Abstract:
A harmonica with a tube plate that provides production of sweeter, clearer notes with a minimum of skill. The tube plate has a plurality of tubes and sits over the reeds and the comb under the cover plate, a tube coupled with each air chamber in the comb. The tubes form tunnels with the air chambers, enhancing reverberation and separating the sound waves emanating from the reed in each chamber. The tube plate can be added to a conventional harmonica. The harmonica has a plurality of reed units, each reed in a separate unit. Each reed unit is individually replaced when a reed requires replacement or when modification of the harmonica key is desired. The reed units can replace a reed plate in a conventional harmonica.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES AND RELATED SUBJECT MATTER 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 14/058,727, filed in the United States Patent Office on Oct. 21, 2013, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to a harmonica. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a modifiable harmonica and technology for retrofitting harmonica. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The harmonica is a free reed wind instrument used worldwide in nearly every musical genre. There are many types of harmonica, including diatonic, chromatic and tremolo to name a few. A harmonica is played by using the mouth to direct air into and out of a mouthpiece. Unlike other reed instruments, playing the harmonica requires both inhaling and exhaling strongly against resistance. 
         [0004]    The harmonica has a plurality of holes along the mouthpiece, each hole having a chamber containing at least one reed which is pre-tuned to an individual pitch. The standard diatonic harmonica is designed to allow a player to play chords and melody in a single key. Because they are only designed to be played in a single key at a time, a player must purchase multiple diatonic harmonica to play in different keys. Some players prefer specially-tuned variants of the diatonic harmonic that is played in what is called a “cross-harp” style that allow the players to play a natural minor, harmonic minor and major scale. 
         [0005]    Some players attempt to tune the harmonica itself by making small scratches or filings in one or more reeds. To raise the pitch of a reed, the scratch or file is at the top of the reed near the tip, which will make the reed vibrate faster and thus raise the pitch of the note. To lower the pitch of a reed, the scratch or file is at the top of the reed near the base, which makes the reed vibrate more slowly and thus lowers the pitch of the note. However, if a reed is damaged or is incorrectly modified and produces a pitch that is not desired, the entire reed plate must be replaced so many amateurs do not attempt tuning on their own. 
         [0006]    While harmonica appear simple, it takes great skill and practice to play the harmonica well. Beginners are challenged to produce clear and clean notes. Sound waves from a reed in one air chamber cancels out sound waves from another reed, creating a muddy sound. The beginner must learn how to change pitch through embouchure adjustments and learn how to “bend”, a technique unique to the harmonica. 
         [0007]    A beginner often produces shrill, metallic sounds in the high register if they produce any sound at all. The beginner must learn how to gently produce these high notes through controlling breath, using lips, jaw, tongue, abdomen and most especially, the throat, to produce a sweet, clear note. Learning to play the harmonica well takes a great deal of practice to acquire the skill level to produce consistently beautiful notes. 
         [0008]    While these techniques may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present disclosure as disclosed hereafter. 
         [0009]    In the present disclosure, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge or otherwise constitutes prior art under the applicable statutory provisions; or is known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which the present disclosure is concerned. 
         [0010]    While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussed to facilitate the present disclosure, no technical aspects are disclaimed and it is contemplated that the claims may encompass one or more of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0011]    An aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure is to provide a harmonica that is easier for a beginner to play with a minimum technique ability. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a tube plate coupled to a harmonica comb, the tube plate providing a plurality of tunnels for reverberation within the harmonica comb, producing clean, clear notes with a minimum of technique. 
         [0012]    Another aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure is to provide a harmonica that produces a sweet sound in the high register. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a harmonica having a plurality of tubes coupled to a plurality of air chambers of a harmonica comb, the tubes separating the sound waves produced in each chamber, thereby providing clear, sweet notes. 
         [0013]    A further aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure is to provide a harmonica that is easy to maintain. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a plurality of reed units, one reed in each unit, the unit replacing one reed at a time without replacing all the reeds simultaneously. 
