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Turboharp/AX-S20 and TurboLid, from Antakamatics
Inc.
James F. Antaki, Ph.D. has recently attracted much publicity
for his work with artificial hearts and he is currently Associate
Professor of Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh and Director
of Artificial Heart Research for the McGowan Center for Artificial
Organ Development. As well as holding several patents for his
medical inventions, he has also turned his knowledge and expertise
towards building better harmonicas. The first fruits of this
research are now available to harp players.
Prof. Antaki, or TurboDog as he is known to his fellow harmonica
players, has several innovative products planned for the near
future and with the TurboHarp/AX-S20 we get a taste of them.
The AX-S20 is a modified Hohner Special 20 harmonica which has
been fitted with what he calls the TurboLiner. Essentially this
is a second layer fitted over each reedplate which helps to
prevent air loss from the sides of the reeds, directing the
air instead towards the tip of the reed to improve reed action
and efficiency. I compared the sample harp I was sent for review
with a stock harp in the same key. The effect of the TurboLiner
is subtle, but noticeable. One the lower reeds, there is a slight
change to the tone, reducing some of the higher overtones on
these reeds, but the effect is most apparent on overblows and
overdraws, which seemed much more stable with the TurboLiner.
All in all, this harp seems to take substantially less effort
to play.
Whilst the TurboLiner is doing all of it's work hidden away
inside the instrument, the most visible part of the TurboHarp
is its cover - what its inventor calls the TurboLid. Instead
of the usual pair of metal covers, attached with nuts and bolts,
the TurboLid is a two part cover made from polycarbonate (the
same material used for unbreakable glasses) which simply snaps
together - no more small parts to get lost in the carpet! As
well as looking simply stunning, the TurboLid is ergonomically
designed to fit nicely into the hand and provide a funnelling
effect for the sound of the harp, similar to the cover of the
Hohner CX-12. It is designed primarily for players who hold
the harp with their left hand and use their right hand for tone
shaping and wah effects (although it could easily be fitted
the other way around for "southpaw" players) and the
bulge at the left end of the covers gives extra clearance for
the lower draw reeds of the harp, as well as meaning that you
will never again suffer the embarrassment of picking up your
harp the wrong way around! Nor will rusting covers ever be a
problem - a quick wipe with a damp cloth and the TurboLid looks
and feels as good as new.
The AX-S20 is currently available in the keys of low F, G,
A, B, Bb and C. The TurboLid is available separately and can
be fitted to the Hohner Special 20, Hering Free Blues, Huang
Frontier and similar harps. They currently come in the following
colours: black, red, silver, translucent green, translucent
orange and clear transparent and there are plans to introduce
an adaptor kit to allow the TurboLid to be fitted to Marine
Band style harps.
In additional to TurboDog's own designs, Antakamatics Inc.
are also planning to market a version of Dr. Bahnson's Overblow
harp. Many of you will recall this harp, which was based on
a Hohner Golden Melody with a button that operated a slider
to block off specific reeds in order to get clean overblows
and overdraws. The TurboDog version of the Overblow Harp uses
a similar system, but is based on a Special 20 and should be
substantially cheaper than the previous version.
Products planned for the near future include the TurboHarp/AX
and the TurboHarp/ELX. The AX is an AX-S20 taken to its logical
conclusion. As well as the TurboLiner and TurboLid, this harp
will feature complete redesigned reedplates and comb with a
variety of patented improvements to provide enhanced airflow
and reed response. The ELX is a diatonic harmonica with twenty
integral pickups, one for each reed - allowing stereo mixing
and applying different effects to treble and bass ranges of
the harp, along with reduced feedback and a more balanced output
from the entire harp. After trying out the AX-S20, I can't wait
until these other innovations are available.
For more details, or to order the AX-S20 or TurboLids, contact:
Antakamatics Inc,
3500 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh
PA 15213
Email: moreinfo@turboharp.com
http://www.TurboHarp.com
Phone 412.802.6432
Pat Missin
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