I couldn't agree more with Alan's theories and I would love to hear
in more detail.  I have encountered precisely the same syndrome in
comparing ostensibly identical boxes, one of which sounds (literally
and figuratively) 'sublime' while its companion sounds like a nightmare
cousin.

A question: In tuning sublime harmony combs, it must be possible to
arrive at the final result without having to continually reinstall
the combs, a task that already has potential to drive one mad.

Claudine Jones
San Francisco