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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Fatter wider reeds?

Fatter wider reeds?

Page: 1

Oisin
500 posts
Mar 10, 2010
3:00 PM

I've been playing my low c echo vamper (same as a MB 364) a lot lately, its great for looping rythyms on akai headrush and then playing melodies with a normal c harp.
One thing occurred to me while trying to get a smooth bend on the really low notes.(Note to BBQ Bob..yeah I know...breathforce is everything!)
These reeds are very long in order to get those low notes. Would it be possible to get the same note from a wider shorter reed? I don't know if this would make them easier to bend.
Is there an optimum width/length reeds have to be before they sound? I imagine a reedplate with wider shorter reeds at the low notes and getting thinner and longer towards the top end. Is there a reason why this wouldn't work.

Just a thought that came into my head.

barbequebob
585 posts
Mar 10, 2010
3:11 PM

You could, but the problem is that you need huge counterweights on the reeds that would eventually put too much stress on the reed and would blow out faster and actually make it harder, NOT easier to play, and on top of that, the tone would be shrill and thin, and basically what you'd be trying to make is the short slot Asian made type of harp.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte

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