Brendan Power

TWIN-DIATONIC HARPS - A World of New Possibilities!

The idea of combining two 10-hole harps behind a single mouthpiece is not new - but it's not easy to get good reed response, and has never been done convincingly before. That's all changed! After intensive R&D over the past couple of years, I've come up with a quick-change assembly that really works. I'm now releasing my ground-breaking Twin-Diatonic harps in a range of exciting options - check out the two videos to see and hear them all in action.

THE OCTAHARP

While you can just buy the front unit to assemble your own OctaHarp using stock combs, trying to fit single valves to combs not designed for them can be tricky and frustrating. Adding my specially-designed PowerCombs and Stealth-Valves to your order will simplify and speed up the process of making an OctaHarp that sounds great straight away. They are available at half-price when ordered for the TwinDiatonic harps.

ORDERING OPTIONS

 The one essential part you require is the Front Unit. However, where appropriate, we recommend you also purchase PowerCombs and Stealth-Valves. They are specially designed to suit the TwinDiatonic harps; we can't guarantee all other combs will fit perfectly, and combs without valve pockets will definitely cause more hassle to install valves. (Lipped-comb versions will use the stock comb). You need to supply the harmonicas, or order them from your customiser. Please watch all the relevant videos above to help you make an informed choice of ordering option.

1. POWER-PARTS KIT

To slash the price and offer immediate shipping, we've added a Raw Parts Only option for all versions of the OctaHarp. I've shot a detailed instructional video on how to finish and assemble your PowerParts Kit for it - please watch before you buy! If you're the hands-on type and comfortable working with basic tools, you'll have no trouble following along with the simple steps involved. You'll gain knowledge and satisfaction making it  yourself, and save money in the process. Follow the video closely and you'll be sure to get a good outcome. However our responsibility is only with the PowerParts we make and supply, not with your finishing/assembly skills - the end result is up to you!

2. FINISHED PARTS

If you wish to pay extra for us to do the finishing of the parts, then go for this option. This will add about a week to the shipping time. Remember that you will still need to supply the harmonicas and fit them to the parts you choose.

3. CUSTOMISER OPTION

If you would prefer to receive the complete OctaHarp with harps assembled and finished to the highest standard then please see our recommended customiser(s) below.

Joel Andersson - Sweden

Joel is a Hohner Affiliated Customizer and has the attention of the world's premier harmonica players, inventors, and innovators. He has built a reputation as a quality customizer from his clients around the world. By their testimony, J.A. Custom Harmonicas, based on Hohner reed and cover plates, increase a player's authority over the instrument, regardless of playing style or experience. All customization is completed by Joel, and his workshop features both hand and electric tools, including CNC milling machines, CNC lasers, and lathes.  Joel spends most of his time building and developing custom harmonicas and accessories, but he is regarded as one of the finest Irish music harmonicists in the world. In 2014 he came in third place at the biggest Irish music competition in the world, Fleadh Cheoil na hEiréann.

Joel is our recommended customiser to make your complete OctaHarp . If you would like to commission Joel then please place your order with him on his website below.

Email: info@jaharmonicas.com
Website: jaharmonicas.com

THE OCTAHARP SELECTABLE

The OctaHarp Selectable differs from my other small 10-hole octave harmonica (the OctaHarp) in two significant ways: the twin harmonicas are inline front-to-back, and you can choose to play them separately or together! The front harp is in the standard range, and the rear harp in the low range.

Only certain brands and models are available in both standard and low ranges. At present the OctaHarp Selectable is designed for Hohner (Thunderbird/Marine Band 1896/Crossover/Marine Band Deluxe) , Suzuki (Manji/Low Manji) and Seydel (Classic, 1847, Noble, Lightning - plus Low Versions) harmonicas.

The front harp has holes all the way through the back of its comb, which are blocked in the default position, so just the front harp sounds. The front comb slides along the face of the rear one, and is held in place by a small spring. With a quick press of your thumb or finger the two combs come into line, the through-holes open, and all the reeds on both harmonicas vibrate to give you that fat, rich octave sound. In single-harp mode the front harp plays exactly like a normal blues harp, with all the bending and expression you're used to. But you can instantly switch to playing it as an octave harmonica - it's truly two great harps in one! Check out the video to hear it in action.

ORDERING OPTIONS

POWER-PARTS KIT

I've shot a detailed instructional video on how to finish and assemble your PowerParts Kit for it - please watch before you buy. If you're the hands-on type and comfortable working with basic tools, you'll have no trouble following along with the simple steps involved.

