blues
5 posts
Dec 16, 2011
12:39 AM
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Anyone know how to stop them? It seems after even holding a harmonica in my hand it gets covered in finger smudges, no matter how clean my hands are. It's entirely aesthetic but I like my harps to have a nice polished look to them, not something smudgy. Right now I've just been cleaning them with a lens cloth but I have to do it so frequently that it's tedious.
Anyone have any idea?
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Jehosaphat
139 posts
Dec 16, 2011
1:01 AM
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Finger smudges on coverplates!Gawd!
Sorry you'll have to cut yer fingers off?
Ok if this is not a pisstake mail ^ wear gloves?
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the_happy_honker
101 posts
Dec 16, 2011
1:18 AM
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I know what you mean. It's almost a shame to gunk up a shiny new Marine Band by putting it in my mouth.
Try this. Roll the harp in your hands for a minute or two before playing, so the finger oil gets evenly distributed over all exposed surfaces. Now there can be no smudges because the whole surface is smudged. Don't look at your harp while you are playing, wipe it down just once and put it away when you are finished.
Then see a shrink about your OCD tendencies.
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gene
990 posts
Dec 16, 2011
1:36 AM
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I'm OCD about my Promasters like that. I don't want to see a shrink. I like my harps to shine. Also, oils build up from my lips making it harder to slide. I keep a piece of real chamoise cloth handy. My second favorite cloth is that microfiber stuff. In order to alleviate the tedium, I've learned to do the best polishing on them only when I'm putting them away for a while.
Last Edited by on Dec 16, 2011 1:42 AM
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Tommy the Hat
503 posts
Dec 16, 2011
4:22 AM
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I just use my shirt.
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Tommy
My Videos
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RT123
255 posts
Dec 16, 2011
4:43 AM
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I use "Wet Ones". They are antibacterial hand wipes. After or before I play i wipe the covers down and it cleans them and seems to stop the smudging a little too. It does a good job of getting any "gunk" off the front off the covers and in the space between the reedplate and covers. I have been using them for about a year and it hasnt had any negative affects on my bluesmasters and manji covers. After i wipe them down with them i usually go over them with a dry cloth but it really doesnt need it because it is rubbing alcohol based i think so it evaporates quick.
this is what it says on there website
Wet Ones
COME CLEAN AND ZAP GERMS TOO
Fact: Wet Ones® Antibacterial Hand Wipes actually clean up grubby and sticky hands. So when soap and water aren't handy, grab Wet Ones® Wipes to kill 99.99% of bacteria, wipe away grime, and get nice soft hands. Thanks to their Aloe formula, they won't dry or irritate your skin like hand sanitizers can. And, they're hypoallergenic. In Fresh Scent or Citrus, Wet Ones® hand wipes smell great too.
CHOOSE FROM 3 HANDY SIZES
40 count canister
15 count travel pack
24 count individually wrapped singles
Last Edited by on Dec 16, 2011 4:44 AM
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STME58
57 posts
Dec 16, 2011
6:45 AM
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RT123,
Doesn't this make you music sound sterile? :-)
Hohner pro harps don't show finerprints as badly due to thier slightly rough dark finish.
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Willspear
11 posts
Dec 16, 2011
7:17 AM
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I like the matte seydel noble covers. They look cleaner Than any shiny cover after handling
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RT123
257 posts
Dec 16, 2011
9:38 AM
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@stme58
Yes it does make it sound sterile. That's why I use it. Otherwise it just sounds shitty. LOL
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nacoran
5039 posts
Dec 16, 2011
2:37 PM
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Just for smudges, get one of those microfiber polishing clothes (just make sure it's not one of the chemically impregnated ones for silver). Seydel sells them (and include them with most harp purchases I think). They won't stop smudges, but they wipe them away in a jiff. Just hold the harp by the ends while you clean them, or you re-smudge what you just cleaned. It also does a good job on gunk build up from your lips, as long as you wipe them before it gets a chance to dry on (then I use craft picks (or is it sticks?), they are like heavy duty toothpicks you can get at craft stores. They are softer than metal so they won't scratch anything, but they are harder than the gunk. Between the cloth and the picks I can keep my harps looking beautiful. If you haven't sanded the corners on your MB's they may snag the cloth and tear it up a little over time, but it's a polishing rag- it doesn't have to look pretty. For about $10 worth of cleaning supplies you can keep your harps looking pretty for years. (I'm still on my first polishing rag and pack of picks).
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BigBlindRay
142 posts
Dec 16, 2011
8:04 PM
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Hi MBHers
Sterisol spray is great for cleaning harps - Its normally used for cleaning Brasswind mouthpieces. I find its handy to give your harp a couple of sprays with it and wipe down with a lint free cloth. Viola! Smudge free harp.
There is also something to be said about care and maintenance of a musical instrument. A good tradesperson takes good care of their tools. I would consider say that if you feel the process of taking care of your instruments to be "tedious" then perhaps the trade of playing the instrument may not be for you. UNLESS - you have a tonne of cash and pay people to do that for you
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Blocker
107 posts
Dec 16, 2011
8:27 PM
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The following is from the Hohner web site.
Harmonica Care and Cleaning
For the most part, cleaning your harmonica is not necessary and should not be attempted. Parts of the instrument, including the reeds, reed plates, valves, and comb are very delicate and could damage easily. If you wish to clean the exterior parts such as the covers, mouthpiece, slide, etc, use a soft cloth with either soapy water or rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol. If you disassemble your harmonica before cleaning, wait until the parts are completely dry before reassembling.
TIPS ON HARMONICA CARE:
Always keep it clean. Try to avoid excess saliva flow.
After playing, tap the harmonica (holes down) several times against the palm of your hand. This will eject excess saliva and foreign substances. Allow your harmonica to dry completely before storing.
Rinse mouth with water before playing. Try to keep your mouth as clean as possible.
Do not play while eating food or candy as this may have an adverse effect on the reeds.
As a general rule, do not allow another person to play your harmonica.
Keep the harmonica in its case when not in use.
Never soak, rinse, or boil a harmonica. A number of harmonica instruction books and other sources recommend this practice. However, soaking or boiling a harmonica will make painted surfaces peel, cause the wooden combs to warp or crack, promote corrosion of metal reeds and the reed plate, destroy the wind saving valves and void the warranty. In short, soaking or boiling your harmonica will damage it beyond repair.
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