Half Valving Adjustments

[swing604]

I am very interested in trying out half valving on one of my diminished tuned chromatics & I'd really like to hear & learn about the different techniques folks are using to adjust their chromatics. More specifically, how do you achieve an acceptable degree of airtightness & reed response after the blow valves have been removed? As always, thanks in advance.

Jeff.

 

[chromaddict]

Hi Jeff,

Surprisingly little adjustment has to be made if you start out with a quality harmonica.  I have half valved a Meisterklasse and several CX-12's that play fine with no adjustments.  Some people tape the CX slide to make it even tighter, although quieting of the slide is the most noticeable affect.  

My most recent convert is the G48 which was set up by Pat Missin.  When I wrote to compliment his work, this was his reply:

"I'm glad you're happy
with the G48. I'm happy to take a lot of the credit, but I have to say
that it played impressively well as a half-valved harmonica, even
before I did anything else to it."

Here is a short clip of a blues lick played on the G48.

I had poor results trying to half valve the Seydel Deluxe.

[Gnarly He Man]

It would be interesting to half valve the Hands Free Chromatic, as it is very airtight--have you tried doing that to yours, Grant?
I have reed plates in LeGato for mine, that would be an embarrassment of enharmonicity (I just made that word up  )
Gary

[swing604]

Thanks Chromaddict, for sharing your experience concerning half valving a Seydel Deluxe as I was considering mine as a candidate for my next diminished, potentially half valved, retune. This leaves my 270's & SCX48. As much as I'd prefer to work on one of my 270's next (I can easily replace reeds if I mess one up), the SCX48 is, without question, the tightest of the bunch. Thanks for posting the clip as well!

Jeff.