         [0014]    Accordingly, the present disclosure describes a harmonica with a tube plate that provides production of sweeter, clearer notes with a minimum of skill. The tube plate has a plurality of tubes and sits over the reeds and the comb under the cover plate, a tube coupled with each air chamber in the comb. The tubes form tunnels with the air chambers, enhancing reverberation and separating the sound waves emanating from the reed in each chamber. The tube plate can be added to a conventional harmonica, that is a harmonica known by those of ordinary skill as a traditional harmonica consisting of a comb with air chambers, a pair of reed plates and a pair of cover plates. The harmonica has a plurality of reed units, each reed in a separate unit. Each reed unit is individually replaced when a reed requires replacement or when modification of the harmonica key is desired. The reed units can replace a reed plate in a conventional harmonica. 
         [0015]    The present disclosure addresses at least one of the foregoing disadvantages. However, it is contemplated that the present disclosure may prove useful in addressing other problems and deficiencies in a number of technical areas. Therefore, the claims should not necessarily be construed as limited to addressing any of the particular problems or deficiencies discussed hereinabove. To the accomplishment of the above, this disclosure may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a partial exploded perspective view of an example embodiment of a harmonica of the present disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of another example embodiment of a harmonica of the present disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of an example embodiment of a step in a process of retrofitting a harmonica. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a reed unit. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4B  is an exploded perspective view of an example embodiment of the comb with individual reed units. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tube plate for retrofitting a harmonica. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6A  is a partial view of an air chamber coupled to a tapering tube and a reed unit in an example embodiment. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6B  is a partial view of the air chamber coupled to a tube and a reed unit in another example embodiment. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view, showing a harmonica having a conventional reed plate being modified according to the present disclosure. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic perspective view, showing the harmonica of  FIG. 7 , reassembled. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view, showing a further embodiment of the harmonica, wherein the conventional reed plate has been replaced by an arrangement of interlocking reed units. 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a front elevational view, showing the interlocking reed units, per se. 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is an exploded view, showing yet a further embodiment of the interlocking reed units. 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a front elevational view, showing components of the harmonica having the further embodiment of interlocking reed units. 
       
    
    
       [0031]    The present disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show various example embodiments. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure is thorough, complete and fully conveys the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example embodiment of a plurality of novel components of a novel harmonica  10  of the present disclosure in a partially exploded view. Throughout this disclosure, the illustrations show a diatonic harmonica, but the concepts and embodiments disclosed can be adapted to other types of harmonica. The illustrations based on the diatonic harmonica should not be considered limitations except where stated. 
         [0033]    The novel components that are coupled providing the novel harmonica  10  include a tube plate  40  having a plurality of tubes  42 . The tube plate of the present disclosure can be added to a conventional harmonica in addition to being a component of the novel harmonica. 
         [0034]    The novel components include a plurality of reed units  30 . These reed units can replace a reed plate in the conventional harmonica in addition to being a component of the novel harmonica. 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  shows a mouthpiece side  10 M and an opposing front side  10 F of the harmonica in the partial view. The harmonica has a pair of outer cover plates  12 , a top cover plate shown in the partial view. The cover plates are orthogonal to and extend from the mouthpiece side  10 M to the front side. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  shows a harmonica comb  20 . The harmonica comb sits between the pair of cover plates  12  in the fully assembled harmonica. The comb has a mouthpiece side  10 M and a front side  10 F. The comb having a plurality of air chambers  22 , each air chamber having an opening on the mouthpiece side  22 M and an opening on the front side, which is not shown. Each air chamber  22  has a pair of side walls  24  extending between the mouthpiece side  10 M and the front side  10 F. Each side wall has an outside edge  24 E, the outside edge having a notch  26 . 
         [0037]    The plurality of harmonica reed units  30  discontinuously attach to the harmonica comb, each reed having a planar plate section  32 . When the reed is played and vibrates producing a note, only the planar plate section of the played reed vibrates. The plate sections of the other reed units not being played are unaffected and do not contribute to the sound of the note, thus producing a cleaner sound. The reed units make replacing damaged, worn-out or off-key reeds easier. Each reed in each unit can be replaced individually without replacing all the reeds simultaneously because each reed unit is discontinuous with all others. The reed units can replace a reed plate in a conventional harmonica as explained hereinbelow. Reed plates in the prior art can produce undesired sounds when the harmonica is played by a unskilled player, as one vibrating reed transfers vibrations to the entire plate, said transfer being absent when reed units of the present disclosure replace the plate. 
