MindTheGap
1176 posts
Feb 17, 2016
2:16 AM
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Basic question - if a person wanted to replace reeds is it possible simply to buy the tools to remove/replace rivets, buy the reeds from the manufacturer and get on with it?
Or does it involve collecting/repurposing/making a set of odd tools, and finding a source of reeds from somewhere? I've read about people collecting 'donor reed plates', cutting down other reeds to fit and all that stuff.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Feb 17, 2016 2:17 AM
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SuperBee
3405 posts
Feb 17, 2016
3:20 AM
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it depends. when i started doing it, i was using screws.
so i needed:
reeds,
screws (1.4mm)
screwdriver
1.4mm tap
tapered reaming tool (1.3mm hex file)
suitable sharp drill for removing burrs
reed wrench
sandpaper/sanding wand
flush-cutting pliers
pointy stick/brass reed shaping tool
shims
file for tuning
oil for lubricating cutting edges.
additional perhaps depending on how you do it:
nuts for reed screws and nut driver
i think thats it
now i use rivets, and i bought Richard Sleigh's reed anvil.
he supplied a 2 ozbrass hammer with the anvil tool
i still need shims, reed wrench and a reed shaping tool but no threads to cut and no enlarging holes and removing burrs and cutting screws flush with the reed plate. much simpler in my view...and if you mess it up...theres always screws. if you mess up screws...there are bigger screws...nuts on screws..
finding reeds is a big deal. i buy new single reeds (in packs of 5) from hohner for 4.3 euro and in packs of 3 from Seydel for about the same. for other brands and hohner MS, individual reeds are not available...so if you dont want to buy reed plates its a matter of tracking down used plates and recycling. given that its usually 4 and 5 draw that go bad, this can be tricky. but you can fit a blow reed in a draw slot for instance, and if its the same pitch just do some minor retuning, or retune probably up to a whole tone.
as long as you can find a reed the right width, you can cut them to length. of course, the pitch goes up sharply when you do this. and the reed may feel a bit starnge if its very different to the original, but there is a reasonable amount of scope. in hohner handmades they use 2 different templates for the harps...and this gives more scope with replacement reeds...quite clever of hohner i think...a 4 slot reed from a Db through to F harp will fit the 6 slot of a G through C harp, and the relationship holds true for 5 and 7 slot reeds...Richard sleigh has made a chart and i turned it into a spreadsheet with some further detail.
its better to get the right reed, but you can make do and it will work out fine given half a chance. i used some lee oskar reeds to repair a hohner 365 and it worked out great...the owner still loves that harp and has used it to record with since the repair...they were 'wailing' reeds i replaced too...naturally enough...i even recycled the lee oskar rivets into the hohner...
oh...the lubrication of cutting tools...doesnt often get mentioned but its a good thing to do...makes life much easier
and steel reeds are harder on tools, so rivets are really good to use if mending steel harps
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SuperBee
3406 posts
Feb 17, 2016
3:28 AM
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suzukis are a bit more hassle because theer is no rivet hole...so you have to make one...machine technique required..and probably easier to use screws on these...but hard to get reeds...i have a small stash...i beg reeds, swap work for broken harps...i have a fair stash of MS, LO, Seydel and Marine band(Sp20/GM/Rocket...all the same) reedplates, and a few suzuki...not so many people play them and they are a pill to repair imho so im not too fussed. i keep the LO stuff because the locals use them, and i get a few requests to repair MS harps...i dont mind MS harps myself, so if things get really desperate i can make some up for me...
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MindTheGap
1177 posts
Feb 17, 2016
3:36 AM
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Thanks! That answers the question: Not Simple.
Searching for spare parts, I found this article on the Hohner site about replacing reeds, using a stud bolts and star nuts. I won't be doing this.
http://www.playhohner.com/fileadmin/hohner_group/hohner/00_website/service/service_prints/workshop_C08.pdf"
Just that toolkit costs £150, then there's the reeds. If it were a case of buying an anvil, punch, hammer, rivets and packs of 4 or 5-hole reads, I consider having a go.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Feb 17, 2016 3:39 AM
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SuperBee
3407 posts
Feb 17, 2016
3:47 AM
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have a look at andrew zajac's site. he sells a set of tools for replacing with rivets and has some instructional video too. a fair bit cheaper than the hohner toolset i think
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SuperBee
3408 posts
Feb 17, 2016
3:49 AM
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link to zajac tools
Last Edited by SuperBee on Feb 17, 2016 3:50 AM
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MindTheGap
1178 posts
Feb 17, 2016
3:55 AM
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Ah yes, thanks, I like magic words 'replace a reed like you'd replace the string on a guitar'. Nice. That's the kind of thing I'm after - routine. His kit + a reed wrench works out at £40. That's more like it.
http://harp.andrewzajac.ca/HowToReplaceReed
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Feb 17, 2016 4:00 AM
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SuperBee
3409 posts
Feb 17, 2016
4:07 AM
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doesnt take long to recoup that outlay. a reed wrench is a very good thing to have.
of course, with some ingenuity you can probably make a fair bit of that kit yourself, but andrew has pitched it at a level where its attractive to save yourself the bother.
ive dealt with him quite a few times for various things and he is very good to deal with. i like his business model. good to support these people. treasures in the community imho
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MindTheGap
1179 posts
Feb 17, 2016
4:35 AM
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Yes indeed. That's the point, I don't want to make or cobble together the kit myself. Still not sure about buying individual reeds in the UK, I'll research.
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SuperBee
3411 posts
Feb 17, 2016
4:39 AM
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For hohner...hohner c shop. European shop, not US. It isn't immediately obvious where to find the individual reeds. You need to look to the right of the page and the 'downloads' link. Quite near the top right.
Last Edited by SuperBee on Feb 17, 2016 4:44 AM
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SuperBee
3412 posts
Feb 17, 2016
4:42 AM
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hohner cshop downloads
I'm sure you'll work it out. It may default to a premium postage rate...but possibly there is a budget rate. I get them posted to Australia for about the price of a single pack of reeds, but it takes 3 or 4 weeks
Last Edited by SuperBee on Feb 17, 2016 4:46 AM
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MindTheGap
1180 posts
Feb 17, 2016
4:52 AM
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Great! No it's not at all obvious. For the benefit of others reading this: the link eventually takes you to a PDF file that has links in for each reed in each hole of each key, and clicking it adds a pack to your shopping basket in the original web page.
I've not taken it through to shipping costs yet, but this is starting to sound practical.
Thank for all the info Superbee.
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