New Melodica build
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Thanks Shannon, the new version of the Diamanté has a few changes from the original. As you mentioned the new mouth piece is a soprano sax mouth piece, the air chamber was modified which a tighter fit to every individual valve opening, a new adjustable valve stop washer holder, and a new built in pickup design from Myers pickups. All parts are now anodized and I eliminated one feature from the original that was not working out as I had hoped for and that was the silicone plate gasket that allowed the reeds to be changed faster. Unfortunately the material did not hold up as I had wished for and small air leaks started to appear. The new version has a combination of screws and wax. The tone is similar to the original over all with a slight clearer top end.
Melodica-MeAny chance of construction images? I learned a lot from Tatu’s building methods. I am sure we could all learn a lot from yours as well. You do beautiful work!
Shannon
Hi Shannon, there are some selective pictures on Pinterest of some of the build, link below. Sorry, none of the note bender to display yet.
Thanks
Melodica-MeMM-= thanks for the photos. I love your jigs! Have you noticed any significant differences in the sound of the two Diamantes? How do you like playing the sax mouthpiece? Also, noted a “new project” posted-any discussion of that?
Daren- the new instrument is stalled in the design phase. I am moving away from a Janko keyboard-not quite the solution I am looking for. Now reworking the design for a uniform or balanced keyboard-I think this will do what I want to do. It will also greatly simplify construction. Hopefully start building soon-starting to gather supplies now. I don’t have the fabulous workroom that you an MM have, so have to simplify some of the construction. But I think it will work out well.
Shannon
Hi Shannon, the Jigs have become real time savers, I really noticed the time saved on the Diamanté #002 build. The latest jig I made was for making tiny compresion springs. As for the difference in the sound, I feel that the #002 is a little more brighter on the higher notes and has a little more fuller sound on the mid-bottom notes than that of the # 001, I actually like the mouth piece a lot. I normally use a trumpet mouth piece but I am starting to use this one more and more. It works on both Diamantés By the way, I use a synthetic reed now # 3-4, the one pictured is cane. As for the new project on the bench, fellow Melodica World participant Bruno Travi sent me this awesome gift a few weeks ago. I hope to start on this at the end of January. I still have to work on the case for the Diamanté #002 not to mention World Session III coming up in January as well. Sign ups end 12-30-2017.
Melodica-MeGood to hear you’ll be starting soon Shannon – please feel free to share any thoughts here, I’d be happy to help you avoid any costly pitfalls along the way (of which there are many, time and cash!)
Thanks Daren. As soon as I finalize my initial design, I plan to document my build here on Melodica World. I would love to have your comments, as well as from our other builders here (MM and Tatu come to mind immediately). I think the melodica provides a great foundation for experimentation and look forward to sharing my experiences, knowing that I will learn a lot from everybody’s input.
MM- I would love to see some of your jigs documented here, especially your spring jig. Small springs are not hard to find, but it can get expensive trying a bunch of different spring strengths, since I have to order everything. Would love to see what you came up with. What size wire did you end up using?
Shannon
As requested by fellow Melodica World Participant “Shannon” on this forum, I put a short video together of the jig I made to make small stainless steel springs. The jig in principal can be made for larger or smaller springs. This jig was design for use with a small lathe but can be used with a small drill press on low speed as well. Also this works for making compression or tension springs. I made this one specifically to make compression springs for the Diamanté Wind Vox keys front spring, but can be used to make the rear spring as well. There are several other videos on You Tube on how to make springs as well that are very helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions that I may be able to answer.
Thanks
Melodica-MeFascinating MM! So you made the jig yourself? Do you have metal working equipment? I’ve been getting my springs from suppliers in the UK…
Yes Daren, the mini lathe and mini mill are metal working equipment as well as wood. I made this little jig with the mini lathe it is attached to. The jig is very simple to make and took about an hour or so to make. I was purchasing my springs from MacMaster Carr here in the US but they did not have the Spring with the OD wire thickness “.010” I needed, so I decided to make them my self. Though MacMaster Carr did not have the spring size I needed they did have the spring wire in the correct size, so I purchased the wire from them. You can use a drill press as well with this Jig but for consistency the lathe is much better. Buying the mini lathe and mill has worked out great for making Melodica parts. 🙂
This video shows making springs for an entirely different instrument (a concertina), but no expenditure required.
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