Liljane
2 posts
Jul 24, 2012
7:23 PM
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Years ago I heard an amazing harmonica player in the streets of California (can't remember exactly where...duh). He offered to let me play his harmonica (I wouldn't think of doing that now unless it was soaked in alcohol..lol). I have to say that he had this instrument so broken in that it practically played itself. I've never played one as magical ever again. The wood has a warmth to it, but they seem to break more easily. Do you think that a plastic reed (I personally like the Golden Melody) can break in to play like a wood one? Adam prefers Hohners. I'd like to know how others feel about this. Thanks!
Last Edited by on Jul 24, 2012 7:25 PM
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nacoran
6004 posts
Jul 24, 2012
9:36 PM
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Plastic comb you mean? The Magnus harmonica (and a couple clones) were the only harps I know of with plastic reeds.) :)
There is a lot of debate about comb material. I've had good luck with plastic combs, better than with stock wood combs, a nice custom comb with rounded tines is my favorite though. All the plastic combs seem to do a good job of being airtight.
Of course, there is a debate about reed material too. I haven't had a chance to play much variety there. I do actually have a couple Magnus plastic reed harps, but what with them being used and all (I think their circa 1950's) I've never got them cleaned up to the point were I want to actually put them near my mouth. I've played cheap brass reeds on Chinese made harps, and good brass reeds. I haven't had a chance to play steel or bronze phosphor. I have played an absolutely terrible little tremolo harp that I bought at an ice cream shop that had some sort of silver colored reed. (The plates were normal colored though!) It was a terrible harmonica, but for $5 at a ice cream shop I wasn't expecting much more than a harp I wouldn't feel bad breaking. It had plastic covers, but not 'quality' plastic covers like a Piedmont!
Broken in sounding almost sounds like it was gapped well. That will make a harp more responsive. :)
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Nate
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arzajac
820 posts
Jul 25, 2012
3:06 AM
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As far as I know, "breaking in" a harmonica means playing it until debris fill in a few cracks and make it a little more airtight.
The secret to a well-playing harp has nothing to do with that. You can make a harp airtight by ensuring that the comb is as flat as you can make it and that the reedplates are seated flat as well. That will make it more responsive (play better) and sound better (much richer tone).
You can adjust the reed curves to your playing preference - more curve if you play hard, less curve if you play overbends. You can make sure there are no imperfections in the reed shape - by that I mean make sure that no part of the reed goes through the slot before the others. Ideally, the whole reed should enter the slot at the same time. Sometimes it's okay/better to let the tip of the reed enter the slot last and you will see reeds with the tips curved up a little more.
You can gap the harp to your liking. That means adjusting the point at which they are at rest. Joe Spiers has three great videos about doing that. You may watch it and think it's simple, simple, simple. But I think I watched them a dozen times and caught something new each time.
If your harp still doesn't make the hair behind your neck stand up when you play, you can look at other things like trying a different kind of harp - maybe you just don't like the way one type of harmonica plays?. Also, you can try embossing the reed slots. That will make the slots a little narrower and more responsive to airflow. It will also make the tone brighter - sometimes too bright. I mention embossing at the very end on purpose. If the basics are not done, embossing is a waste of time. Not to mention you will ruin a few harps learning how to do it.
I hope this helps!
P.S. The alternative to all this is paying a little more and buying a basic level custom harmonica.
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Last Edited by on Jul 25, 2012 3:10 AM
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
1262 posts
Jul 25, 2012
1:00 PM
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Flat comb = magic.
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David
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isaacullah
2097 posts
Jul 25, 2012
1:07 PM
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@DavePayne: 'Nuff said!
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MP
2372 posts
Jul 25, 2012
1:37 PM
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@David "Flat comb = magic."
i just received a beautiful ebony GM comb (looks like a piano key) and a brown bamboo comb from Hetrick Harmonicas.
MAGIC! i tried the bamboo with embossed and gapped reed plates and it was wonderful,
but, and this is a BIG but- i tried it with completely stock reed plates and it is still really really good.
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