         [0038]    In the drawing, the actual reeds in the reed units have been omitted for clarity. The reed unit is fully illustrated in  FIG. 4A  as explained hereinbelow. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 4A , each reed unit  30  has the planar plate section  32  with an airway slot  34 . Each reed unit  30  has a reed  36 , the reed secured over the slot  34  of the planar plate section  32  by a connector  37 . Each reed unit has at least one fastener  38 . The at least one fastener  38  is operative for attaching the harmonica reed unit to a single air chamber  22  of the harmonica comb  20  as shown in  FIG. 4B . The harmonica reed unit  30  sits recessed within the comb  20  between the notches  26  of the side walls  24  of the air chamber  22 , each harmonica reed unit discrete and separate, each harmonica reed vibrating discretely when played. 
         [0040]    In  FIG. 1 , the harmonica  10  has the harmonica tube plate  40  inserting between the outer cover plate  12  and the comb  20 , the tube plate  40  having a mouthpiece side  40 M and a front side  40 F. The tube plate  40  has a plurality of tapering tubes  42 , each tapering tube having a continuous wall  44 , the wall extending from a narrow mouthpiece side  40 F to a wide arcuate front side opening  40 F. The continuous wall has a pair of edges  44 E extending from the mouthpiece side  40 M to the front side  40 F, the tube plate having a plate  46 , the plate, a flat plane connecting the tapering tubes, the plate  46  attaching to the edges  44 E of the walls of each tapering tube  42 , thereby coupling the tubes to the plate. The mouthpiece sides  40 M of the tubes align in parallel on the plate  46 . Further, each edge  44 E of the tapering tube aligns with the side wall  24  of the air chamber  22  such that each tapering tube is disposed on one of the air chambers when the harmonica  10  is assembled, the tube plate thereby modifying the harmonica and sounds the harmonica produces. 
         [0041]    In  FIG. 6A , an example embodiment is illustrated by a single air chamber and tapering tube in partial view. The air chambers  22  each have an inside arcuate wall  28  connecting the side walls  24 . The arcuate wall  28  is opposite the harmonica reed unit  30  when the harmonica  10  is assembled. The tapering tube  42  and the air chamber walls  24  form a tapering annular tunnel  50  having a wide annular front side  50 F and a narrow mouthpiece side  50 M. Each tapering annular tunnel  50  has the reed unit  30  disposed diametrally within, the reed unit producing a clear, clean sweet note without phase cancellation from a note from another reed unit. The tunnels separate the sound waves produced in each chamber, thereby providing clear, sweet notes. The tunnels  50  enhance reverberation and minimize any phase cancellation of sound waves produced by different air chambers, providing cleaner, clearer notes. The notes in the high register are clean and sweet without shrill, squeaky noises often produced by an unskilled player. 
         [0042]    In another example embodiment, drawn in  FIG. 6B , the front side  50 F′ of the tube  42  is sealed air tight by wall  58 . In one example embodiment, the tube may be sealed air tight by a plug. The tunnel  50  has a mouthpiece side  50 M′ that is the same as the front side  50 F′ in cross-section. The tube has an opening  56  at its apex, operative for releasing air blown through the tube  42 . 
         [0043]    The novel harmonica  10  is shown in an exploded view as assembled in  FIG. 2 . Each cover plate  12  couples to each tube plate  40  and the comb  20  is between the tube plates  40 , opposite the cover plates. The tubes  42  on the tube plate  40  are open towards the air chambers  22  of the comb  20  as described hereinabove. Each reed unit  30  inserts into each air chamber. 
