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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Cover plate design
Cover plate design
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dchurch
321 posts
Dec 09, 2019
3:43 PM
The vents are regulated with the forefinger. The bottom cover is identical but non-vented.









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Last Edited by dchurch on Dec 09, 2019 3:45 PM
SuperBee
6372 posts
Dec 09, 2019
5:54 PM
Ivan Saric used to (maybe still does?) cut a hole in the cover of his sp20 and use it to effect I suspect rather similar as this would be.
dchurch
322 posts
Dec 09, 2019
7:59 PM
Superbee, That's cool, it adds a bit of legitimacy to this design. I couldn't find anything specific about that on the web but I did read about Ivan using unconventional hand techniques.

I understood that includes sealing everything off then playing while releasing backward air pressure through one reed hole. It's something real easy to do on the Big Six for example. I can easily imagine Ivan exploring something similar using a hole in the cover plate.

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Last Edited by dchurch on Dec 09, 2019 8:00 PM
nacoran
10199 posts
Dec 10, 2019
4:38 AM
Not really what it's for, but I played with toothpicks in the back of my harp, like they were fingers on strings... I'd slide them along the reeds to change pitch.

I got some interesting effects. No idea what it does to the durability of the harp. I even considered mounting them above through holes in the cover on a pivot for better control. To fiddly for my fingers (I'm actually heading out to get assessed for carpal tunnel in a couple minutes) but I get the impression that if someone worked on it it could be an interesting technique.

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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
dchurch
324 posts
Dec 10, 2019
2:31 PM
Nate, The reed lever is a very creative idea. I can imagine it would take a very delicate touch.

I sure hope things go well for you.

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ROBERT TEMPLE II
93 posts
Dec 11, 2019
7:58 AM
This is an interesting design, but I don't see what/how it is supposed to aid in playing. Volume?

Nate your idea to mess with toothpicks over the reeds made me think of a clip I saw, somewhere, where an Asian guy was running smallish magnets up and down or close to steel reeds as he played, made some odd sounds, not what you'd expect, rather otherworldly sounds. I have tried to find the clip just now, no idea where I may've seen that. I know about Seydel's adjustable "All Minor" harp, but the clip I'm referring to yielded a totally different bunch of sounds. Wish I could find it again, maybe someone of you have seen the same clip?
eetechTom
57 posts
Dec 11, 2019
9:30 AM
My favorite thing about that design, is the shape of the cover plate. It combines the Manji type cover, with a pro master type. Love the 4 through hole type screws.
dchurch
327 posts
Dec 11, 2019
6:26 PM
I started looking at the effect of side vents. I decided to get more extreme. Yes the above harp is louder when the vents are open. There is also a change in tone. The change of tone and volume is pretty obvious when the vents are rapidly opened and closed with the forefinger.

I am a big fan of the shape of the Manji covers. The deep finger cradle also works well for easily sealing the vents.

I made another set of covers without vents. The bottom cover of that pair is threaded so the four fasteners just screw right in. That results in a totally smooth bottom cover and no more fumbling with nuts.

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ROBERT TEMPLE II
96 posts
Dec 17, 2019
5:23 PM
Thiscover design would certainly make it easier to adjust the reeds' gaps, if need be. I understand the idea now, guess it could be pretty cool, actually.


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