DirtyDeck
8 posts
Jan 31, 2010
5:09 AM
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Invested £1.29 in some 'Extreme Clean' mouthwash last night with the intention of blitzing the old harps! Does anybody use this method? Any recomendations or instructions for me? Is it OK to soak wooden combs? Help me!
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Stickman
151 posts
Jan 31, 2010
5:33 AM
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I wouldn't soak wooden combs they tend to swell. I use an ols toothbrush to brush off any scale and call it good! Is there any Irony that Dirty Deck wants clean harps?
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The Art Teacher Formally Known As scstrickland
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DirtyDeck
11 posts
Jan 31, 2010
5:44 AM
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Hmm...perhaps some. Though my dirtiness is of the mind, I'm actually quite hygenic is person, apart from the syphilis that is... Wanna play my harps?
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Stickman
153 posts
Jan 31, 2010
5:48 AM
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Flamin' Lip Herpes? mmmmmmmmmm. Maybe soak the comb in petrol and flambe. Yhat should do the trick. LOL
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The Art Teacher Formally Known As scstrickland
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DirtyDeck
12 posts
Jan 31, 2010
5:54 AM
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Ah, where's the nearest petrol station...
What about swelling of the combs through playing alone? Read somewhere that it improves air-tightness, is there anything in that?
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Diggsblues
106 posts
Jan 31, 2010
6:14 AM
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I wouldn't use mouthwash. That stuff will leave a residue. You would be better off with grain alcohol
or vodka if you can't get grain. Wooden combs might
be damaged by any liquid. Take it apart clean the
combs by hand and soak the plates in alcohol.
The tightness only lasts till they dry out then
you have more problems. I they were plastic you
wouldn't have as much problems
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eharp
484 posts
Jan 31, 2010
6:19 AM
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dd- i have soaked my plastic comb harps in mouthwash, rubbing alcohol,
peroxide and different combinations of them all.
i suggest removing the covers as a minimum. if you really want to get them clean, remove the plates, also.
i agitate the mixture occasionally and let it sit for less than 1 hour. i rinse the well in hot water followed with patting them dry.
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DirtyDeck
13 posts
Jan 31, 2010
6:45 AM
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Hmmm, have sort've set my heart on buying Marine Bands in every key so I guess I'm sticking with the wooden combs. I really prefer them to the plastic ones, though they can hurt the tongue a little. Seems more earthy somewhat, like I could've been playing this same harp a hundred years ago, plastic combs seem to take the romance out of that notion.
The last harp I bought was a Suzuki Folkmaster, plastic comb, plays so easy it's almost laughable. With a Marine Band, seems like you really have to work for those bends, there's something worthwhile in that... The suzuki I've been using to practice tongue-blocked bending, nice and easy on the throat. God I'm rambling!
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jonsparrow
1986 posts
Jan 31, 2010
8:13 AM
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you dont really need to soak them in alcohol. you could just let them sit for a min an rub them with a paper towel soaked in it. just that would kill any bacteria that would be on there.
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eharp
487 posts
Jan 31, 2010
8:32 AM
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dd- help me understand. are you saying you want to play MB instead of the easier to play folkmaster?
why?
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Aussiesucker
523 posts
Jan 31, 2010
12:45 PM
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Better than mouthwash is a denture tablet. Steradent make one that is 'gentle' on metals.
I only do this with plastic combed harps but I completely strip them down. I dry them in the air hanging the bits on paper clips.
Make sure you use a marker pen to ID the top and bottom reed plates to make reassembly easier.
Harps that I have been playing for some time lose their edge ie dull/ flatter (not overly noticeable) but after treatment in the cleanser they sound brighter and look and feel new again. I figure that a build up of dried saliva on the reeds must flatten the sound and the denture cleanser removes this muck.
And DD I agree with you on the little Suzuki Folkmaster ie I think it is the most under rated harp available. I have an Ab that I play daily and its a beautiful little harp. For me in the lower keys the Folkmaster is great. In the keys C & up IMHO not as impressive.
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hepcat
10 posts
Jan 31, 2010
2:08 PM
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Jason Ricci has a video about harp cleaning. He uses kaboom and toothbrush. Then rubbing alcohol to reduce the kaboom smell. I followed his method and it has worked for me so far.
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scrybe314
80 posts
Jan 31, 2010
3:33 PM
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Jason's method works wonders:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3RwSiMEQvg
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clyde
3 posts
Jan 31, 2010
3:43 PM
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sticky! you may not feel it and yo may not see it....but the dust will. sticky!
clyde
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DirtyDeck
14 posts
Jan 31, 2010
3:54 PM
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eharp - For the same reasons that I play heavier strings with high action on my Fender Strat! I'm a guitar player first and foremost, and I jam with alot of different guys. Alot of these guys are swept up in the 'shredding' craze, play as fast as you can, putting technique before musicality - mainly for the purpose of impressing non-musicians who don't know any better. These same guys use the lightest possible strings and the lowest possible action for the one simple reason that it enables them to play (and in my opinion, show off)faster and easier! Now, I take a certain amount of satisfaction knowing that I play faster and better than those guys with a much harder-to-play guitar! Aand I manage to make it listenable, or at least I hope ;) I know my chops are hard-earned, and you can put the most unplayable harmonica you can find, in my mouth, and I'll still be able to get a note out of it! Not to shit on anybody else's ways, this is just mine.
The other reason is tone! My gauge 11 strings give me some much needed bluesy cream. The lightweight Suzuki emits a weak tone, at least in comparison to a Hohner Bluesharp or MB.
Ramble ramble ramble!
So yes! Although I find the Suzuki very easy, and as a result, fun, to play - the hard-puffing Marine Band wins every time!
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congaron
500 posts
Feb 01, 2010
10:59 AM
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I use a generic listerine knock-off followed by a rinse under tap water. I take the covers off first and set them into a shallow bowl that has enough mouthwash to cover them. After about ten minutes i rinse them off and shake them out. Works like a champ and they taset just a little minty. I wipe the outsides with it about once a week, or the night before a gig, too. Special 20s and harpmasters also need a toothpick in between the cover plate and comb/reed plate area in front...skin gets sharp.
I have one folkmaster. It is okay, but not nearly as rich sounding as a marine band. I had to do a lot more work on it to get it gapped for the same relative feel of the otb marine band.
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eharp
491 posts
Feb 01, 2010
2:51 PM
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thanks, dd. interesting way to go.
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happy harper
9 posts
Feb 01, 2010
3:12 PM
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I can't get Kaboom in Canada. Is there something special about that particular product? or is it just or is it pretty much the same as most multi purpose bathroom cleaners? anyone know?
Mouthwash seems like a fine idea. I would think thought that the rubbing alcohl most folks use at 99% would disinfect better for cheaper and leave no taste.
thanks for any help on the Kaboooooom question.
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happy harper
13 posts
Feb 01, 2010
6:22 PM
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If you have kaboom can you let me know what the active ingredient or ingredients are? is it strong enough to be corrosive to skin?
thanks again,
Jason
Last Edited by on Feb 01, 2010 6:22 PM
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Bluzdude46
433 posts
Feb 02, 2010
8:55 AM
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Drink what you want Nancy, just be careful you don't try taking beer away from the guy harp players out there, I've heard stories of biting
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The Original Downtown Philadelphia Fatman... Accept No substitutes!
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