Asian to Richter conversion

Right you are, Dezzy. I would estimate about 6 hours spread out over a week or so. Some of that time was testing which means playing which is fun anyway. I would guess about 34 of the 42 reeds on this harp were adjusted.

Rex, I was checking my tremolo and it has raised a question. Do you tune one reed spot on and the other slightly up or down? Or do you tune one up and one down from spot on? Checking mine seemed to be one spot on and one off tune, but they varied.

I found Rick Eppings post. He retired from Hohner a long time ago. He posted this to an internet harp group years ago. I assume that since he posted this he does not mind if people read it. If that isn't the case then I ask Mr. Epping to contact me and I will remove this post.

This will give you Hohner's Echo tremolo tuning:

Tune the lower pitched reed set to whatever absolute pitch and temperament
the instrument is given (e.g. A-440 and Just Intonation).

Tune Middle C on the higher pitched, or tremolo row 22-1/3 cents sharp of
Middle C on the lower pitched, or concert row. For every semitone increase
in pitch, decrease the amount of tremolo tuning by 1/3 cent. So C# above
Middle C on the tremolo row should be 22 cents sharp, D above Middle C
should be 21-2/3 cents sharp, C above Middle C should be 18-1/3 cents
sharp, etc. Similarly, increase the amount of tremolo tuning by 1/3 cent
for every semitone below Middle C. So B below Middle C on the tremolo row
should be 22-2/3 cents sharp, G below Middle C should be 24 cents sharp,
etc. Middle C is not actually found on a 54 C/G, but, for reference, is
the note in Hole 1 blow of both an 1896 Marine Band C and a 270 Super
Chromonica C.

It will be easiest if you first make a chart in cents of the concert row,
accounting for its absolute pitch and temperament. Then from this you can
compute and chart the tremolo row's values in cents.

The only tremolo tunings I know of where a tremolo row is pitched below
concert, are found in 3-voice tremolo tunings like those used in
musette-tuned accordions. In this case, the middle-pitched row is tuned to
concert and the lower pitched row is tuned flat of concert, but not as flat
as the higher pitched row is tuned sharp. For example, the upper tremolo
Middle C might be tuned 27-2/3 cents sharp and the lower tremolo Middle C
might be 21-1/4 cents flat. So, instead of the simple, single tremolo
sound of a 2-voice tremolo like on your Echo, one gets a combination of
three tremolo sounds at the same time: the concert reed beating against the
high tremolo reed, the concert against the low tremolo reed, and the low
tremolo reed against the high tremolo reed. This is what gives true
musette tuning its full, "wet" sound.

Reduced tremolo tunings are popular among many genres of harmonica and
accordion players. It's easy enough to develop a custom tremolo tuning:

First, tune the lowest note on the tremolo row to the speed of tremolo
(beats per second) you desire, then tune the highest note to the speed you
desire for it.

Then measure the number of cents sharp of the concert reeds for each of
these two tremolo reeds, and subtract the amount of the higher tremolo from
that of the lower tremolo.

Finally, divide the difference between the highest and lowest tremolo reeds
by the number of semitones separating them and decrease the amount of
tremolo tuning for each semitone above the lowest note, as with the
standard Echo tuning described above. For example, on the Echo tuning, G
below Middle C is 24 cents sharp and G three octaves up is 12 cents sharp.
The difference, 12 cents, is divided by the number of semitones between
the two notes, which is 36, giving a value of 1/3 cent. This is the value
that is added to each semitone on the way up.

Best regards,
Rick

George Miklas offers the Hohner Echo Celeste tremolo with wet tuning. Currently they are $50. That's a pretty good deal if you want an Asian system harp with the wet tuning of a Hohner Echo harp. The standard Hohner Echo Celeste has the typical dry tuning of the Asian harps. I have met George a couple of times and even played a Gospel music show with him and his daughter one time. He is a good guy and I trust him. I have never played an Echo Celeste so I cannot give an opinion of that harp. My guess would be that I wouldn't like the stock Celeste much, but after George works on them they probably sound great. I can't imagine him selling bad harps. He knows harmonicas and has been working on them for many years and has a reputation in harmonica circles. He could probably email you a sound clip if you were really interested. Here is a link to his online store:
sales.harmonicagallery.com/tremolo-octave

Rex,

That was an amazingly thorough explanation of tuning for a tremolo effect! I have a few tremolos which need tuning attention. Your posts have given me a better understanding of how to approach the work. And, a good indication of the time and patience I’ll need before starting the project. 

Ken