Monk
11 posts
Mar 25, 2013
7:17 PM
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I left my harps out in the car and it has been pretty cold. When I grabbed my a it didn't sound right at all. Played very "tough" for me. Anyone experience this? Does it warp them or should it go back to normal?
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2chops
126 posts
Mar 26, 2013
6:11 AM
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They will be fine. I live in Pennsylvania, USA...cold winters. I have a few that I keep in the Jeep. Warm them up and they'll loosen back up to normal.
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Monk
12 posts
Mar 26, 2013
7:07 AM
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Thanks. That is encouraging.
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Joe Strouzer
9 posts
Mar 26, 2013
8:28 AM
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I live in the UK and I've had some very cold harps in the past. I'd recommend putting them in your pocket to warm up for a few minutes or just gently play some chords (lots of nice warm breath).
I have on occasion broken reeds after playing very cold harps without letting them warm up so be careful. it's particularly problem if you play a harp with a metal comb like Suzuki ProMasters. Metal is more brittle when cold.
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nacoran
6606 posts
Mar 26, 2013
2:21 PM
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Be careful you don't freeze your lips to the harp! They should be fine. Just don't play them hard until they warm up.
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Nate
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2chops
127 posts
Mar 26, 2013
2:45 PM
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@Nate...I wasn't going to mention it, but I had that happen to me just a couple of weeks ago. I hopped in the Jeep to go to work, and grabbed a harp to play while waiting for the Jeep to warm up. Fact, a harmonica at 22 degrees F. Will stick your lips. Just like Ralphie's buddy in A Christmas Story movie. My wife thought it was hilarious.
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You Tube = goshinjk
I'm workin on it. I'm workin on it.
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garry
382 posts
Mar 26, 2013
5:26 PM
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i was once called up to play in the middle of a set in january. had to run to the car and grab my harps, which were reeeeeeeaaaaaalllly cold. thought they were gonna freeze to my lips.
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boris_plotnikov
842 posts
Mar 26, 2013
10:56 PM
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Almost every year I kill some reeds during autumn open air gigs because of cold harps. Very unpleasant. Don't play cold harps if it's possible.
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barbequebob
2235 posts
Mar 27, 2013
8:02 AM
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First of all, NEVER leave harps for extended periods of time in cold because the metal gets brittle and can break when pushed too hard (that's unfortunately the way the average player tends to play in terms of breath force), and also when in extremely warm temperatures, it's also a bad idea, especially with plastic combs because the combs can warp and possibly melt.
One thing the old time chromatic players used to tell you is to let them warm up for awhile before playing them and that also means EXTREMELY low breath force, but even before doing that, you will need, depending on how long they've been exposed to such weather extremes, anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. With chromatics, extreme temperatures and then not allowing them to get warmed up not only can mess up the reeds, but also causes problems with the windsavers.
Also, in extremely cold conditions when allowed to be in the cold for many hours, the plastic combs (and even wood combs for that matter) can get brittle enough to crack even the tiniest amount, which means air leaks.
Bottom line: NEVER leave your harps staying out in extreme temperatures EVER!!!! Bad idea is an udedrstatement.
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Pockets
42 posts
Mar 27, 2013
8:30 AM
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To add to the conversation.... i keep two harps (an 'A' & 'C') in the jeep at all times. Now grant it...they are older harps.... but i normally let them warm up before playing.
I've heard the same thing barbequebob stated about waiting for around 15 minutes before playing.
Also... just to note... i'm not gigging with these harps. They are just practice harps when i'm sitting in traffic on the cold traffic ridden parkways of Pittsburgh. My gig harps always stay cozy warm ;-)
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MP
2690 posts
Mar 27, 2013
12:59 PM
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also don't let your crystal cartridge mic sit in the cold. a crystal element is exactly that. a little crystal. it may crack and they sound horrible..if they still work. had that happen to an early Blues Blaster once. those were good mics. sadness. was a 151.
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