TahoeMike00
167 posts
Jul 20, 2011
3:05 PM
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Working on some licks on a SP20 Bb. OOTB.
Having a bitch of a time hitting and holding the Ab. (assuming Ab is 'the blue 3rd)
I have been working on the blue 3rd on a C, and can hit and hold the sweet spot repeatably (according to Bendometer) so I am confident with my technique, at least on my C harp anyways.
So, is the Bb inherently temperamental on 3 draw bend? When I creep down to the blue 3rd, it slides right by and settles into a G and I can pull further to F# but can't hit and hold the Ab. I can even hear the reed waffling and vibrating strangely if I can keep it near the blue 3rd.
Is it tuning or technique?
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The more I learn about harmonica, the more I learn how much more there is to learn.
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arzajac
578 posts
Jul 20, 2011
3:42 PM
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Neither. You need to adjust the harp. Since you can hit the bend on another harp and Bb is hardly different than C, it's not technique. Try tightening the gaps on both the blow and draw three. Tighten until they choke when played hard and then try to play your bends lightly.
Open up the gaps gradually until it stop choking then you play hard and make sure you can still hit the bend. You don't need to open up the gap too much.
If this doesn't solve your problem, you may have another problem such as a misshapen reed or something. It's not unheard of in an OOB harp, but I reckon gapping is a much more common issue.
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KevinS
18 posts
Jul 20, 2011
6:23 PM
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I bought a '20 Bb recently with the same prob.The reed was fighting with burr with a burr on the plate.I scraped off the burr with an exacto, embossed slightly, and fiddled with the gap until it finally woke up.
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Zadozica
122 posts
Jul 21, 2011
6:07 AM
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@Arzajac - I respectfully disagree. Hitting the bends on the lower key harps is harder than doing so in the key of C - at least in my experience. I can hit them easily on my C and can hit them on my A but it took a lot more practice on the A. It was not the harp, it was my technique.
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KingoBad
804 posts
Jul 21, 2011
6:27 AM
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I would definitely check and adjust your gapping and look for burrs, etc. Some harps will also have loose rivets which can also make your bends sound dull instead of sing.
I would also look to your technique as well. Many players will not notice that they play harps differently because it comes naturally. Just play it a lot and switch back and forth with a nearby key harp like an A so you can feel any differences.
At one point I wondered why I had so many bum Bb harps, well, I finally found the problem - and he was particularly hard headed.
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Danny
Last Edited by on Jul 21, 2011 6:29 AM
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