A couple of questions
Dave,
I'm having a bit of trouble with my flutter on the chromatic. I have a pretty nice even and soft flutter with my Seydel diatonics, but when I try to do the same on my 270 Deluxe, it comes off sounding choppy and hard, with a much sharper attack. I'm really not hitting it any harder than with my diatonics, but it just isn't sounding the same. Why is this? Is there something about the construction of the chromatic that requires a different method for some techniques? (BTW, boy that thing takes a lot of wind compared to the diatonics!)
Also, I'm looking at a lot of mic designs for my next harp mic. The JT-30 tends to be too big for me and I get numb hands and a crappy seal. I've given it a chance over the past year, but it's just not cutting it for me. I'm looking at several custom options like maybe the bulletized Ultimate series from Greg Heumann or perhaps something from Chuck Gurney. What mic housings have you seen that have a bit of a smaller diameter than the JT-30 but yet will still fit a CR element? Is the Turner BX a smaller size? Any suggestions?
What's the diameter of a Turner? I really do like the looks of those more than any of the others - and it seems like it would be more comfortable to hold. I wish I could find someone who has one around me so I could play with it. I've got to get this figured out because I think my mic technique is really suffering.
As to the sample diagnosis, I've been quite a bit remiss in doing that part of your most valuable service. I really need to take advantage of that. In doing so, I'll need to shelve my natural instinct of take and re-take, produce and re-produce. I torture the heck out of myself with that stuff.
I have one at the school and will take a measurement for you.
In regards to submissions... do three recorded takes, one after the other, and send in the one you think was the best. I'm hear to help you learn, not judge you for a Grammy ;-)
I just measured my Turner and it's 2-1/4" (this is at its widest point... the grill has a slight increase as it reaches the body).
So that's slightly smaller than the JT-30, especially when considering the screw flanges. I'm going to poke around a bit at some antique dealers or radio shops to see if I can at least put one in my claws to feel it. I'll also look at Fritz and Dennis (man, he's got some beautiful paint jobs on his mics, doesn't he?).
"...not judge you for a Grammy." !
That's hilarious!
You were right on the chromatic flutter. I apparently had it too far in my mouth as you mentioned. I tried backing it of a bit and the flutter softened up. So that leads me to wonder...
Should the chromatic be played further out of the mouth all the time?
The chromatic should be deep in general... but how deep depends on each player... experiment.
Just wanted to leave a note.
I had a black label CR that had faded a little too much and sent it to Chuck Gurney, It was back in my hands in a week from time I sent it and now is like new! He did a great job and gave super service.
I was a little uneasy about sending off my baby but man, how nice to have full life in the beast and be able to enjoy it again. If you have a element that is not doing what it is supposed to, give Chuck a try.
My guess for the flutter is that when you're playing the chromatic you're placing the harmonica deeper in your mouth, accessing the wider part of the tongue, which is normally a good thing, but maybe you're too far back with the tongue and you're covering more holes than you should (turning the technique into pulls, just like I speak about in the current tip of the days). When you submit "Cool Blue" I'll be able to listen and diagnose.
Have you seen the Astatic Model 30 Biscuit? Though roughly the same diameter most players who try it like it better than the standard bullet for the reasons you're mentioning. The wood mics Fritz and Greg make are winners in the size department. The modified Turners that Dennis Oellig makes is also something worth looking into (video coming very soon).