BAG
113 posts
Mar 31, 2012
11:34 AM
|
Blew out the four draw on my D Crossover after very little usage at a gig. It was only about my second time putting it through a tough workout. I loved it when I got it, but they are too expensive if they can't hold up to some rigorous playing. Anyone have similar experience or do I chalk it up to a fluke?
----------
Twitter ~ BossoBrewingCo
Soundcloud~ http://soundcloud.com/search?q%5Bfulltext%5D=BAG
|
robbert
67 posts
Mar 31, 2012
1:39 PM
|
I've found that I need to play them easy, as they are gapped quite tightly. They still manage to sound loud, even when played with less air pressure. If, in the heat of the moment, I start playing too forcefully, they tend to choke. I think, judging by how well made they are, that they should last, although I haven't had mine long enough to say for sure. So far, so good, though. I've found them to be a great harp...so breathe easy.
|
Patrick Barker
444 posts
Mar 31, 2012
1:56 PM
|
Mine have lasted just fine- but I have noticed that D harps in general are far more prone to blowing out than any other key in general- I don't blow out that many harmonicas, but I've gone through at least 3 D harps and the only other harmonica I've ever blown out was a B flat.
|
Kingley
1945 posts
Mar 31, 2012
2:09 PM
|
BAG - I suspect you may be using too much breath force. If you are that will destroy any brand of harp quickly. Like Frank says though, we need more information.
|
MP
2141 posts
Mar 31, 2012
2:09 PM
|
odd you should mention that BAG. a fellow in SC is sending me his brand new D Crossover with a blown four draw to fix. i kid you not.
i have two Crossovers i've owned since 2009 and they are very durable. i love 'em!
all the Hohner Hand Made series use the same reeds. these include: the GM,SP/20, MBD, MB 1896, and of course,the Crossover.
you can blow a reed on any harp. spoke w/ a customizer yesterday whom said he has some Seydel 1847s with stainless steel reeds that a customer blew out. oh well...
----------
MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
Last Edited by on Mar 31, 2012 2:11 PM
|
timeistight
510 posts
Mar 31, 2012
2:31 PM
|
Smokey Joe Leone recently mentioned on Harp-L that the only harps he ever blows out are Ds.
|
surrealIdeal
10 posts
Mar 31, 2012
4:02 PM
|
I have a Crossover in D and it's the best harmonica that I ever played on. Just sayin'.
Maybe that rigorous playing was a bit too rigorous?
|
BAG
114 posts
Apr 01, 2012
5:58 AM
|
I assume Kingley is correct and that I was using too much breath force as I know that I have a tendency to do when playing at relatively rare gigs. Rockin' the house a bit much I suppose. My Golden Melodies seem to have a much longer life than anything else that I've played. Might just stick with them.
----------
Twitter ~ BossoBrewingCo
|
ElkRiverHarmonicas
777 posts
Apr 01, 2012
11:08 AM
|
Everybody blows out Ds, they are short slot harmonicas, but people still play them like long-slot Cs. All the 1847s are long slot, but everything else I can think of is short slot and above for Ds and higher. Is there another long slot?
----------
David
Elk River Harmonicas
Elk River Harmonicas on Facebook
"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato." - Lewis Grizzard
"Also, drinking homemade beer." - David Payne
|
harpwrench
580 posts
Apr 01, 2012
11:19 AM
|
Manji are all long slot
----------
Spiers Harmonicas
|
ElkRiverHarmonicas
779 posts
Apr 01, 2012
11:25 AM
|
Thanks Joe. I've only seen a G, A and C Manji inside. Thanks a lot.
----------
David
Elk River Harmonicas
Elk River Harmonicas on Facebook
"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato." - Lewis Grizzard
"Also, drinking homemade beer." - David Payne
|
BAG
115 posts
Apr 01, 2012
11:36 AM
|
Wow. Now I'm almost certain I'll blow out my E Crossover whan I play Wiggle Wiggle again with the guys at Dusty's.
http://soundcloud.com/bag-5/wiggle-wiggle
----------
Twitter ~ BossoBrewingCo
|
harpwrench
581 posts
Apr 01, 2012
12:51 PM
|
I think the 4 draw reeds last longer if you bend the note to pitch instead of cranking it all the way down. If you think you need to do that to get your *sound*, just realize there's a price paid for it. Not the harp's fault IMO.