         [0044]    The tube plate  40  has a pair of ends  40 E, the tube plate having a pair of final tubes  42 F, a final tube adjacent to each end of the tube plate, the final tubes having with an outer edge  42 E, one outer edge of each final tube at each end of the tube plate and the tube plate has a pair of planar extensions  46 E, one extension on each side, each extensions extending from the edge  42  of the each final tube, the extensions operative for fixing the tube plate to the harmonica. 
         [0045]    The extensions  46 E each have at least one hole  54  operative for at least one fastener  52  fixing the tube plate to the harmonica. 
         [0046]    Each cover plate  12  has a pair of opposing ends having a planar extension  12 E, one extension on each end. The extensions each have at least one hole  54  operative for the at least one fastener  52  fixing the cover plate to the harmonica. 
         [0047]    The harmonica comb  20  has a pair of terminal air chambers  22 T having adjacent planar extensions  20 E, the extensions each having at least one hole. The at least one hole  54  is operative for the at least one fastener  52  fixing the comb to the harmonica. 
         [0048]    The harmonica  10  is further assembled by aligning the mouthpiece side  10 M of the comb  20  with the mouthpiece side  40 M of the tube plate  40  after the reed units are inserted in the comb  20 . The holes  54  in the comb extension  20 E are aligned with the holes  54  in the tube plate extension  46 E. The holes  54  in the cover plate extensions  12 E are aligned with the aligned holes  54  in the comb and tube plate. Fasteners  52  are inserted into the holes  54 , securing the comb to the tube plates, the comb and tube plates between the cover plates. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the comb  20 , the tube plate  40  and the reed units  30  are shown. In this embodiment, the air chambers  22  of comb have an orthogonal wall  28 ′ between the side walls  24 . This comb is well known to those of ordinary skill. Generally, a reed plate containing all of the reeds for the harmonica is coupled to the comb. 
         [0050]    Reeds are pre-tuned to individual pitches. The standard diatonic harmonica is designed to be played in a single key. When one reed on a reed plate wears out, becoming off-pitch, harmonica in the prior art had to be disassembled and the entire reed plate replaced. Often a user had modified a reed on the plate to produced a unique tone. If another reed wears out, then the modified reed is lost in the replacement process. 
         [0051]    However, this comb  20 ′ is modifiable to accommodate the reed units  30  of the present disclosure. In the present disclosure, individual reed units are replaceable. Not only are worn out reed units replaceable, but the user can further modify the comb by placing reeds in a different order, thereby producing a harmonica capable of being played in a different key. The harmonica of the present disclosure is flexible in its tuning and its maintenance. 
         [0052]    The tube plate  40  can be placed over the comb  20  within the cover plate, further modifying the harmonica and the harmonica can be reassembled. 
         [0053]      FIG. 5  shows the tube plate  40 ′ for retrofitting harmonica. The tube plate  40 ″ has a front side  40 F and a mouthpiece side  40 M, the tubes  42  and the plate  46  as described hereinabove. The plate  46  has a bottom side  46 B having a plurality of supports  60  disposed thereon, the supports substantially equidistant between each tube  42 . The supports are operative for fitting the tube plate onto a comb of the prior art. 
         [0054]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , a method of assembling the harmonica that produces clear, clean, sweet notes, comprises the steps of attaching a plurality of harmonica reed units  30  to a harmonica comb  20 , the harmonica comb having a mouthpiece side  10 M and a front side  10 F, the harmonica comb having a plurality of air chambers  22 , each air chamber having a pair of side walls  24  extending between the mouthpiece side  10 M and the front side  10 F, each side wall having an outside edge  24 E. Each harmonica reed unit  30  has having a single reed as shown in  FIG. 4A . Each reed unit has at least one fastener  38 , the at least one fastener operative for attaching the harmonica reed unit  30  to a single air chamber  22  of the harmonica comb. The harmonica reed unit  30  inserting the side walls  24  of the air chamber  22 , each harmonica reed unit discrete and separate. 
         [0055]    In one example embodiment, the step of attaching a plurality of harmonica reed units  30  to a harmonica comb  20  includes the step of producing a notch  26  on the outside edge  24 E of each side wall on each air chamber wall,  24  the harmonica reed  30  unit inserting between the notches  26  of the side walls of the air chamber  22 . 
