Got a broken/unwanted melodica?

Subject: RE: Got a broken/unwanted melodica?
From: greg stephens
Date: 14 Dec 09 - 02:41 PM

Thnak you for all (relevant) suggestions. Kep them coming!

Subject: RE: Got a broken/unwanted melodica?
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 13 Dec 09 - 08:24 AM

I had one I didn't want...so I broke it!

Subject: RE: Got a broken/unwanted melodica?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 13 Dec 09 - 03:17 AM

The pipes are membrane pipes - very cheap & easy to make and the sound is, as you've heard, pretty amazing. This is a good introduction to the basic idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wPlEbAMbmc

Have fun!

Subject: RE: Got a broken/unwanted melodica?
From: Rowan
Date: 12 Dec 09 - 10:46 PM

If you google Linsey Pollak (no "d" in his name) you'll get an earful of such things. But no melodicas.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Got a broken/unwanted melodica?
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Dec 09 - 09:28 PM

I love that! How would I make one of those with the rubber glove? Not sure what the pipes were? My grandson and I would have a blast with it.

Great idea, Art!

Subject: RE: Got a broken/unwanted melodica?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 12 Dec 09 - 05:41 PM

A bag needs squeezing to maintain the pressure, whereas a windchest doesn't. Which begs the question, why don't you get wind-chest pipes rather than bagpipes?

On the subject of which, has anyone tried membrane pipes yet? I've made a few, they sound amazing & they're great fun - and they don't need a reed. In fact, I might construct a membrane wind-chest pipe using 2 pint plastic milk carton, which, in theory, could work as well as the rubber glove used here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hBqgp9JGOo

Subject: RE: Got a broken/unwanted melodica?
From: JHW
Date: 12 Dec 09 - 05:04 PM

Somewhere I have a red and cream Melodica, albeit repainted silver to look like a musical instrument.
I'll see if I can turn it up. Mouthpiece was intact thought may have teeth marks as I played it (rarely) rested clear of the strings of the guitar, using my fingers for the melodica and my thumb (as ever) for the guitar

Subject: RE: Got a broken/unwanted melodica?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 12 Dec 09 - 05:34 AM

That's sorted, then...but what about the "wind-chest" - "a 2 pint plastic milk bottle", S., or a visit to the abattoir..?!

Subject: RE: Got a broken/unwanted melodica?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 12 Dec 09 - 03:58 AM

One Size Fits All!

Subject: RE: Got a broken/unwanted melodica?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 06:17 PM

You've got a ready-made title and first line there for a song, Greg.

I've Got The Broken/Unwanted Melodica Blues

Go for it, guy.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Got a broken/unwanted melodica?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 03:03 PM

Although I've never tried a melodica, that makes sense S. - just small bellows would not facilitate enough control of the air flow, I suppose.

Subject: RE: Got a broken/unwanted melodica?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 02:48 PM

A bellows wouldn't suffice on its own, WAV - you'd also need a wind-chest as with an organ or harmonium. I drew up plans for such a beast years ago (using a 2 pint plastic milk bottle for the chest) but have yet to get round to making it!

Subject: RE: Got a broken/unwanted melodica?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 02:24 PM

Maybe better than body filler (less smelly): Plastic Steel. That's what I used when I rebuilt the broken mouthpiece of a pottery ocarina - I formed the windway mould out of marzipan, I think. You now can't tell it's not the original (in fact I can't remember which one it was).

Subject: RE: Got a broken/unwanted melodica?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 02:20 PM

I was wondering if anyone has tried fitting pipe bellows to a melodica, such that it could be used for song accompaniment..?

Subject: RE: Got a broken/unwanted melodica?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 02:01 PM

Make one - stick a slice of potato into the the airway, cover the airway projection with clingfilm and shape car body filler over it.

Subject: RE: Got a broken/unwanted melodica?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 01:41 PM

Do you mean one of these or one of these? Shouldn't be too hard to track down on line...

Subject: Got a broken/unwanted melodica?
From: greg stephens
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 01:17 PM

Well, the problem is we've got this broken Hohner melodica(Piano 26 model). Just the plastic mouthpiece is broken. Not the sort of item available at the Parts Counter of your local music shop. Anybody got a defunct or surplus to requirements melodica with a good mouthpiece who would be interested in trading said object for something else useful/desirable/fun? I am in Stoke-on-Trent, England, UK, Europe, the World, the Solar System etc etc.