Replacement reed plates for Cabaret?

[TomN]

I have a Cabaret I bought a while ago - are there replacement reed plates available?
I am asking because I want to try to correct the tuning but I am a beginner as far as
working on harps so just in case I made a mess it would be nice to have a backup plan.

[Danny G]

This is the first time I've heard of anyone having a problem of any kind with a Caberet. So, please be a little more generous with details, what kind of tuning problem you're experiencing.

[TomN]

This is the first time I've heard of anyone having a problem of any kind with a Caberet. So, please be a little more generous with details, what kind of tuning problem you're experiencing.

Hi Danny - just checked the tuning with Strobo tuner and it literally is all over the place.
C ok
D +10 cents
E ok
F -10+
G +17
A +20
B +12
C +17
D +15
E +10
F +12
G +15
A +10
B -04
C -06
D OK
E +06
F OK
G OK
A OK
B +10
C -20

That is roughly it.

[SlideMeister]

Sounds like a new 65 Mercury Caliente I bought that was the last one made on a Friday.

[Danny G]

You've had the Caberet for some time and there are a lot of things that can affect the tuning, the condition of the windsavers and just normal playing. But the reed by reed tuning seems to be all over the place and makes me wonder about the room where you did the work and whether you used the tuners built in microphone. If there is anything in the room that moves air ? AC, fan, heater or wind coming through a window can create false readings. Plugging a microphone into the tuner will give you a more accurate reading.

Every Caberet's tuning is checked before it's offered for sale. So if the place where you checked the tuning doesn't have air movement and you used a plug in mic  I want you to send the harmonica back to me and I'll replace it. Otherwise, I'd like you to eliminate the air movement, use a good quality plug in mic, go over the tuning again and let me know the results and we'll go from there.

By the way, if you have problems with anything you buy from me in the future please contact me offline rather than using an open forum.

[Woelneberg]

I would just like to chime in and say that when I tune my harmonicas and check frequencies with a tuner I have to be very conscious about my breathing. If I apply the wrong kind of pressure or suction it will easily jump 10 to 15 cents off!

It is really not a good way to check tuning, specially if you are in the early stages where conscious breath control is difficult.

[TomN]

Hey Danny - thanks for reply - I will certainly recheck the tuning.
Actually the intention of the original post was to inquire about availability
and compatibility of replacement reed plates and not to complain about
anything. Since you suggested doing so I will take this discussion off the
forum and with your permission will email you directly.

[TomN]

I would just like to chime in and say that when I tune my harmonicas and check frequencies with a tuner I have to be very conscious about my breathing. If I apply the wrong kind of pressure or suction it will easily jump 10 to 15 cents off!

It is really not a good way to check tuning, specially if you are in the early stages where conscious breath control is difficult.

You are right that it is possible to affect tuning with variability of air pressure. I can definitely see it with my playing.
But some reeds are OK, some are 10 off and some are +/- 20 off no matter the air pressure. I know very little about
tuning of the harp - I know how to tune guitar for regular playing and for open tuning and/or slide work.
So yes - my numbers should not be treated as very reliable.
I tried to reproduce them - and they are still off in somewhat random way but they are different now then few hours ago.
I warmed the harp - not sure if sufficiently - since many lower octave valves stick like crazy. Maybe I should play it for
a long stretch before checking tuning. And once again it is not a complain - I played the Cabaret for few months then
stopped for almost two years - now I am playing it again. Sometimes it works ok and sometimes it gives resistance.
I though I could try some maintenance on my own but wanted to to have plan B in case I messed up - hence question
about reeds.

[Gnarly He Man]

Did you try playing octaves?

[Danny G]

We've put a lot of effort into making the Caberet as bulletproof as possible. Yours is the only one that I know about that has this problem and I want to know why.
Rather than wonder, I'll PM you Wally's address and he can fix it if there's something wrong with it or tell me to send you a replacement

[TomN]

We've put a lot of effort into making the Caberet as bulletproof as possible. Yours is the only one that I know about that has this problem and I want to know why.
Rather than wonder, I'll PM you Wally's address and he can fix it if there's something wrong with it or tell me to send you a replacement

Danny - thank you very much for standing by your product. It played really well when I got it.
And yes - it has been a while. I will send it to Wally as suggested. Thank you!

[SlideMeister]

My "Cabby" has always been "dead nuts" on the money. 

[TomN]

My "Cabby" has always been "dead nuts" on the money. 

cabby? dead-nuts? money? If there are replacement parts available I will pay.

[SlideMeister]

Yeah, that's just old guy, machinist talk for "pretty stinkin' good"

[Gnarly He Man]

Yeah, that's just old guy, machinist talk for "pretty stinkin' good"

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Dead%20nuts

[pyro_fire60099]

The Cabaret is a great 12 hole chromatic tuned to compermized tuning mode, but if your wanting to play classical pieces you might want to tune it to equal intonation.

  Wally

[SlideMeister]

Yep! Now that you're in "Balls to the wall" research mode; go look that one up. (it's another wunna my favorites)

@ge ><((((º>

[Grizzly]

The Cabaret is a great 12 hole chromatic tuned to compermized tuning mode, but if your wanting to play classical pieces you might want to tune it to equal intonation.

  Wally

AHA!!! 'Splains a lot!

Tom

[SlideMeister]

Somehow, I knew Griz would like that part.

@ge ><((((º>

[Grizzly]

Yeah, that's just old guy, machinist talk for "pretty stinkin' good"

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Dead%20nuts

Also: http://www.wordwizard.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?t=4757

I worked running machine tools even before I was a flute maker, and ran into the term early on. After visiting a few dictionary websites, some of them confirmed my interpretation. Dead=perfect(ly), absolute(ly). And Nuts in machinist's parlance refers to the nut on the end of a threaded bolt. Not overtightened nor under-tightened, but perfectly adjusted: dead nuts. The term must have gained broader use over time. Perhaps, no room for error.

Tom

[TomN]

OK - apologies my mind is elsewhere - obviously.
Cabby = Cabaret
Dead Nuts = very precise
For some reason I thought "cab driver" and "is he talking to me?".