Playing casually for less than 5 years. I haven’t explored alternate tunings, but since I love Irish music and am starting to play more of it, I’m considering trying a Paddy Richter tuned harp.
But after reading a few posts on the topic (particularly Luke’s post from 2021 on tunings), I’m wondering whether it’s wiser to go with a Melody Maker. It does what Paddy does (raises the 3 Blow), but also changes the 5 and 9 Draw (if I recall correctly. I think that gives full full major scales in the upper 2 octaves (in second position). I understand all that (if my recall on it is correct).
But what does it mean from a practical point of view? If it’s Irish (jigs & reels) in particular that I’m after, Paddy helps. Would MM help even more? Or do I lose something there that I’d miss when playing Irish?
I know I’ll have to buy one of each and figure it out, but I figure a bit of research before hand won’t hurt.
Thanks 
@RCashin totally depends on the songs you wanna play. There’s a lot of Irish tunes that are in the Mixolydian mode (major but with the b7th which is -5 on paddy Richter.)
So Pattie Richtor is built to accommodate those types of melodies that are fast and is impractical to have to do the -3" for the whole step above the roof on those fast lines.
The Melody maker is really good for bluesifying major melodies (as is country tuning which ONLY raise -5 so you hav the major 7th.)
Hope that helps? Rock on! 
Thanks Luke. The fact is I’ve noticed that -3" on a few tunes I play, so the obvious thing for me is to try the Paddy first.
Of course then I’ll HAVE to try the Melody Maker at some point. And maybe a country tuned. (sigh)
And now that rascal Brendan Power has come out with his “Irish Session Harp”! That’s looks really cool! But to be honest, I’d really have to be playing with others more regularly before I’d consider something line that.
Thanks for the response