Enhanced Harmonica

A harmonica including a reed plate having a plurality of reeds formed integrally therewith, each of said reeds having a cut portion along at least three of the four sides of its perimeter, said fourth side being connected to said reed plate to permit said reed to vibrate during harmonica play.

A comb for a harmonica, said comb being a substantially wedge-shaped comb and having a top surface sloped at an angle with respect to vertical and a bottom surface sloped at an angle with respect to vertical.

A harmonica having a comb and at least two reed plates each having a plurality reeds comprising:

• a comb having a height in the range of approximately 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm.

A harmonica having a comb and at least two reed plates each having a plurality of reeds comprising:

• a comb having a height in the range of approximately 7.0 mm to 8.5 mm.

A harmonica having a comb having a plurality of cells formed therein comprising:

• at least one of said cells having a width in the range of approximately 3 mm to 6 mm.

A harmonica having a comb and at least two reed plates each having a plurality of reeds connected thereto comprising:

• for a given pair of said reeds, a first root of one reed in said reed pair is substantially axially aligned with a second root of the other reed in said reed pair.

A harmonica comprising a comb having a plurality of cells formed therein and a set of reed plates having a plurality of reed slots formed therein and a plurality of reeds connected thereto comprising:

• at least one of said reed plates having a thickness of about 1.5 mm to 2 mm.

A harmonica comprising a comb having a plurality of cells formed therein and a set of reed plates each having a plurality of reeds connected thereto and a slot corresponding to each of said reeds formed therein, comprising:

• a flexible member having a first end connected to an inside surface of at least one of said cells and a second end extending through said cell, said flexible member being normally biased open, said flexible member being suitably dimensioned to substantially cover a slot in said reed plate corresponding to said cell during harmonica play.

A harmonica comprising:

• a reed plate having a plurality of reeds positioned in reed slots formed in said reed plate, said reed plate having a first portion positioned within a first plane and a second portion positioned in a second plane, said second portion of said reed plate having a stepped portion formed therein adapted to receive a portion of one of said reeds thereon to permit substantial encasement of said reed within said reed slot of said reed plate.