From: Douglas Tate Date: Sat, 19 Oct 1996 21:57:22 +0100 Subject: Re windsaving flaps
A couple of days ago I wrote to the list about a post by Mike Curtis. It doesn't appear to have arrived and I have deleted the original.
Mike Curtis mentioned, (16 Oct) ################## Douglas says the film from CDs makes nice home made valves. I've used overhead transparency film. It doesn't seem to me that the exact material is all that critical (corrections and reasons welcome). #################
I suggested that they could be used. About a week after that the harmonica I had put them on seized up into a sticky, poppy, non sounding morass of awfulness. The trouble was that the tiny bobbles on the underside were not high enough to allow easy breaking of the inevitable liquid seal.
I then ate humble pie, wrote to the list and explained that all was not well with my brilliant idea.
May I suggest that you don't do it!!
He then went on to say: about Tone ############################### While I haven't heard Douglas Tate personally, I would imagine his fabled acoustic volume is a direct factor of using both of these techniques - internal and external resonance. #################################
Fable....a ridiculous story, a falsehood, , an old wive's tale, to relate as if true, to invent, to feign
Thanks Mike.... Your fabled intelligence has let you down here!
Actually, my actual noise, ( which has been likened to a death Sound) ....
Yeh, OK, I make a lot of noise and some say it is quite a nice sound and it doesn't ruin reeds. Several reasons. Mike is quite right External resonance,.... making use of the volume of air under the coverplates and adjusting hands so that the opening and size of cavity resonates, a different position for each note!
Instrument internal resonance.... Reduced to a minimum by making the internal volume smal
Internal resonance..... I think I use most of the head cavities, I have a very high palate, I expand my throat asmuch as I can (when needed) and I am sure there are cavities all the way to my toes which have a part in the sound (dental cavities don't appear to affect the tone) I also believe that diaphragm tension helps support the tone.
A good instrument ... I am blessed with possibly one of the best instruments in existance, it helps.
Hours of playing and listening and adjusting and being critical of the noises I make. AND, listening to stacks of music on all instrments and all genres. it helps.
Tone takes time to develop if you don't want to ruin your instruments.
