Bike&Harp
42 posts
Aug 22, 2016
5:00 PM
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I just read this. Do you think this applies to us as well? I haven't been cleaning the internals of my harps at all lately just the cover plates when they get dirty but after reading this it's got me thinking!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-37152871
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SuperBee
4021 posts
Aug 23, 2016
2:43 AM
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The story about the mouldy bagpipes I assume.
Less likely with your harps I'd say as they dry out much more quickly than a bag.
But
You can minimise the risk by storing your harps in a nice environment and where the air can move.
I don't mean in a draught. Just not played then immediately shoved in a foam cutout that holds them snugly.
And maybe leave the lid of your case open when you're not transporting the harps. Although that's a trade off in some ways, re bugs and dust.
But yeah some inherent risks I suppose.
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ME.HarpDoc
183 posts
Aug 23, 2016
12:11 PM
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B&H
There's been a lot of discussion on debris, grunge and bacteria in harps on the forum. Bottom line is it's mostly your own saliva and don't share. For those who worry, there's been much info on cleaning disinfecting (go to Forum Search). Personally I rinse mine and when i see build up that won't rinse off, I clean with 3% hydrogen peroxide. (My opinion is it's safe. I'm a retired dentist and I have an M.S. in chemistry. There are those on the forum who disagree.)
Interestingly, I just had to take apart a Suzuki Harpmaster (phosphor bronze reeds/brass reed plate) and there was a fair amount of black stain which i removed with hydrogen peroxide. Out of curiosity I opened a Hohner SP20 (all brass) and a Seydel Session Steel (stainless steel reeds and plate) which have gone about the same period without cleaning. The Hohner was a little less grungy than the Suzuki but the Seidel was much cleaner. I wonder if the SS has more resistance to build up or bacteria?
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SuperBee
4022 posts
Aug 23, 2016
2:03 PM
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Session is not ss plate. It is 'German silver'.
I've seen pretty grungy seydel harps. They don't get the green build up you see on brass harps. But sometimes yellow and brown.
I've seen white and blue crystals on brass harps too. I think that's a result of some drinks getting in, maybe with something acidic reacting with the brass. I.e a chemical reaction rather than organic.
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ME.HarpDoc
184 posts
Aug 23, 2016
4:53 PM
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Thanks SB.I forgot about the German Silver plates. OK it sounds like it's not the material as much as what gets into the harp.
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Bike&Harp
43 posts
Aug 23, 2016
6:28 PM
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Interesting stuff guys. I have Hohner and Seydel harps. Primarily Hohner but two Seydel's too. Anyway when i got them i was taking them apart and cleaning them all the time. Then it got less and less until the only cleaning i was doing was the cover plates in a basin of really warm water and soap. I might go back to more in depth cleaning but you know i can't be bothered doing it! Initially i did it because someone said a cleaner harp sounded better but after not cleaning the internals for a short period i didn't notice any improvement in tone after cleaning. Not only that i find that as my harp collection builds that is another reason not to do in depth cleaning. One or two harps is ok but as you build up doing a lot of harps takes quite a while. I'm sure i saw a Jason video where he shows his cleaning regimen and he said it was like 9 harps to clean every week or something like that!! Man you'd be constantly cleaning harps at that rate. What about the Steve Baker video on YT where he says use water and vinegar? What do you guys think of that?
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SuperBee
4025 posts
Aug 24, 2016
2:36 AM
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Water and vinegar probably OK.
I wouldn't use the vinegar too strong though (whatever "too strong" means)
If fungus is gonna be a problem, it needs some moisture and something to eat. I dunno what bagpipes are made of but fungus doesn't eat metal. It might grow on organic matter you deposit in the harp. Playing clean is easier than cleaning the harp.
I clean mine if they need it. I decide they need it if they visually 'gross me out', or if they are jamming up regularly or otherwise misbehaving.
I recently found a large fly in a client's harp. Yuk
And I've had some truly grossly dirty harps come in for work.
Sometimes cleaning is all they need.
Really, anything you inhale through has potential to cause problems. But we all have to go sometime and
Compared to walking down the street to the shop, I think the risk of something harmful befalling you from playing a grotty harp is relatively low.
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