Pauly21
4 posts
Jul 17, 2012
3:04 PM
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Just got my first crossover. Any advice on breaking it in correctly?
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The Iceman
381 posts
Jul 17, 2012
3:10 PM
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In the olden days, I used to drive around and hold it out the window of the car, first one way, then the other (inhale and exhale sides).
As I grew older and more experienced, I realized that I didn't need to break in a harmonica. I also learned not to suck and blow, but rather merely inhale and exhale, as well as how to open it up and set the reed offset for better playability.
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The Iceman
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Pauly21
5 posts
Jul 17, 2012
3:23 PM
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Wow, thanks. What do you mean by "set the reed offset"?
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The Iceman
384 posts
Jul 17, 2012
3:26 PM
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adjusting the gap. If you don't know what that means, ask and you will get 100 answers from the other members on this list.
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The Iceman
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chromaticblues
1269 posts
Jul 17, 2012
4:20 PM
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As The Iceman said you will get many answers to your question. I'll answer your question, because if you learn the way I did it will take for ever!
You have to shape the reed first then set the gap. The reed should be almost straight with a slight slope up away from the reedplate. This is very important because some reeds will actually be bent the wrong way, just plain striaght and more often than not sloped to much.
The longer the reed the more it has to be sloped. I don't know that may be an optical elusion!
Then play it and set gaps as tight as you can without the reed choking. After awhile you'll figure out what works for you.
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mandowhacker
181 posts
Jul 17, 2012
4:29 PM
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfQGUF0u_jc
:-)
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Just when I got a paddle, they added more water to the creek.
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mandowhacker
182 posts
Jul 17, 2012
4:39 PM
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Adam has a good lesson on this. After a half dozen youtube searches I didn't find it and posted the above.
Personally, I would send it to Kevin........he did a super job on my GM Bb, and it didn't take forever and a day.
Greg
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Just when I got a paddle, they added more water to the creek.
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Pauly21
6 posts
Jul 17, 2012
5:07 PM
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Thanks, Greg. Video was very helpful.
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Noodles
126 posts
Jul 17, 2012
5:55 PM
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@Pauly21
Are you new to playing harp or just new to the Crossovers? If you are new to playing harp, (based on your question about reed offset) I’ll give my 2 cents.
Don’t disassemble your new harp and start tweaking reeds just yet. You didn’t say you were having a problem with the new Crossover. Your question was on breaking it in.
Why not just try playing it gently for a while and get the reeds acclimated to your playing style? Then, gradually increase the force up to normal playing? Give it a week or two. Seems reasonable, right?
My personal opinion is that harps should be broken in gently and over time. It works for me and may for you as well. Give it a try, it certainly can't hurt.
Last Edited by on Jul 17, 2012 5:57 PM
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nacoran
5987 posts
Jul 17, 2012
7:37 PM
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mandowhacker, did you try the wonderful list of Adam's videos?
https://sites.google.com/site/veloroam/home/gussow-index
Good old #16!
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Nate
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SuperBee
419 posts
Jul 17, 2012
11:09 PM
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I think the harp breaks in the player
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timeistight
705 posts
Jul 17, 2012
11:14 PM
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As Yakov Smirnoff might say, in Soviet Russia, harp breaks in you.
Last Edited by on Jul 18, 2012 8:03 AM
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STME58
222 posts
Jul 17, 2012
11:55 PM
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SuperBee, I think you got it right.
I suspect that by playing a new harp gently at first you learn its idiosyncracies and how to get it to respond. I think there in a natural tendancy when something doesn't work to just force it. By focusing on playing gently you don't use force but find a gentle way to get the new, unfamiliar harp to respond the way you want. In a way, that harp trains you how to play it.
Last Edited by on Jul 17, 2012 11:57 PM
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Libertad
104 posts
Jul 18, 2012
12:50 AM
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Just play it!
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walterharp
910 posts
Jul 18, 2012
7:07 AM
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yeah, or play like bbq bob says, and no need to break in at all, cause you always are loving and gentle with those reeds!
i am curious if mike or joe or any of the other customizers here want to chime in on breaking in harps, i know they go through several rounds of tuning and gapping before a harp settles, so maybe there is something to it.
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chromaticblues
1273 posts
Jul 18, 2012
7:25 AM
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Yes there is something to it!
It's not Bull!
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S-harp
53 posts
Jul 18, 2012
9:45 AM
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Breaking in a harp or not ... makes no difference ... just as always goes ... dont' t play too hard.
Plying it softly in the beginning doesn' t change anything that wouldn' t happen anyways when you start playing harder.
Just check that all reeds play (aren't stuck or gapped too tight) and whale away.
The harp adjusts s bit to the players style, breaking it in or not.
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The tone, the tone ... and the Tone
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colman
183 posts
Jul 19, 2012
3:55 AM
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i read this long time ago "play chord chuggs easy for a bit" before you start bending notes. i`ve been doing it to all new harps since and they work like a whistle...
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