Tech: Mouthies: Who custom tunes theirs?

Subject: Tech: Mouthies: Who custom tunes theirs?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 10:48 AM

I'm aware there's probably zillions of existing threads about this topic, but from prior experience seeking out specific info about instruments one frequently needs to wade through several titles to find out anything.


So any gob-iron players here tune their harps?

Subject: RE: Tech: Mouthies: Who custom tunes theirs?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 11:49 AM

Me. I play mostly blues harps and I routinely tune all of them to the Paddy Richter tuning (raising the 3-blow reed by a whole tone). I also retune my harmonicas to equal temperament fine-tuning (some already come that way but many do not, and I particularly dislike, in the latter, the 5-blow and 8-blow sounding slightly flat in melody playing). I should add that I play just traditional music, mostly Irish, Scottish and Northumbrian, in that order of frequency. I also gap the reeds of my harps to ensure I get the response I want (I don't do overblows and I find the tight gapping needed for overblowing to be a nuisance, causing choking if I play the reed hard). I can and do adjust the tremolo harps I sometimes use.

Subject: RE: Tech: Mouthies: Who custom tunes theirs?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 01:10 PM

http://www.patmissin.com/ffaq/q3.html

Good site about the instrument.

Subject: RE: Tech: Mouthies: Who custom tunes theirs?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 01:57 PM

Seconded!

Subject: RE: Tech: Mouthies: Who custom tunes theirs?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 11:05 PM

Interesting stuff there, even for someone who sucks more than blows on one.

Deserves a proper link: http://www.patmissin.com/ffaq/q3.html

(Just hope I got it going to the right place.)

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Mouthies: Who custom tunes theirs?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 08 Feb 14 - 04:11 PM

Thanks all contributors - very useful stuff!