Johnnie 9-Toes
9 posts
Sep 15, 2017
7:04 AM
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Hi all
Anyone on here know if it is possible to tune the reeds in a B harp down to B-flat harp?? I have no use for the B harp I have but could use it at B-flat..
Anyone???
thanks
Johnnie
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dougharps
1568 posts
Sep 15, 2017
7:28 AM
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It is possible with a fair amount of skill and time. Techs used to regularly tune G harps to low F harps before low Fs were common.
1)You can lower reed pitch by removing metal from the fixed end. However, this technique risks tuning too low and needing to then take metal off the free end of the reed to bring it back up. Removing metal from the fixed end weakens the reed and risks early failure, but it can be done.
2)You can lower reed pitch by adding weight to the free end with blu tac poster adhesive, which is easily reversible, or with solder which is not easily reversed. I have heard that some have used nail polish, but I haven't seen this done. You have to adjust the amount of blu tac or solder wighting the free end until it is on pitch, usually by putting on more than is needed and then removing slowly to pitch. Some have said they use silver solder to minimize possible exposure to bits of lead.
Personally, I would not put in the time to do this. If the harp is a good one, consider buying replacement reed plates in a different key, or just keep it, as is.
Do you already have another B harp? You never know when you will encounter someone who uses a capo or tunes their guitar down a half step. If they are tuned down 1/2 step you use a B instead of a C harp.
I would either keep it as is or buy new plates.
Re-tuning a B harp to be a Bb harp is possible, but probably not worth the time spent, unless you want to do it to build skills and practice. It is quite possible that you will ruin some reeds or solder the plates while trying. The high pitched short reeds only need a very small change, longer reeds need more change to adjust the pitch.
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Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Sep 15, 2017 7:30 AM
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Andrew
1651 posts
Sep 15, 2017
7:48 AM
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It's possible.
It's also possible to ride a unicycle backwards from New York to Los Angeles.
To end on an upbeat note, keep it - you might want to play Stone Fox Chase some day.
Or tune it up to C. That would be easier than tuning it down to Bb.
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Andrew.
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Last Edited by Andrew on Sep 15, 2017 8:32 AM
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MP
3472 posts
Sep 16, 2017
6:45 PM
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It's way too much work. I once tuned a G harp to low F# just because I thought I'd save some money. It works great but I'll NEVER do that again! Why not just buy a Bb?
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Reasonably priced Reed Replacement and tech support on Hand Made Series Hohner Diatonic Harmonicas.
'Making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time.
Click MP for more info. Aloha Mark
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Johnnie 9-Toes
10 posts
Sep 16, 2017
9:33 PM
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Hi Folks
Yes I agree MP.. lol.. After reading the above I went and bought one. Just thought it be a good project..
tnx all
Johnnie
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HarveyHarp
749 posts
Sep 17, 2017
8:10 AM
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I use a B harp all the time. Just last night, I was in a restaurant that had a guitar player that had heard me play somewhere, and he asked if I had harps with me. I said yes, so I went and got my harp box from my car and he said the song was in G, and oh, by the way, I tune down a half step. Not a problem, I grabbed my B. It was a great song. Happens all the time. Of course, I could have just grabbed my E harp and played in third position. The point is, if you want to blow harp, seriously, you need to have all the harps, and know how to use them.
HarveyHarp
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Thievin' Heathen
931 posts
Sep 17, 2017
8:21 AM
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A lot of the Red Dirt music guys are playing in B. That's country. Play it in 1st.
Hang on to that B. Buy a Bb, preferably from a manufacturer you haven't tried yet.
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Andrew
1655 posts
Sep 17, 2017
8:47 AM
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If I wanted a project I'd take up electronics again.
But in favour of tuning harps down, presumably everyone is going to do it with blobs of solder? The effect of the different reed-momentum might be worth experiencing.
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Andrew.
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Last Edited by Andrew on Sep 18, 2017 4:14 AM
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MP
3473 posts
Sep 20, 2017
4:41 PM
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Projects can be fun for the person w/ tools, time, patience and skill.
