Gnarly
544 posts
Apr 09, 2013
4:30 PM
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I am doing a retune (big surprise) and once again notice this red stuff on certain reeds.
Is this Hohner's way of fine tuning? Or what?
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STME58
405 posts
Apr 10, 2013
2:52 PM
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What kind of red stuff? Is it just ink? Is it on the non milled side of the reed? I sometimes see the ink that is stamped on the coil of brass to identify it on some of the reeds. It is usually red or blue. It is readable on the coil but after the coil is stamped into reeds you just see little stripes. This is true of other stamped metal parts besides reeds.
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Gnarly
556 posts
Apr 10, 2013
5:44 PM
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Yup, that is probably what it is.
I think it's ink, how would I know?
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nacoran
6666 posts
Apr 10, 2013
6:07 PM
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Sometimes, it's the blood of old bluesmen. Sometimes it just drips there after a particularly brutal solo.
Sometimes, it's the blood of virgins. There is a dark ritual you can perform that makes your harmonica sound like the thunder of the hooves of a million Antelope crossing the Serengeti or like a butterfly's wings.
And other times it's the blood of an old bluesman, but not because of a brutal solo, just because musicians don't always have good dental.
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Nate
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hooktool
5 posts
Apr 10, 2013
7:24 PM
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Awesome 6666 post.
John
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Gnarly
558 posts
Apr 10, 2013
8:37 PM
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You guys are weird . . .
Good thing I'm so normal.
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MP
2702 posts
Apr 11, 2013
11:54 AM
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yeah, i see that all the time. red or blue, but i think i've seen black too.
i thought it was to add weight for tuning but maybe it's just to identify the pitch of certain reeds.
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info-
repair videos on YouTube.
you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados
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STME58
407 posts
Apr 11, 2013
12:18 PM
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I expect it is to identify the alloy and thickness of the raw material. I don't know if Hohner receives their material in coil or sheets, but either way if you un-package it and don't use it all, you have to mark what it is for the next use. The easiest way to do this is to write on it with a sharpie marker. I have seen this done at metal stamping houses.
Last Edited by STME58 on Apr 11, 2013 12:18 PM
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MP
2703 posts
Apr 11, 2013
12:21 PM
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AHH! i'll go w/ STME58
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info-
repair videos on YouTube.
you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados
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STME58
410 posts
Apr 11, 2013
10:13 PM
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My answer might be accurate, but I like @Nacoran's better.
It reminds me of my music teacher in college. His policy was that if you were late for class, you had to get up in front of the class and give the class your excuse. Your excuse did not have to be true, but it did have to be entertaining!
Last Edited by STME58 on Apr 11, 2013 10:14 PM
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nacoran
6671 posts
Apr 11, 2013
10:59 PM
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Stme58, that sounds like a fun class!
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Nate
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STME58
412 posts
Apr 11, 2013
11:16 PM
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It was a fun class @Nacoran, as were all of the classes I took from Professor Frank Salazer at Ventura College. I learned may important principles from that man that extend far beyond music. One of which was learning to understand and appreciate things that you don't like on first contact.
The guerrilla brass quintet Christmas concerts were great too. He would have us set up in a shopping mall, play a couple of numbers, and move before security could respond and ask us to leave. After a couple of locations at one mall, we would move to the next. If security caught up with us it was no big deal, they knew most customers liked it, but they had to comply with mall policy and we would just move on.
Last Edited by STME58 on Apr 12, 2013 12:13 AM
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lor
184 posts
Apr 12, 2013
10:28 AM
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Would a dab of LocTite (bolt and nut fixation stuff) lower the pitch of a reed? Would it stay in place? If it went too low it would be easy to remove. I gotta try this. Comes in colors too.
Re: nacoran - it's the blood of wolves attacked by pimps who resented the free ones. Pity the girls.
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HarveyHarp
476 posts
Apr 12, 2013
10:34 AM
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@lor. Locktite is an anaerobic liquid, which hardens in the absence of air. It would never harden on a harmonica reed. It tastes pretty good, though.
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HarveyHarp
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STME58
415 posts
Apr 12, 2013
11:16 AM
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When I worked as an auto mechanic I went to a Loctite seminar where they explained that the Loctite containers are poros enough to let air though but the pores are small enough to keep the Loctite in. If you transfer the Loctite to an air tight container it will harden.
So, if @lor wants to use Loctite for tuning, he could apply it, then seal the harp in a vacuum bag until the loctite hardened. If anyone tries this, let us know how it works.
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lor
185 posts
Apr 12, 2013
1:17 PM
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I live and learn! Now then, will LocTite harden in the absence of oxygen, not necessarily a vacuum? I'm thinking of letting the harp cure in a jar filled with carbon dioxide sublimated from dry ice (without freezing the harp).
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paulbunyn
73 posts
Apr 12, 2013
6:37 PM
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A question from a novice on this subject...All you are trying to accomplish is adding weight, Correct? how about using nail polish? It can be applied with brush, toothpick, or needle. It seems it would stick well. Dries almost instantly when submerged it cold water to be quickly worked.
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nacoran
6690 posts
Apr 12, 2013
8:22 PM
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Blue Tack and solder being the other options.
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Nate
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STME58
417 posts
Apr 12, 2013
8:52 PM
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I prefer solder because it solidifies quickly and is easy to file down if you add a bit to much. It does not work on stainless reeds though.
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