grahamonica
30 posts
May 21, 2012
7:26 AM
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Hi everyone.
I,ve fairly recently started to replace individual reeds on
my broken harps. Up until today it,s been fairly straightforward as i,ve only been replacing like for like reeds removed from spare reedplates that I have lying around.
Today I started to replace the 5draw on my sp 20 key of A,and then discovered that I didn,t have any 5 draw reed in A to use as direct replacement.No problem I thought...I,ll just use the 6b reed from a G harp...same note...but then noticed that the reed was a different length (slightly shorter ).So my question is, what would be the best reed to use for replacement? I also have the same problem with the 4 draw on my sp 20 key of C.What would be the closest reed to use and retune ?
Any info much appreciated.
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arzajac
801 posts
May 21, 2012
7:36 AM
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If you join Richard Sleigh's mailing list, you get download acces to some documents. In his field spotter guide, he provides a reed replacement chart - that's what you need.
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Gnarly
256 posts
May 21, 2012
8:56 AM
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I usually use a lower reed and file it to fit.
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Adam Hamil
40 posts
May 21, 2012
9:14 AM
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You could always use a 5 blow reed from an A harp and tune it up a half step. Or you could use a 5 blow reed from a Bb harp, Same note and same size.
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C. Adam Hamil
HOHNER CERTIFIED Free Reed Instrument Technician
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grahamonica
31 posts
May 21, 2012
10:43 AM
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@arzajac....thanks.
@ Adam & gnarly...thanks also
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GMaj7
31 posts
May 26, 2012
4:26 AM
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Anyone who has done a lot of reed replacement has experienced the same thing.. and the (C) 4 draw is the worst. This probably won't help in your situation, but this is why I always save (C#)/(Db) MBs as the corresponding blow reed works very well on a harp 1/2 step higher as it fits perfectly and the pitch loss in the reed transfer seems to work out to be about 1/2 step.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
1045 posts
May 26, 2012
5:52 AM
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Adam Hamil pretty much said what I was going to say. You can also always use a reed that is slightly longer and lower in pitch and trim it shorter, which will raise pitch. If the pitch is then way too high, you can bring it down with solder. I don't like to do that any more than I have to, but that has gotten me through several pinches. So has solder itself. You pick a reed that will fit that slot, even if it is much higher. Then, use solder to lower the pitch. If you had a set of F# reeds, you could replace them on a short slot harmonica by tuning down like that. Same with the highest of the longslots -I think it's Db on Hohner - you could use those reeds to tune any key.
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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
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MP
2287 posts
May 26, 2012
1:48 PM
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hmmm. great suggestions so far.
other choices;
as far as the A harp 5 draw goes, the 3 draw on an Eb harp is the size and pitch(D) as is the 3 blow on a high G harp. unfortunately, most people don't have these harps in the parts box.
a C harps four draw is also a D note but as far as i know the only corresponding reed is found (guess where?) on the high G...2 draw.
cutting reeds to fit or finding same size/same slot reeds a half step off to tune up or down is the way to go. unless, you buy new plates from Ron or replacement reeds from Hohner.
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name for info-
Last Edited by on May 26, 2012 1:52 PM
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
1047 posts
May 26, 2012
1:55 PM
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The draw and blow slots are usually the same size, by the way... so you can usually put a four blow on a four draw and vice versa.
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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
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MP
2288 posts
May 26, 2012
2:02 PM
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yup!
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name for info-
Last Edited by on May 26, 2012 2:10 PM
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arzajac
802 posts
May 26, 2012
6:04 PM
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The 5 Blow on an A harp is the same reed as a 3 draw on an Eb harp as well as a 3 blow on a high G. (**EDIT** see a few posts below!)
The slot length changes starting at Db, so the 5 slot on a low harp is the same size/length as the 3 hole on high harps.
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Last Edited by on May 27, 2012 4:19 AM
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MP
2290 posts
May 26, 2012
6:48 PM
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arzajac, typo? the 5 Blow on a A harp is C#. grahmonica has a blown A 5 draw (D).
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name for info-
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arzajac
803 posts
May 27, 2012
4:19 AM
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Details! Details!
The 5 Draw on an A is the same reed as a 3 Draw on an Eb and a 3 Blow on high G.
(Everyone, just get the guide and check for yourselves. I am obviously not a reliable source for these sorts of things...) Thanks MP!
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GMaj7
34 posts
May 27, 2012
11:17 AM
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Of course, you could always switch to Seydel and then buy replacement reed plates at an incredibly reasonable price.. Buying replacement reeds from Hohner is like getting a haircut over the phone.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
1048 posts
May 27, 2012
9:17 PM
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The Seydels steels are all long slot. You could have a set of F reeds and replace any reed in any key, tuning the reed down with solder.
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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
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
1051 posts
May 28, 2012
1:29 PM
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I don't do any of this stuff actually. I keep reeds in cleaned out medicine bottles, one note per bottle. When I need a reed, I dump that note's bottle on the table and sort through the reeds until I find a match. That's the easiest way I've found.
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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
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MP
2291 posts
May 29, 2012
12:53 PM
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arzajac,
i'm sure it was a typo or the chart your are refering to is hard to read- even though it is color-coded.
i use a reed plate or a straight edge if i can't remember what works. :)
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name for info-
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