----------
Spiers Harmonicas
|
MP
2142 posts
Apr 01, 2012
2:18 PM
|
From David Payne on the Manji thread:
"It's not just the strong that survive, so do the leaky.":)
----------
MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
|
dougharps
233 posts
Jul 15, 2012
10:34 AM
|
I just blew out the 4 draw on my D Crossover last night. I probably drew too hard. However, my D Manji has had equal or more abuse as has the Crossover, and the Manji keeps on going. I always have backups at gigs. Until now the Crossover was my favorite out of the box harp. I don't think I ever wrecked the 4 draw on a D Special 20, though I have certainly wrecked quite a few D Special 20s over the years.
I agree that the D harps suffer most frequently from abusive playing. When the band is loud and I get into it, sometimes I do draw too hard. D harps are frequently used, and my most frequently replaced harp.
So can anyone recommend someone who can do a fast reasonably priced 4 draw reed replacement on a Crossover? The replacement plates seem too pricey: Rockin Ron's for $52. I could buy a new session steel for $60. For now I am back to using D Special 20s, and the Manji.
----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by on Jul 15, 2012 10:37 AM
|
Noodles
117 posts
Jul 15, 2012
10:57 AM
|
I used to blow out my fair share of harps. Then I started to “break them in” differently. Now, I play new harps very gently for a while. Then, and only then, slowly increase the pressure until it’s up to normal. But, I never play “hard” anymore – don’t need to. Truth is, I no longer believe that's it's necessary to play "hard" to get that certain sound you may be after. Personally, I find it much more rewarding to float over a harp and play it gently, whether I'm lip pursing or tongue blocking. For myself, the nuances of harp sounds reside within a gentler playing style.
A methodical breaking in seems to give the reeds a chance to adapt to the varying loads and stresses I put on them. Now, they last and stay in tune.
If you try playing someone else’s harp, (something I do not advocate), you’ll notice it plays differently. My theory is that the reeds have adapted to the regular player, not you. It’s sort of like trying on some else’s shoes. It may be the same shoe and the same size, but they feel different. The shoe has adapted to a specific individual.
Last Edited by on Jul 15, 2012 1:44 PM
|
1847
75 posts
Jul 15, 2012
11:31 AM
|
the session steel is the way to go
try it for yourself then decide.
they last a very long time!
do they last forever?
no.
i have a d harp that is almost two years old
sounds and plays like new.
also have a big six
5 draw went out after 2 or 3 months
session steel reedplates are like $32.00
|
Rick Davis
523 posts
Jul 15, 2012
11:45 AM
|
I have a tendency to play pretty hard, and I'm still gigging a Crossover in A that I got in December of 2009 and have played continuously since. Crossovers and Manjis are the best out-of-the-box harps out there. Both tend to last a long time and both sound great.
----------
-Rick Davis
|
FreeWilly
273 posts
Jul 15, 2012
1:39 PM
|
What's meant by this term long-slot? If it has to do with the comb, why not fit a long-slot comb on the higher harps and solve the problem?
|
timeistight
697 posts
Jul 15, 2012
1:57 PM
|
It's not the comb, it's the reedplate. Hohner uses a different reedplate with shorter reed slots for their "classic" harps in keys D and above (I think; maybe it's Db and above).
I've heard of people tuning C harps up a tone in order to get a "long-slot" D harp.
|
FreeWilly
275 posts
Jul 15, 2012
2:08 PM
|
Thanks for that, what a timely answer ;)
|
dougharps
234 posts
Jul 15, 2012
2:33 PM
|
@ ElkRiverHarmonicas and harpwrench
So aside from my likely having played it too hard, and bent the 4 draw too far last night, do you agree that a long slot D harp (Seydel or Manji) would be more likely to survive the occasional overenthusiastic hard playing abuse than a short slot D harp?
I generally have reined in my hard playing as I began using more tightly set up harps for incorporating overblowing the 4, 5, and 6 into my playing, but my enthusiasm at a loud gig when things get cooking will still occasionally get the best of me.
----------
Doug S.
|
Noodles
120 posts
Jul 15, 2012
2:47 PM
|
Are the slots noticeably longer and are the reeds longer and a bit thinner? How exactly does it work?
I would measure mine but I left my digital calipers at the office with my
gyrocosmic-thermocouple.
Last Edited by on Jul 15, 2012 2:48 PM
|
BronzeWailer
726 posts
Jul 15, 2012
5:47 PM
|
I've worn out about every other kind of harp, sometimes very quickly. My breath force is too strong, but so far they have lasted well.
|
