Charles.Doughty
34 posts
Mar 25, 2014
10:48 AM
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Hi All,
I've been playing harp for awhile now with some success. But one thing that I haven't done is have success tweaking my harps. I picked up book from Richard Sleigh a few years ago and learned to tune but my time sitting down is pretty limited (I have 2 small children). So for the last year or so all I've been able to do is clean my harps to free up reeds and keep them playing smooth. Another factor that keeps me away from working on my own harps is that I can't afford to destroy one and not have it available for gigs on the weekends. Hmm... So My question is: Where should I start?
My band is starting to gain some momentum and I'd like to step up my harp game. If you have experience please help me out. Thanks....
Chuck D.
TheGetHotBand.com
http://thegethot.bandcamp.com/album/greenhouse-effect-ep
Last Edited by Charles.Doughty on Mar 25, 2014 10:49 AM
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arzajac
1319 posts
Mar 25, 2014
11:02 AM
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No matter where you get your instructions from - (1)Richard Sleigh has a fairly comprehensive set of videos for sale, (2)there are other DIY books available, (3)not to mention sitting down with someone who will show you - there will be an investment of your time and you will need to practice on real harps (not cheap toy harps).
It's not realistic to think you can take your small number of harps and work on each and every one of them quickly and have a great effect on them.
That being said, what are your expectations? Instead of trying to find a formula to run through, can you describe specifically what you would like? In other words, it's not about the tweaking, it's about the effect. If you can't define what you are tweaking for, you will certainly work against yourself.
Finally, if there is one magic bullet that will make any harp play better, it's making it more airtight. Maybe that's what you are looking for at this point?
Flat-sanding the draw plate is a start. Flat-sanding a comb is more involved. Applying a very light coat of chapstick or vaseline to a plastic Special-20 or Harpmaster comb is easy, too.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
Last Edited by arzajac on Mar 25, 2014 11:06 AM
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JustFuya
22 posts
Mar 25, 2014
12:01 PM
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I would start with Joe Spier's video series:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh79GaDVmC8
I spent a couple of months researching this on the net and annoyed a couple of decent people during the process. I didn't progress until I went into the garage, made a couple of simple tools, and put them to work.
I leave embossing to the pros.
You will most definitely have to schedule some sit down time.
EDIT: Removed metallurgy and theory
Last Edited by JustFuya on Mar 25, 2014 2:41 PM
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Charles.Doughty
35 posts
Mar 25, 2014
12:10 PM
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Thanks for the advice.. Airtight is where I think I should start. When I first started playing I noodled a bit with Marine Bands and Special 20's but found that the Bushman harps out of the box were louder and more airtight. Of course there was the problem of procuring harps from that company but with some patience I have been pleased. Unfortunately, the reeds are welded on so replacing them is impossible.
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arzajac
1320 posts
Mar 25, 2014
12:29 PM
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Harpmasters are the same harp as the Delta frost. Very easy to get.
And you certainly can replace welded reeds.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
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harpwrench
805 posts
Mar 25, 2014
12:39 PM
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Just learn how to gap as needed, enjoy your kids while you can!
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Charles.Doughty
36 posts
Mar 25, 2014
12:42 PM
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Thanks. I think I will pick up a few harpmasters.
@ Harpwrench, they just marched by me going on an invisible bear hunt. Hah! They are only small once.
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nacoran
7655 posts
Mar 25, 2014
12:46 PM
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Replacing welded reeds isn't impossible, but it certainly is more difficult.
Ah-ha, I figured it was a Brandon Power video. I don't remember which models are which, but the Delta Frost is a rebranded Suzuki and the Soul's Voice is a rebranded Seydel.
I disagree slightly with Andrew- the very first harp or two you mess with should be junk harps, either harps that are busted or cheap harps- not because you are going to get them to sound great, but because you are going to break them. Most of us will miss something the first time. (The exception is gapping. As long as you are gentle, gapping is pretty safe.) The first covers I opened up look terrible. They work just fine, and I learned a lot doing them, but they are ugly, all uneven and dented. The first reed slots I embossed, well, I forgot the step of swinging the reed away, and I screwed up the reed. Little bits of metal broke off the ends while I was playing them. (Fortunately not on an inhale!) I modified some plastic combs with magnets. I used a comb from a Lee Oskar that I'd destroyed (left it in my pocket in the wash, covers came off, reeds snagged) and off of Blues Bands. I knew there would be no survivors on the first try, so I didn't waste anything I'd miss, but now I'm refining my technique with better combs.
Those first few lessons can come on anything, they are just getting familiar with the parts. That should only be your first couple tries though. Once you are actually trying to get things to sound good, and you are doing fine tinkering, yes, absolutely, it should be done on a harmonica that performs better and has better overall quality. Of course, that's assuming you aren't handy. I'm certainly not. If you are handy, then you can go straight to playing with good harps (although I still recommend picking a broken one first.)
The other option, for airtightness, is to get upgraded combs. Arzajac (link in his signature) makes nice ones, as does Tom at BlueMoonHarmonicas.com. Chris Reynolds and Randy Sandoval too.
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Nate
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GMaj7
389 posts
Mar 25, 2014
1:38 PM
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Good words from Joe..
