Just curious. Was looking at Andrew's tools and his F-Tool looked like a really great idea that would save a lot of time, detective work, and just plain headaches.
Was wondering if folks who own this tool would like to weigh-in on it's effectiveness. Thanks.
Have a good day. Mark ---------- Have good day. M.A.P. .
I purchased it last year along with all of his other tools. By using the techniques from his instruction videos, I can now easily straighten any dip or kink in either reed plate. I started with some really messed up reed plates and worked on the technique daily for about a week & now it is second nature. If you buy the tool, my advice is to learn from his videos. He is a really good teacher & his advice is second to none...he invented the darn thing! My experience is: always apply half the pressure you think is required to make the correction because it's easier to go further on the next try than it is to correct an over bent reed. Additionally, the French tuner with a good electronic tuner marked off in cents will prove to be indispensable. Hope this is useful.
I believe there is a special going on now at Ron's ,wherein you can buy an extended French tuner and an F tool for a low price as a package deal . I am hoping to get them sometime . ---------- www.shakeylee.com
Hi Mark! And happy birthday for 2 ?days ago! It's a bit too early for me to say. I have used the tool, and I agree with Owen about taking it easy. It seemed like a great idea at the time, and it will definitely change the shape of a reed plate. I'm just not totally convinced yet. I think you could possibly get a reed plate with a bunch of dimples but I'm not sure either way.
I bought one and am bringing it to SPAH in hopes that someone there can inservice me on how to get the most out of it. It does help you grab the reed plate, and of course, easy does it, but sometimes I find it easier to just use my hands. Didn't buy the French tuner, so I have to hold reed plates to the comb to test chromatics. And in his video, Andrew uses it in conjunction with the F tool, so there is that.
I like the F tool. Like Gnarly i mostly use my hands and the rounded edge of my workbench to get the rough shape. But for those really precise and hard to get spots .. its invaluable.
I would also recommend the EXTENDED french tuner. I have the regular one, but wish i had gotten the extended. It really makes tuning SO much easier. And getting your octaves Beat Free much much easier aswell.
It's straightforward and easy to find a flat comb (or to flatten your own). It's usually straightforward and easy to flatten the draw reed plate.
The F tool allows you to carefully straighten the blow plate, too. It can also address a bowed draw plate that is not amenable to flat sanding.
With a little practice, you can check and straighten a bowed reed plate in minutes.
Why is this important? Because most folks skip over some of the basics and that usually ends up causing more grief. The closer you can get to making all the pieces of the harp fit together as one piece, the better. It boosts the performance and it eliminates mysterious problems.
Example: I was at a harmonica retreat last weekend and player after player came to me with almost the same story: "Bought a new harp, the reeds are stiff!
I explained that the reeds are not stiff, but that it's likely that the harmonica is leaking air. If little air is getting to the reed, you will need to use more effort. Since your only sensory feedback is felt through the air, you assume that the problem is that the reed is stiff.
Within a couple of minutes, these players had made their harps airtight and with almost no other work, the problem was solved *and* they had a top-shelf playing harp. No embossing, no reed work, just the basics.
Although some manufacturers are better than others, no make or model is immune. It's a problem related to mass production.
Yes, Rockin Ron (USA) and Tomlin (Europe) are offering a special on the Extended French Tuner and the F tool. while supplies last.
Gnarly, I would have loved to attend SPAH this year but the other areas of my life need to take priority. I will make my best effort to attend SPAH next year. Maybe this winter I will be able to escape the cold weather and travel your way, who knows?
