[Henry Lowengard]

Antonio: that self sticking silicone plumber’s tape is the secret ingredient! There are a few brands, this might be “Rescue Tape”. And using that plastic test tube was great: it’s just the right size and can be shimmed with that tape to attach the blowing tube.

[André Sant’Anna]

Henry, thank you very much for the photos and explanations! Do know if there is a tuning diference between when you use your tool and when melodica is closed (better saying, the air chamber is closed)? For example, if I blow a reed directly the tunning is diferent than when the melodica is closed.

[Henry Lowengard]

I don’t see why it should be any different – any tuning differences would be due to air pressure which is pretty variable in both cases! I can test it though, I was was going to do a “tuning inventory” on it anyway just to see what shape it’s in.

I write music software (that people don’t buy a whole lot of), and I might be able to throw together an online tuning web app that can:
– record an analyze a series of sounds (you shouldn’t have to break them up, just make sure they are monophonic and clear)
– check the frequencies for each “note”. They change over time, so you’ll get to pick which ones you want to pretend are the actual tuning.
– compare it with the idealized version of that note for the tuning system you want (it might be 1/4 comma mean tone based on 442 Hz or something like that)
– show which reeds need the most attention.
– lets you save it for comparison later
– optionally output a tuning file so if you like your out-of-tune melodica, you can convince a synthesizer to match its pitches. This would be using MIDI 2.0 or similar tricks.

[Karl Hayes]

Thanks for all this info everyone. I have been looking for reed plates for my 37 key Mylodica since the pandemic began. Ordered the P-37D reed plates that look exactly the same. Part numbers have changed:
Bottom plate W4110110 is now VAD85600
Middle plate W4110310 is now ZW577700
Top plate W4110210 is no VAD85500

Hope they fall right in.

[Author]

Posts