb? Way up there . . . Captcha is HatTV3
Last Edited by Gnarly on Aug 13, 2014 3:59 PM
I got the harps yesterday--hats off to Rockin' Ron for great, fast and considerate service.
These are my first Seydels--I've got some serious woodshedding to do with this tuning--but I gotta say, these Blues Session Seydels are awesome harps so far--very comfortable to hold and play--they just have a quality feel to them. I've been a Hohner MB and SP20 fan for years--but I sure like these. . . ----------
"Too Pretty for the Blues."
Last Edited by oldwailer on Aug 15, 2014 8:33 AM
The breathing pattern on a Melody Maker on top is the same as a standard tuned harmonica, in that draw 7 (and 8, 9, and 10) is lower than the blow note on that hhjeole
