rurik44
6 posts
May 23, 2012
12:09 PM
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After a lot of playing "Good morning little schoolgirl" I found a very weak #3draw reed sounding on a Suzuki promaster in the key of F. Furthermore I found a jammed reed in the slot. I was very surprised because during playing the sound was good ( #3 draw and a bit of #4 draw bent )Is it possible for a reed to beccome misaligned in the slot even if You draw hard?
Is there anything I can do to " save the reed " back in the slot. I have limited experience in doing reed work and as far as I know the reed is welded on the Suzuki.
Many thanks in advance.
Last Edited by on May 23, 2012 12:10 PM
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hvyj
2429 posts
May 23, 2012
12:27 PM
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Yes. A reed CAN become misaligned, but not on a Suzuki because Suzuki reeds are welded, not riveted. The issue could be gapping or debris caught between the reed and reed plate which may be very tiny and difficult to see, but which can jam the reed.
Different players deal with such issues differently. Too low of a gap will stop the reed from sounding. To free a jammed reed, personally I use the smallest blade of a feeler gauge and move it VERY GENTLY under the reed and between the edges of the reed and the reed plate. I'm no expert, but this works for me. Others have suggested this is NOT the best way to deal with such a problem, like i said, it has worked well for me.
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nacoran
5710 posts
May 23, 2012
12:34 PM
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On any other brand I'd tell you do just gently nudge it back into alignment, but I don't know if that works on a Suzuki, but you can try, gently (GENTLY!!!). On other harps I've nudged them back into place with just a slip of paper slid along the side and pulled gently(it seems to spread the force out along the length of the reed nicely.) Basically, you just put the piece of paper between the reed and the reed plate, and slide it all the way down so it's under the entire reed. Fold the paper over the top of the reed, then gently (GENTLY!!!) pull the reed back into alignment. That's the no tools way. If the weld had enough wiggle for the reed to slip out of alignment that might work, but don't force it. :)
If you have the right flat wrench you can grab onto the reed in the little area where the rivet attaches (but I haven't seen a Suzuki so I'm not even sure they have that little square part!) If it slid out of alignment maybe it's a bad weld? You might have to replace it with a rivet, but take everything I say with a grain of salt. Like I said, I've never been inside a Suzuki. Brendan Power has a video on replacing welds with rivets if I recall correctly.
If it's a new harp it may still be covered under warranty. (Just because you can't play harps before you buy them doesn't mean the companies won't take care of you if your harp is defective, although an individual music store may or may not be helpful.) If all else fails, there are guys who can fix it for you, for less than the cost of a new harp. I think the going rate for a reed replacement is about $10 plus shipping if that's all you get done. (Some guys wait until they have a bunch of broken harps to save on shipping.)
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Nate
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nacoran
5711 posts
May 23, 2012
12:36 PM
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Oh, reading hvyj's post (he posted while I was typing) check the reed for burs too, especially if it's new.
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Nate
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MP
2283 posts
May 23, 2012
1:02 PM
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as you know, the reed is welded so misalignment is very unlikely if not impossible. either something in the slot is seizing the reed or the reed has failed.
most likely you have an obstruction as breakage on #3 is not very common. even so, i've seen it happen on higher pitched harps like Eb, so i wouldn't rule out a break on an F.
i think you should take it apart and hold the reed plate up to a light or use a magnifying glass. it could be something as simple as a piece of lint.
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MP
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Andy Ley
171 posts
May 23, 2012
2:23 PM
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I have found previously on one of my Suzukis that the reed became misaligned in the slot. It wasn't enough to jam, but you got an awful metal-on-metal sound when you played the reed.
As the guys above have said, you would't expect it to happen in Suzukis as the reeds are welded to the plate, but I guess the metal is flexible enough or the weld is loose enough for the reed to bend slightly to one side.
Fix it as described above by nacoran, worked for me.
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
1027 posts
May 23, 2012
7:24 PM
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I've had people describe different harp situations to me for years, so I learn to read or listen between the lines. I don't think he's talking about misalignment (event though he used the word "misaligned"). I think the reed has fallen into the slot. I think that's what he's talking about, unless I'm wrong.
Go behind it gently with a toothpick or something - I've got a special tool for this, but our ancestors used a toothpick - and gently apply massaging pressure to get the reed back up. Plink it a few times and repeat until the gap looks something like the two reeds beside it.
Maybe the reed is fatigued. They'll fall in the slot when they are about done. Maybe not. If it sounds dead when you plink it, keep plinking. It will either come to life eventually, or break in two pieces. Then, you'll have your answer.
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David
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rurik44
7 posts
May 24, 2012
12:51 PM
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Thank You "Andy Ley" for Your comment. You were pretty much spot-on my experience,one distal corner of the reed scraping towards the slot- wall/ reed-plate thus restricting its movement.
Thank You "nacoran" for Your excellent piece of advice how to fix the misalignment.It was surprisingly easy.
By the way, my Suzuki harp is about ten years, so it may be singing its last verse,who knows.
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GMaj7
30 posts
May 26, 2012
4:22 AM
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Suzuki Reeds & Out of Alignment - The spot welding on the Suzuki doesn't completely prevent a reed from coming out of alignment. I am sure I have seen 1/2 dozen or so in the past few months & also acquired a bunch of old Suzuki plates which had a few, too. It is a pretty simple fix. Take a reed wrench and just barely nudge it one way or the other carefully. If you go to far, you will break the spot weld, but there is still enough wiggle room to handle an alignment problem. Also remember, as you tighten screws you make very small (Micro) changes in the shape of the reed slot which can cause a reed to be out of alignment on an assembled harp and not out of alignment when taken apart. Hope it helps....
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
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MP
2289 posts
May 26, 2012
2:24 PM
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"The spot welding on the Suzuki doesn't completely prevent a reed from coming out of alignment. I am sure I have seen 1/2 dozen or so in the past few months & also acquired a bunch of old Suzuki plates which had a few, too."
this info is what i really like about the forum. you learn something new all the time. i suspect that welding reeds instead of using rivets was to prevent the pivoting common to riveted reeds. oh well.
thanks Greg!
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MP
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