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beginner forum: for novice and developing blues harp players >
Broken Reed?
Broken Reed?
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ScottK
63 posts
Apr 10, 2017
12:10 PM
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I took apart my MB 1896 to clean and inspect since a couple holes 2 and 3 were blocked on the draw. I cleaned the plates and all the reeds seem to be fine now except the 1 blow. (I didn't nail it all back together yet) but sandwiched together without the cover plates. So the reed seems fine, no visible crack, doesn't seem loose, at first maybe there was still a little wetness from cleaning but then still didn't work when dry. When I lightly pick each of the other blow reeds they play a note but the 1 blow doesn't. Is it gone? Is this what's known as a blown reed? I'm at work and will check again tonight. It's possible it's been like this and I just didn't notice.
Last Edited by ScottK on Apr 10, 2017 12:11 PM
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SuperBee
4614 posts
Apr 10, 2017
2:21 PM
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Quite unlikely for 1 blow to go out. Especially first. Not impossible; I have had a crossover key of G in for new 1 slot reed. 1 time in over 500 repairs.
More likely is some obstruction or misalignment.
No way to tell from here. You are gonna have to take a good look at it. Is the reed passing through the slot? Can you see light along both sides, all the way?
Sometimes obstructions can be hard to see.
Is the reed tip sitting above the slot consistent with the other reeds? Can you slip a feeler shim under it to plink it?
Can you (gently) move it into the slot?
Etc
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ScottK
64 posts
Apr 10, 2017
7:36 PM
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Thanks Superbee, this is helpful.
So I checked it over for a while tonight very closely. At first I thought is wasn't aligned just right with the slot and I was able to move it carefully just so, that it was able to move freely throughout the slot like the others, with light all around, looks same as the others. no obstruction, I opened the gap slightly and it helps but its much quieter than any other holes. And still when I plink it it sounds dead, or dull, not a nice note, though you can hear it is the right note, but just not loud and crisp like the others. Almost as if maybe it's worn out? The bottom reed plate's 1 draw sounds nice when plinked. I'll keep looking online, I may leave it as is if I can't repair myself.
Last Edited by ScottK on Apr 10, 2017 7:36 PM
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SuperBee
4615 posts
Apr 10, 2017
8:42 PM
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it would be unusual for it to be worn out.
if its moving freely, then the next place to look is at the action.
check it from above and below. if it seems well-centred in the slot, thats good.
check it end-on, from the free end. here you will be able to see if the reed is twisted, with one side dipping into the slot before the other.
it its going in evenly, thats good. if its twisted it will probably sound weak
and check the action from the side. this is a bit of a knack; i think zajac may have a video demonstrating this. sleigh certainly does. i think Kinya Pollard has video also. if you check from below, looking through the slot toward a well-lit reflective surface, and push the reed into the slot while you watch, you'll see whether it closes the slot all at once, or if the tip enters first, or if the belly of the reed goes in while the tip is still above the slot. you can also get a sense here of whether one side of the reed is closer to the reed plate than the other, by observing from both sides, and from above. if it is, it could be due to one or more of several possible factors.
also during this exam, you may start to spot burrs. burrs can be hard to see. they can be on the reed or the slot. they can be tiny. it doesnt take much to deaden the sound of the reed.
also, some of the reeds may sound rather dead when plinked but have only slight effect on the reed when played in the assembled harp. you just may not be aware there is anything going on until you start doing some work on the harp.
if the action all seems good and you cant see any obstruction, try clearing the slots anyway, with a
.001" shim. sometimes you'll feel the burr even though you cant see it.
before you do all this though, you might want to take a shim and plink that reed a hundred times.
this might reveal one of two things, or nothing at all.
first, the reed might go suddenly noticeably flat and stop bouncing back. a reed which is worn out, about to fail will usually show its true colours within 200 plinks. if i am presented with a flat-sounding reed which seems otherwise ok, and i'm wondering whether to tune it or replace it, i usually give it this test.
the other thing which could happen is that the reed may suddenly start sounding better, because its freed itself of an unseen obstruction. this happens.
if neither of these things happen, you have to go through the methodical process above. its not all bad though, this is the start of really learning more about how the harp works
Last Edited by SuperBee on Apr 10, 2017 8:42 PM
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ScottK
65 posts
Apr 11, 2017
5:19 AM
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Superbee, thanks for your help! That did the trick! I think it sounds and plays better than new! I inspected for any twists, looking at the light around it etc, that seemed ok and the 200 plinks is what made it sound better. I used my tiniest flathead screwdriver for that and also carefully scraped the edges of the reed, and where it connects to the rivet and the edges of the slot and as I plinked I could hear the tone begin to come back, more of a ring. Maybe not so ringy as the 2 and 3 blow reeds but playing through it, It sounds fine.
Then I think It was gaped a little too much from all my plinking because there was a slight delay in sound when I blew into it, I closed it a bit and it was perfect. Then I felt the 1 draw was a bit tight so I opened it a bit and it was perfect.
This cleaning also solved the issue when a few weeks back I thought the 2 or 3 draw went a little flat.
My next step at some point will be to take it apart again, seal the comb, and replace with screws.
And now I know a little bit more about working on harps. Thank you!
Last Edited by ScottK on Apr 11, 2017 6:12 AM
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SuperBee
4616 posts
Apr 11, 2017
2:37 PM
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That is great news!
Those little sticking points can be tough to find.
I hope the harp goes back together well.
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ScottK
66 posts
Apr 11, 2017
8:16 PM
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Yes, It did go back together well! Those little nails are a bugger though! The nails for the reed plates were easy but the cover plates took me more patience...Played it today a little and tonight to jam tracks, I think it sounds better than ever. No issues at all with the sound of the 1 blow. I also am more conscious of not blow/drawing too hard then when I first got it. Now I'm considering opening the 8,9,10 draws a teeny bit but I'll wait till I clean it again!
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