Rgsccr
65 posts
Aug 16, 2012
10:18 AM
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Hi,
I decided to get some custom wood combs from Tom at Blue Moon for the SP 20s I play the most often (A,Bb,C,D,G). Since I will be taking the harps apart, is there anything easy I can do besides cleaning the reed and cover plates? I believe these harps are in good tune per my tuner so I don't think I want to try gapping them. Is there something else I should look at (please keep in mind I am a novice at this and a klutz to boot!)?
Thanks,
Rich
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the_happy_honker
128 posts
Aug 16, 2012
11:07 AM
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Gapping is just about the easiest tweek and has the largest effect on your playing, so it is a good skill to learn.
Gapping doesn't affect tuning unless you really try and gouge some metal off the reeds, it just affects the way the reed responds to the force of your breathe. Too large a gap and the reed will respond only to a large force - you will use a lot of air to get that note and it will sound breathy (but in tune). Too small a gap and the reed will stall before sounding or not sound at all.
The goal is to gap the reeds so that you use the same breath force in all holes. What is the right gap? The one that uses the least amount of air without stalling out as you play. It can take a good bit of experimenting at first, but it is a skill that pays major dividends.
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bluemoose
780 posts
Aug 16, 2012
11:08 AM
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Maybe try opening up the back of the cover plates.
Flatten the 1/8" angled edge, covering it with a cloth and using hammer or pliers.
MBH Webbrain - a GUI guide to Adam's Youtube vids
FerretCat Webbrain - Jason Ricci's vids (by hair colour!)
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the_happy_honker
129 posts
Aug 16, 2012
11:21 AM
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You don't need the harp apart to do this, but you can take a sharp knife and trim a bit of plastic off the corners of the comb and buff them to make holding the harp more comfortable.
Some people cut out the support struts in the holes (they are only there to prevent warping as the plastic cools after coming out of the mould). It is supposed to improve airflow.
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Rgsccr
66 posts
Aug 16, 2012
11:51 AM
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Thanks for the suggestions. I'll think about opening the back of the covers. To me, the reeds on these harps feel pretty good - no discernible difference in how they seem to react.
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Pistolcat
262 posts
Aug 16, 2012
1:31 PM
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No need to gap at all? That'd be a first... It's a skillset that's really useful so trying it out on some cheaper harps for starter and the on some "real" ones is what I'd try. There aren't any "easier harp tweak" or any more fundamental IMHO. There are also great YT videos for instructions...
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Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
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