Hybrid?#stacked harmonica

~Hi folks

WOW - six postings. Gosh what have I generated for discussion? I woke up a 4.00 this morning, couldn't get back to sleep, thought 'I wonder if anyone has replied' and had a look. A couple of photos are now in the photo section [jf-hybrid#1,jf-hybrid#2].

Last night I read the group's details "When multiple ten/twelvers or other nonbig harmonicas are secured together and played as one, the combination is considered a hybrid, which discussion is very much wanted here! Slideless chromatics are also considered hybrids, and discussion of them is also very much wanted here." So realising that I wasn't in danger of being "EXCOMMUNICATED" - I thought I'd post!.

I would like to clarify one or two things at this stage [before I'm considered a nutcase!]
a] I wanted to play the harmonica as an accompanying instrument on a holder/rack so a diatonic was really the one for consideration rather than a chromatic
b] I found the diatonic 'playing by hole number' rather hard to get used to. Playing by position is easier to my way of thinking. Most harmonica players tend to play by ear or convert sheet music to 'hole notation', if different key, pick up appropriate key.
c] chromatics, Suzuki Alto/Soprano, tremolos have the 'position layout' which I find easier to relate too.
d] why isn't there simply a tier for naturals and another for accidentals which is what one has on the orchestral harmonicas - like a piano really. To some extent that is what one has on a chromatic. The layout for diatonics is for playing the chords. So why not play two together. The instrument is originally a Chinese instrument so play it their way! The bending techniques were developed almost by accident really and this has become well established.
e] stacked harmonicas is played in the East but little practised in the West. I read Pat Missins page using blu tack and also Coast2Coastmusic page on how stacked harmonicas are moved between the wrists. I tried this and found they slipped too much for me [at present anyway].
f] used some 6mm and double sided sticky ape and liked it. Found it not rigid enough and incorporated the brass tube as seen in the photos. With the tubes I can mount it on a rack at a later date. The rigidity allows one to go between tiers and keep the holes inline helping to avoid missing notes.
g] yesterday evening Steve Shaw wondered in his email (it was only after I posted that I saw you were in this group) if it would be awkward going between tiers and the space between. [The tubes were simply of a length that allowed me to play chords on either harp]. Later after looking at a Suzuki orchestral one the thought occured which was the purpose of my posting "I noticed the hinge and imagined that you would open up the hinge to play chords and close to go from say a natural on the lower tier to a accidental on the higher tier."

I would be grateful if someone could clarify g]. With a hinge it would be nothing more than a mini orchestral harmonica. [another design mod needed!!]. I don't feel I have any new ideas I just did something that seems logical [to me ...!]. Also I'm a bit fussy [an engineer before I was a teacher]; I like the idea of my own maintenance with a diatonic; faulty chromatic slides and sticking valves seem due to poor design to me, as do nails in a comb Mr Hohner, the instrument is a high maintenance type and short lifespan (in the sense they have got to be re-tuned or replaced). Tremolos I gather just take too long to re-tune not to be worth it. I'd rather see better quality harmonicas leaving the factory - I've been told tuning is typically about 10% out.

I'm hoping that my hydrid offers; maintainability, position layout, rack playing, (almost) chromatic playability on 3 octaves, ... a happy harper for now. I'd like to buy the Suzuki SCT-128 or SCH-48, but where would I take them to be re-tuned in UK?

~James


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