         [0056]    The harmonica comb  20  is coupled between a pair of outer cover plates  12 , the cover plates orthogonal to and between the mouthpiece side  10 M and the front side  10 F of the harmonica comb  20 . 
         [0057]    In one example embodiment, the step of coupling the harmonica comb  20  between the pair of outer cover plates  12  is preceded by the step of coupling the harmonica tube plate  40  in alignment with the harmonica comb, the tube plate having a mouthpiece side  40 M and a front side  40 F. The tube plate  40  has tubes  42  as described hereinabove. Each edge  42 E of each tapering tube aligns with each side wall  24  of the air chamber  22  when the harmonica tube plate  40  is coupled to the harmonica comb  20 . 
         [0058]    In another example embodiment as shown in  FIG. 6A , the step of attaching a plurality of harmonica reed units  30  to a harmonica comb includes forming an annular tunnel  50 , the tunnel formed by the tube  42  of the tube plate and the air chamber  22 , the air chamber  22  having a pair of side walls  24  connected by an inside arcuate wall  28 . The harmonica reed unit  30  is disposed diametrically within the annular tunnel  50 . 
         [0059]    In one example embodiment of the method of assembling the harmonica, a harmonica as known in the prior art is disassembled and reassembled having the elements of the harmonica of the present disclosure providing a retrofitted harmonica. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the step of attaching a plurality of harmonica reed units  30  to a harmonica comb  20  is preceded by the step of dissembling a previously assembled conventional harmonica by removing the outer cover plates  12  and removing a pair of reed plates from the comb. In another example embodiment of the method, the step of attaching a plurality of harmonica reed units  30  to a harmonica comb  20  includes the step of producing a notch  26  on the outside edge  24 E of each side wall on each air chamber wall,  24  the harmonica reed  30  unit inserting between the notches  26  of the side walls of the air chamber  22 . 
         [0060]    In a further example embodiment of the method, the step of attaching a plurality of harmonica reed units to a harmonica comb is replaced by the step of dissembling the conventional harmonica by removing the outer cover plates  12  is followed by the step of coupling the harmonica tube plate  40  in alignment with the harmonica comb  20 , followed by the step of coupling the harmonica comb  20  between a pair of outer cover plates  12 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 7  illustrates a conventional harmonica  100 , having a conventional comb  120  and having a conventional reed plate  110  extending fully across the conventional comb. The comb  120  has a front  10 F and a mouthpiece side  120 M. The conventional reed plate  110  is a single piece, having a plurality of slots  130 , each one having a reed attached therebeneath. In  FIG. 7 , this harmonica  100  is being retrofitted with a harmonica tube plate  140 , substantially similar to the harmonica tube plate of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 . The tube plate  140  having a pair of ends  140 E, a mouthpiece side  140 M and a front  140 F, a plurality of tubes  142  which extend substantially from the front  140 F to mouthpiece side  140 M, generally tapering toward the mouthpiece side  140 M. The tube plate  140  also has a substantially planar plate  146  which extends between the tubes and at the ends  140 E. The conventional harmonica has a cover plate  112 , which is normally held onto the comb  120  with fasteners  152 , that extend into holes  154  in the comb  140 . Accordingly, to install the harmonica tube plate  140 , the cover plate  112  is removed, by removing the fasteners  152 . Then, the harmonica tube plate  140  is positioned between the reed plate  110  and cover plate  112 , and the fasteners  152  are replaced. Preferably, the harmonica tube plate  140  is configured with plate holes  155  near its ends  140 E that match holes  154  in the comb  120 , such that the fasteners  152  simultaneously secure the cover  112  and the tube plate  140  to the comb  120 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 9  illustrates a further embodiment, wherein the cover plate  112  has been removed, and the conventional reed plate  110  of  FIG. 7  has been replaced with a reed plate assembly  200 , which comprises a plurality of individual reed units  230  which are linked together to form a contiguous plate that spans across the comb  120 . The comb  120  has a top surface  120 S (which may be functionally synonymous with its bottom surface for the sake of complementary harmonica structure where additional reed units and another cover plate are expectedly provided beneath the harmonica), a pair of ends  120 E and a plurality of individual air chambers  122  between the ends, extending transversely between the mouthpiece side  120 M and front  120 F, and generally exposed at the top surface. In particular, each individual reed unit  230  has its own reed and is configured to span across a single air chamber  122 , for sounding an individual note. In accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, the individual reed units  230  has