I like new harps. If I wanted a low tuned harp I'd buy one. I have a soft spot for the Hohner 364 in C. The 365 is a bit too long for my taste. Also I have low E, F, F#, and D. All are SP/20s save the low F. I find I rarely use these harps unless I pull them out to mess around w/. Then I put them away till the next time I go through my diatonics.
In most cases, rather than tune up a 1/2 step if someone requests a tuning change I'll just replace the existing reed w/ one to the desired pitch. It makes life simple. I rarely tune up past a half step. Reeds can lose their fullness of tone w/ less brass and sound odd if not a solid tine off brass. Just my opinion. I'm sure there are a people who swear by brass or Blue Tack.
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Reasonably priced Reed Replacement and tech support on Hand Made Series Hohner Diatonic Harmonicas.
'Making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time.
Click MP for more info. Aloha Mark
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Last Edited by MP on Sep 20, 2017 4:43 PM
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Redneck
1 post
Sep 20, 2017
6:51 PM
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I have retuned a ton of harps. It's good fun. Go for it. Sure you could buy the key. But retuning is a good experience. My favorite harp is a Low F I tuned from a G SP20.
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Andrew
1661 posts
Sep 21, 2017
12:34 AM
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"Projects can be fun for the person w/ tools, time, patience and skill."
That's the problem. In my early teens I had a large collection of resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc. And also in those days every old man in your street had metal tobacco tins to give away to keep the components in. Nowadays you have to buy them on EBay because they are collectibles! I don't even have a soldering iron now. I've got a drill, but in 5 years I've been too lazy to find any screws for my MBs.
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Andrew.
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BeePee
11 posts
Sep 21, 2017
1:36 AM
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I agree with Redneck: it's a good project and you'll learn a lot doing it. For a mere semitone reduction I'd remove material at the base of the reeds. Using a rotary tool will make it faster. You could get it all done in 30 minutes once your skills are good.
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Andrew
1662 posts
Sep 21, 2017
2:31 AM
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I'd forgotten you could remove material at the base.
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Andrew.
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dougharps
1574 posts
Sep 22, 2017
7:42 AM
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@BeePee
Brendan, your screen name cracks me up!
"You could get it all done in 30 minutes once your skills are good." And that is the issue, "once your skills are good." I could probably do it, but certainly not in 30 minutes. But then, I am a person who repairs or improves my own harps as needed, not a genius tech who constantly shows exceptional abilities in harmonica innovation.
I agree that the 1/2 step is easier than a full step, and less likely to cause damage. I use a rotary tool, too. A light touch and mild bit are important. To successfully drop all 20 reeds one half step, including the high reeds, can be done, but as a skill building exercise the student would likely also need to be prepared to replace at least one reed that they damage beyond repair.
@Andrew
I spoke of removing material from the fixed end in my post above.
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Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Sep 22, 2017 7:43 AM
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Andrew
1668 posts
Sep 22, 2017
10:02 AM
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@dougharps. Sorry, either I had read it too fast and not seen it, or I had forgotten you said it.
Does removing this material not lower the life-expectency of the reeds?
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Andrew.
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Last Edited by Andrew on Sep 22, 2017 10:04 AM
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dougharps
1575 posts
Sep 22, 2017
11:35 AM
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IMHO
If the pitch drop is only 1/2 step and the removal of material is smooth and spreads out a little at the fixed riveted end rather than a sharp groove that focuses the flexing to a small area, then it is less likely to fail where you removed metal. The thinner the reed base compared to the weight of the free end and length of the "lever" of the reed,the more likely to fatigue and fail. Sharp grooves focus the flex in a narrow area, increasing risk of failure.
Retuning 20 reeds this way without ruining one takes skills and a steady hand. If you remove too much then you have to take metal off the free end.
This is my opinion, I would be interested in other's views.
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Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Sep 22, 2017 11:38 AM
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