I agree completely..
Enjoy your kids and treat them to music...
Harps off the line these days play amazingly well...
Like a good marksman, adjust your sights.. (reeds) every now and then
and worry instead about making creative and original music..
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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arzajac
1321 posts
Mar 25, 2014
2:22 PM
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Gapping is a must - I didn't mention it because to me, it's not tweaking per-se.
Everyone should be able to gap their harps. To me, "Tweaking" is what you do when gapping isn't getting you the results you are expecting due to design or manufacture imperfections.
Also, yes, I offer combs. But swapping out the comb is not going to make your harp airtight. You don't need a third-party comb for a harp to be airtight. You can make the stock comb airtight yourself. A custom comb just saves you time and effort for one part of the process.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
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harpwrench
806 posts
Mar 25, 2014
2:25 PM
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I wouldn't recommend custom combs for the DF/Harpmaster.
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Charles.Doughty
37 posts
Mar 25, 2014
2:39 PM
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The DF's are loud. Probably because they are pretty air tight. I have a Manji with Promaster plates that I like but it is not as loud. I'm play mostly jump blues in my current project and have to hold down the horn section so it helps to have a louder harp. For the subtle blues songs I like my Sp20's because they are a bit quieter.
I do need to practice gapping more. I have had mixed results, some good and some bad. There is a box of nice harps in my practice space that could use some love.
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jiceblues
317 posts
Mar 26, 2014
8:24 AM
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Just play SP20's , open the coverplates in back , practice a lot , and you'll have the best harp in the world .Once it's broken in , a SP20 is awesome .
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snowman
44 posts
Mar 26, 2014
6:09 PM
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buy some 'johnson harmonicas' an entire set of 12 was $50 or so--with a case-- there crap-- i practiced embossing on them--i practiced opening cover plates on them-practiced tuning--gapping--DO NOT START ON GOOD HARPS FIRST-- ur guaranteed to bend a reed or 2-- also i think seydell sells the the small screw and bolt that 'harponline' use to sell to replace abroken reed--i unfornately in the begining ruined some--bright side is I cn easily replace and retune broken reeds when i have the right one or close--pt being practice on crap first--eventually light box--magnify glass-- i even bought a microscope-- believe it or not the microscope really helps me see 'exactly' wher burrs are-u r gonna over emboss at first-but then u get it good luck rupert has a graat video
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harpwrench
807 posts
Mar 27, 2014
7:14 AM
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If you have parts harps laying around, a set of MB covers on the SP20 makes a nice combination.
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www.spiersharmonicas.com
Why settle for less.
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jiceblues
319 posts
Mar 27, 2014
10:19 AM
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Yes , i have powder coated MB covers ( open in back) on some of my SP20's .It's nice , good sound .They come from BLUEMOONHARMONICAS .You just have to drill them .
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Gnarly
968 posts
Mar 27, 2014
12:00 PM
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@Charles and all, like to mention that those Harpmasters come with a one year warranty, keep your receipt.
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teba
2 posts
Mar 28, 2014
12:48 AM
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Arzajac, how about lipsticking a S20 comb, should I just put a slight coat of lipstick on both sides if comb and then put everything back together? Hadn't heard about it before and became a but curious. Btw, I bought your toolkit and it is amazing, I have just found so far that I don't get that much out of embossing, that that the outcome is quit little compared to the drastic difference in harp when done gapping. I have so far moved the reed away and embossed the slot all the way, centering the reed back is a bit tricky though, and not embossing too much as well. I guess that I need some practise and try to emboss slightly at first and emboss then more if i feel so.
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MP
3130 posts
Mar 28, 2014
11:59 AM
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Tolerances on newer harps are better than they have ever been. In the bad old days embossing/sizing was a must. Now-a-days it is unnecessary but helpful if a player needs serious OB/OD response.
Gussow OBs every time he picks up a harp and as far as I know he doesn't hardly do jack to his harps. just a bit of gapping
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Last Edited by MP on Mar 28, 2014 11:59 AM
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arzajac
1324 posts
Mar 28, 2014
5:49 PM
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Teba: SP20 combs are not that bad. A solid 9 on 10. Lipstick, chapstick or Petroleum Jelly are fine DIY tricks. Just don't assume it will last forever. And be careful to not use too much and keep your harp away from lint.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
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teba
3 posts
Mar 30, 2014
10:53 AM
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arzajac, thank you so much, and every single other forum member deserves big thanks of me as well.
I was a bit skeptical about tweaking harp if I'm going to get any outcome or if it is going to influence my playing at all, if I'm able to notice anything. But now I would say to every single beginning player that take your a little of your time to learn some basic tweaking.
Had done some gapping before, and of course it made my harps much better, but sanding draw reed plate and your lipstick trick made the great difference. I opened up the backside of the harp a bit with my leatherman as much as I could do to get bigger sound (you know, those edges on backside). And I love it. But the best thing is that blow bends sound now awesome. There was so much leakage before, but now all of them snaps with very little effort. I had to blow really hard to get the blow bend at 10 hole, but not anymore. I thought that my technique wasn't good enough (and it is probably not yet), but now it pops out there like never before.
Looking forward to set up my other harps as well. And play some more.
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