Re: Suzuki 2 Timer Full Review

I can't speak for all tremolos, but with the Hohner double-sided Echo the 
setup appears to be the top reed being the lower-pitched one of the pair.  
The top reed is the one I want "in tune" with the tuner, or whatever, and 
the bottom reed is the one I want to be tuned slightly sharp to give the 
tremolo effect.   If I'm doing extensive retuning I block off the bottom 
reed with my thumb so that only the top reed sounds, then I can tell if it 
needs fine-tuning or not.  I never bother with the tuner for the bottom 
reed, as  when I have the top reed in tune I simply tune the bottom reed by 
ear to give me the tremolo I want. Trial and error.  If you're happy with 
the overall tuning of the harp but just want to adjust the tremolo, you just 
need to work on the higher-pitched of the pair and you can do it all by ear. 
  Occasionally the lower-pitched reed of the pair goes slightly flat, and 
you notice this by the fact that the note in question suddenly acquires very 
"wet" tremolo.  In this case you will have to retune that lower-pitched reed 
first to get it back to pitch, then, if necessary, adjust the other reed to 
get the right degree of tremolo.    The big hassle is the fact that your 
embouchure is different when you have the covers off, and this affects the 
degree of tremolo, so you may ~think~ you've got the tremolo right - but 
when you replace the covers....aargh!   The only reliable way to test your 
handiwork is to hold the covers loosely in place as you play.  Adjusting 
tremolo is the least aggressive action in maintaining the harmonica - you'll 
be surprised at how little scraping needs to be done to get the desired 
effect.  If you can work on 10-hole harps you won't have trouble with 
tremolos. One of the worst aspects of the Echos is those darned nails that 
hold the thing together- they don't exactly make working on the harps easy!

BTW, I don't know why, but I didn't get my own message in my inbox, though I 
got Dave's reply to it.  Have I upset my settings?!

Steve



http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/trad_irish_harmonica
HEAR my CD clips: http://www.gjk2.com/steveshaw/cd.htm
READ review of my CD: http://www.irishmusicreview.com/sshaw.htm





>From: Dave <[email protected]>
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: Re: [big-harmonica] Suzuki 2 Timer Full Review
>Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 13:42:56 -0500
>
>On Thu, 13 Jul 2006 04:46:15 -0500, Steve Shaw <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >
> > Thanks for the review (and all the tremolo reviews) - like all the 
>others
> > it's very useful.   I'd just like to say that it isn't too difficult to
> > alter the wetness/dryness of the tuning of a tremolo harmonica.  All
> > that is
> > needed is a little metal removal from the surface of reeds.
>
>I've never worked on tremolo harmonicas but i've tuned and replaced
>reeds in short harps for years.
>
>i may try to get a wetter sound out of the 2 timer
>if i can figure out exactly with reeds to mess with.
>
>Do i need to alter both top and bottom reed plates or
>just one or the other?
>
>BTW Steve great site
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>




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