a planar plate section  232  with an airway slot  234 , and a pair of side edges  231 . The reed units  230  also have a linking mechanism, for attaching the side edges  231  of adjacent reed units  230  to each other. In particular, linking mechanism may be a prong  234  and socket  236  arrangement in the example shown. According to such example, the reed unit  230  may be slightly thicker on one side to accommodate the socket  236 . Alternatively, the linking mechanism may be a tongue and groove arrangement (in place of the prong and socket), where the planar plate section  232  of the reed unit  230  is of consistent thickness substantially between the side edges  231 , and has a groove in one of the side edges  231 , and is thinned down to create a tongue at the other of the side edges  231  which is sized to fit within the groove with an interference fit. 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , the reed plate assembly  200  is shown as including a plurality of reed units  230 , as well as end units  235  which do not have a reed associated with them but which facilitate securing the reed units  230  to the comb. Once again, according to this exampletive manner of attaching the side edges  231  of adjacent reed units  230 —with the exception perhaps of reed units adjacent to the end units  235 , each reed unit has a socket  236 , and a prong  234 . Also shown, is the reed  36  and connector  37 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 11  shows a further example that facilitates individual reed units  230 , by providing a connector  300 . Referring to  FIG. 12 , each connector  300  has a pair of side ports  302 , which are sized to fit the side edges  231  of the reed units  230 . The side ports  302  are substantially one hundred eighty degrees apart, and extend longitudinally along the connectors  300 . The comb  120  as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  has a front side  120 F, a mouthpiece side  120 M, a plurality of air chambers  122 , and side walls  124  which extend vertically between and define the air chambers  122 . The connectors  300  are each sized to extend substantially between the mouthpiece side  120 M and front side  120 F of the comb  120 . The connectors  300  may also have a lower port  302 , which can be sized to fit over the side walls  124  and secure thereto. Accordingly, each reed unit  230  is ‘book-ended’ by a pair of adjacent connectors  300  which secure to the side edges  231  of said reed unit  230 , and secures to the side walls  124  that define one of the air chambers  122 , thereby securing and positioning said reed unit directly over said air chamber  122 . 
         [0065]    When used in conjunction with the tube plate  140 , the connector  300  may be configured to secure directly thereto. Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the tube plate  140  may having a plurality of supports  160  extending from the plate  146  between the tubes. Each connector  300  may then have an upper port  303 , which secures to one of the supports  160 . Thus, each connector  300  can be configured to make a four way connection—between adjacent reed units  230 , the tube plate  140 , and to the comb  120  by securing to one of the side walls  124  of one of the air chambers  122 . In addition, by using the connector, any of the individual reed units  230  may be easily removed, to replace the reed associated therewith—without requiring that all of the reeds or an entire reed plate be replaced. In addition, the connector  300  effectively positions and holds one of the reed units and one of the tubes  142  of the tube plate  140  directly over one of the air chambers  122 . 
         [0066]    It is understood that when an element is referred hereinabove as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. 
         [0067]    Moreover, any components can be formed from a same, structurally continuous piece or separately fabricated and connected. 
         [0068]    It is further understood that, although ordinal terms, such as, “first,” “second,” “third,” are used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, “a first element,” “component,” “region,” “layer” or “section” discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings herein. 
         [0069]    Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, are used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It is understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device can be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
         [0070]    Example embodiments are described herein with reference to cross section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, example embodiments described herein should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions as illustrated herein, but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described as flat may, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features. Moreover, sharp angles that are illustrated may be rounded. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are not intended to limit the scope of the present claims. 
         [0071]    In conclusion, herein is presented a modifiable harmonica and technology for retrofitting harmonica. The disclosure is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present disclosure.