Roverharp
40 posts
Oct 25, 2013
5:09 PM
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I occasionally come across what I would characterize as a 'dull' reed in my harp tweaking. The reed is in tune, vibrates and doesn't seem hindered by burrs in the slot. Gapping is consistent. Still, the reed seems less responsive, less crisp and the timbre lack a 'ringing' found in the other reeds.
Any hints on the source of the problem?
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Jehosaphat
574 posts
Oct 25, 2013
5:14 PM
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In my experience it usually means that the reed is on the way out.
Fatique or a hairline crack sort of thing.
But i have had it from (really)bad gapping once or twice too.
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arzajac
1192 posts
Oct 25, 2013
5:18 PM
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Unless you are dealing with a Hohner Marine Band from the 80s and early 90s (two nails between the reeds on the draw side instead of three - bad period for Hohner) try this:
With the coverplates off, put a finger over the top and bottom slots. Cover the front with your mouth and puff air in and out of the chamber - nothing should move because your fingers are blocking the holes. You would feel that the chamber is pretty airtight. If positive and negative pressure leak out easily (compare with some of your good harps to know what good is), then you can improve airtightness in an effort to solve the problem.
Next, check both reeds for shape. If the tip of the reed goes through the slot first you will certainly feel this "dull" response.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
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Frank
3115 posts
Oct 26, 2013
5:12 AM
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If all else fails...Try to sharpen it by a few cents and plink it real good - if it's pitch refuses to be raised... or it quickly reverses back to were it was after you play it...Put a new reed in :)
Last Edited by Frank on Oct 26, 2013 5:14 AM
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Martin
495 posts
Oct 26, 2013
7:45 AM
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If you´re describing what I think you´re describing, this has happened to me frequently on Hohner S20:s. (I stay away from MB:s.)
I my very un-tweaking experience the only solution is to play the damned thing a whole lot -- and then, occasionally, it gets better. Of course, that can also be a question of adaption ...
The somewhat unsatisfying outcome is frequently, with the S20, that it dies on you.
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GMaj7
300 posts
Oct 26, 2013
10:57 AM
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There are a couple other possible solutions
1. Tap the rivet in a little. Every once in awhile - especially on tweaked harps - those rivets loosen a little. Tap it in and it helps to have a hard surface underneath the opposite side when you do this.
2. Occasionally, at the base of the reed, it will sink below the edge of the reed plate just barely. It actually needs to sit above the reed plate.
3. Sometimes it is actually the opposing reed that is gapped to much and so you have excess air leaking out of the opposite reed. Always make sure the opposing reed is properly gapped.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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MP
2974 posts
Oct 26, 2013
12:55 PM
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Assuming it is a fairly new reed do everything Gmaj7th
suggests.
if it is an older reed and it still sounds dull it's gotta go.
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i still have a little Hohner stock for reed replacement in three common keys.
when these are gone i'm out of the biz.
click MP for my e-mail address and more info.
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Frank
3120 posts
Oct 26, 2013
2:11 PM
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And remember, if you've long desired for your harps to be - "efficiently maximized" you'll have to go to Master Harp Mechanic at (harveyharps.com) to get the results you always dreamt were possible.
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Roverharp
41 posts
Oct 28, 2013
6:54 PM
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Thanks for the suggestions; they helped point me in the right direction. The real problem seemed to be the reed sitting too high right in front of the pad.
It wasn't visible to the maked eye and tapping the rivet alone didn't fix the problem. It did however lead me to push the reed down in that area and that did the trick.
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Jehosaphat
579 posts
Oct 28, 2013
10:37 PM
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Good thread..i learnt something offa that...
Reed too high infront of the pad.
Couple of old harps i will now check out,maybe that'll fix them.
Nothing else did.
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Baker
344 posts
Oct 29, 2013
2:59 AM
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This is interesting. I've encountered a similar or same problem. The reed actually sounds dull when you plink it, after having worked on it. I found that realigning the reed in the slot helped. I assumed that it was very slightly out of alignment, however it may have been one of these other issues and realigning helped solve it as a kind of byproduct.
Either way, great info.
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