I've noticed a couple of new harps are a little stiff on the top end draws. I've thought of myself as too ham fisted to be messing with these things. I usually just play them in but it seems like it can't be so difficult to tweak them a bit and lately I've been keen on learning new things that I previously ignored. Could someone advise please. ---------- LSC
Adam has a video on gapping reeds. It isn't difficult to learn or do even for me (i hate to tinker and have no interest in doing work on my harps).
I think you probably need to open the gaps a little.
Keep in mind that if you gap a draw reed you may (or may not) also need to adjust the corresponding blow reed to get everything responding properly. They sort of need to be in balance with one another.
Joe Spiers' three videos are a little more comprehensive than Adam's video on gapping.
In these videos he actually tightens the gaps of the high holes. I thought the opposite like hyvj, but I tried it and it's true. They do respond a lot better with a tight gap. But I's not that hard to get the sweet spot on them where they respond very easily but never choke under high pressure. Basically, tighten it until it chokes and then bring it back until it stop choking under high pressure.
Another thing, repeat the process the next day (and maybe one day after than again) Reeds don't stay perfect the first time. I wish someone would have told me *that* a long time ago...
Yeah, but I like Adam's for sheer simplicity. Anyway, Joe's weren't available when i first saw Adam's and learned how to gap. But, of course, Joe is a master.
Whether one needs to open or close the gap is not always obvious. But I only adjust when I need to, so my hands on experience is somewhat limited. But, personally, I've never needed to close up a reed gap on a new OOB harp. But my OOB harps are Suzukis, and i don't OB. Other brands may be different, and OB players have different requirements.
brilliant. Just the ticket. What is obviously confusing is that two experts are showing something exactly the opposite. One says if the reed is sticking the gap needs to be opened. The other says if the reed is stiff it's leaking air and needs to be closed. I must be missing something. ---------- LSC
Here's how to tell: if it's sticking or won't respond well when you apply light air pressure it needs to be closed. If it sticks when you apply strong air pressure it needs to be opened.
Now, if a gap is opened far enough that the reed really sings under strong air pressure it may not respond well under extremely light air pressure. This is why there is no "right" way to set gaps. You set them so the harp responds well for the particular way YOU play.
Joe Spiers may be able to reach a "one size fits all" gap that works for all styles of play, but he's a true expert.
Last Edited by on Jul 09, 2011 5:42 PM