If you don’t have the necessary making skills, or simply prefer to get a fantastic OctaHarp Selectable ready to play awesomely out of the box, we will send your PowerParts Kit to a harmonica tech/customiser of your choice to do the job for you. In that case the arrangement for the overall price and features you want is entirely between you and them. Here is a list of people you can contact to do the work:

RECOMMENDED CUSTOMISERS

André Coelho

Email
Linktree

Kinya Pollard

Website
Email

THE TREMOLOHARP

While you can just buy the front unit to assemble your own TremoloHarp using stock combs, trying to fit single valves to combs not designed for them can be tricky and frustrating. Adding my specially-designed PowerCombs and Stealth-Valves to your order will simplify and speed up the process of making a TremoloHarp that sounds great straight away. They are available at a half-price when ordered for all the TwinDiatonic harps. Watch the videos to see how the valving is done, and how these harps can be assembled/disassembled very quickly and easily:

ORDERING OPTIONS

 The one essential part you require is the Front Unit. However, where appropriate, we recommend you also purchase PowerCombs and Stealth-Valves. They are specially designed to suit the TwinDiatonic harps; we can't guarantee all other combs will fit perfectly, and combs without valve pockets will definitely cause more hassle to install valves. (Lipped-comb versions will use the stock comb). You need to supply the harmonicas, or order them from your customiser. Please watch all the relevant videos above to help you make an informed choice of ordering option.

POWER-PARTS KIT
To slash the price and offer immediate shipping, we've added a Raw Parts Only option for all versions of the TremoloHarp. I've shot a detailed instructional video on how to finish and assemble your PowerParts Kit for it - please watch before you buy! If you're the hands-on type and comfortable working with basic tools, you'll have no trouble following along with the simple steps involved. You'll gain knowledge and satisfaction making it  yourself, and save money in the process. Follow the video closely and you'll be sure to get a good outcome. However our responsibility is only with the PowerParts we make and supply, not with your finishing/assembly skills - the end result is up to you. Or, if you prefer, send your PowerParts Kit to a harmonica tech/customiser of your choice to do the job for you; in that case the arrangement is entirely between you and them. Here is a list of people you can contact to do the work: Harp Techs.

FINISHED PARTS
If you wish to pay extra for us to do the finishing/assembly of the parts, the choice is yours. It will add about a week to the shipping time. Remember you will still need to supply the harmonicas and fit them to the parts you choose, or get a customiser to do that job.

The Switch-Harp

One obvious choice for the SwitchHarp would be for the slider to select between two harmonicas a semitone apart, to make a 10 hole mini-chromatic. This could be in standard Richter tuning, or in any one of many alternate tunings (eg. PowerBender, PowerDraw, Paddy Richter, Solo Tuning, Circular Tuning, whatever you like!). And you can swap in different keys quickly and easily. I prefer it in half-valved setup, allowing your normal bends but making the non-bending notes sound stronger and with valved expression. However if the harps behind are very well customised there is the option to have them un-valved, which would allow overblow playing for those used to that style.

But this is just one possibility for the Switch-Harp - here are some more ideas:

1. You could install two harps in widely differing keys, to allow an instant harp change mid-song for a key change (as often happens in Country music). Or in a set of Irish tunes you could have G and D harps behind, so it works like my Irish Session Harp. In this setup you could remove the spring and tighten the front screws a little, so the mouthpiece/slider stays put in each position depending on which of the two rear harmonicas you want to play.

2. Two harps in different tunings - eg. Richter and PowerBender tuning, or Richter/Country - so you get the best of both worlds with a quick push of the slide.

3. Two harps in same key/tuning but different setup - eg. one half-valved, one un-valved. That way you can get overblows and valving expression in the same instrument.

Those are just a few of many options. My Switch-Harp is the Chamelion of the harmonica world! Because the same front unit will allow quick changes of the harps behind, you could use the same one for a multitude of twin-harp configurations if you want.

Here's a video showing how quick and easy it is to swap harps in and out, and another demonstrating the Switch-Harp as a MiniChrom:

The Switch-Harp in Action! Check out the funky sound and exciting new musical ideas/techniques in these two excellent videos by Mitch Weiss and Boris Plotnikov:

I recommend half-valving for most Switch-Harp options. To simplify this process, I've created my easy-fit Gasket Valves. which will simplify and speed up the process of making a Switch-Harp that sounds great straight away.

One thing to bear in mind is that the best range of keys is from C down. Higher keys suffer from detuning of the high reeds due to the Helmholtz Resonance Coupling phenomenon. Even on lower keys you may have to do a bit of fine tuning on the high notes to bring them up to tune with the rest of the harp.

This is not difficult for players used to fine tuning. Check the three tech videos opposite; the first shows how to finish and assemble the raw parts (if you are going for the PowerParts option), the second video is for general assembly with your harmonicas, and optimisation of the Switch-Harp, and the third video deals specifically with tuning compensation in the high octave.