Other web Sites
Harmonica Blues  Harmonica Amps
Harmonica Links Harmonica Pages
• Archives Home
• Years
 · 1992
 · 1993
 · 1994
 · 1995
 · 1996
 · 1997 		 · 1998
 · 1999
 · 2000
 · 2001
 · 2002
 · 2003
 
Web HarpL
Ebay Searches:
Amps:
Microphones:
Effects:
Harmonicas and Gear:
Harmonica Music and Instruction:

 

 

Harp-L Archives

[Previous Message] [Next Message]
[Next in Thread]
[Start of Thread] [End of Thread]

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2001 15:29:42 -0500
From: Richard Biow
Subject: Chrometta el cheapo mod

On his home page http://www.brendan-power.com/ Brendan Power gives the
Hohner Chrometta models some high marks, including:
"Though Hohner Chromettas are generally not taken seriously as concert
chromatics by most pro players, I think they deserve a second look.
That's because their basic elements are so good that it only takes a
bit of creative customization to turn them into really top class
chromatics, with great tone and response."

His negatives, which he corrects in his custom models, include "not
airtight enough."

I'll likely order, since I too like the Chrometta sound, but being
already maxed out with my for-Christmas hints to my family, I checked
to see what could be done to create a temporary customization. And it
seems that air tightness can be substantially increased in a few
minutes - at least on my Chrometta 12.

On this model, most of the air leakage is at the right end of the
harmonica from the slot that holds the slider. You can prove the
leakage by putting your lips tight around the end of the harp and
blowing through the slider-slot. (Get your tongue out of the way of
the knob at the end of the slider.)

On my unit at least, practically all of this air-leakage occurs
between the back side of the slide (the side away from the mouthpiece)
and the inner surface of its slot. If this opening to the rear of the
slider is closed, the harp plays tighter.

To check this (or to see if your harp is like mine) place a piece of
scotch tape over the right end of the harp to the rear, locating its
edge so it just touches the far side of the slider but doesn't get
attached to it. This should effectively close off (or minimize) the
leakage-hole without interfering with the motion of the slide.

To test this: With the tape firmly in place: blow or draw on one of
the middle notes as *quietly* -- as *softly* -- as possible. No
vibrato, tremolo, or gargling; just the clear, quiet note, so that any
diminishing of the draw or blow pressure would silence the note.

While playing that "quietest" note, maintaining the air pressure
evenly and precisely, rip off the Scotch tape. The note should stop,
because there will no longer be enough air pressure to make the reed
vibrate, the loss being the leakage where the tape was. (If it doesn't
accomplish this, the slider on your harp does not match mine - which
Hohner never guaranteed us in the first place. Anyway, nice try. )

No claim whatever is made that this "tape-mod," when it works, will
achieve anything near what Brendan Power does with his conversions.
The "proof" I outlined above may not be needed by most harpists:
they'll sense that the needed pressure is less and the initial
response of some of the reeds is a bit faster.

To make use of the el cheapo mod, of course, just leave a tape in
place instead of ripping it off!

Visually, the tape is unnoticeable from a few feet away. I haven't
made use of it long enough to guess how often it will have to be
changed, but I doubt that we'll ever get caught by its failure in the
middle of a solo, because any loss of effectiveness should be gradual.

(If by any chance your slider is so "centered" that it leaks on both
sides, you can take two pieces of tape and -- etc., etc, etc.)

- - Dick Biow