I have recently purchased one of these very cheaply on Ebay. the only problem with it is that the 1 draw note doesn't sound.
I have 2 questions:
1. I know that although it has a slide it doesn't have full chromatic capability accross the whole instrument. Does anyone have any advice as to some tunes. licks, etc that use the slide to good effect in a blues or blues-related genre? (Not too technically challenging, please). I have tried my usual 2nd position licks but the slide doesn't seem to add anything that sounds better.
2.Does anyone know of someone in the UK who can repair or replace the 1 draw reed at a reasonable cost.
I work on Koch, as well as their step sister - the pre-War Hohner 260s. As far as licks, here's a video of one I just posted. I didn't spend a lot of time getting licks down, but the vid shows a few.
---------- Greg Jones 16:23 Custom Harmonicas greg@1623customharmonicas.com 1623customharmonicas.com
First, I re-tuned the slide in 2 & 3 draw and also the slide in 3 blow. I just don't see a lot of musical context for a diatonic in C# unless you happen to be playing in that or related key. I also half-valved the Koch so I could get blow/draw bends for expression. However, you can't do that using the standard Koch comb as Winslow explained in a previous thread because there are slots in the Koch comb. I swapped the comb with a 260.
The 1 draw is a royal pain and once you take this harp apart there are all sorts of problems that pop up and it just takes tenacity to get it back, but it will happen and will even be better.
You won't fix them all at once. Spend a few minutes and then come back to it later just like you would do when practicing.
First thing is that the covers need to be on after the adjustment unless you have installed extra screws at the very end. The plates tend to bow upwards and that will keep it from playing well on the low end as air escapes through the comb and reed plates.
Next, slightly adjust mouthpiece tension by 1/8 of a turn or even less.
After that, check the gap. If you handled the plates, you likely mashed some of the reeds into the slot every so slightly. When you open the gap, make sure the reed remains straight and you lift a little at the base of the reed.
Next, check alignment of the reed. The longer reeds on the low end have a weight on them so physics laws apply and it doesn't take much to get the reed off center.
After that, check the opposing reed. Make sure it isn't opened too wide.
If it still isn't playing right, fix the hole you punched in your wall and let your hand heal up.
The last thing could possibly be the alignment of the reed plates up against the mouthpiece.
Lastly, follow up and let us all know what works and doesn't work. ---------- Greg Jones 16:23 Custom Harmonicas greg@1623customharmonicas.com 1623customharmonicas.com
