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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Harmonica tuning device
Harmonica tuning device
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AlexPaclin
80 posts
Aug 20, 2013
8:50 AM
A friend of mine made a device for harmonica tuning. You put a reedplate on a wooden box with a cavity inside, open the valves that accesses air to each reed and blow in a tube. I find it pretty funny =)

JInx
500 posts
Aug 20, 2013
9:31 AM
i've seen a couple of such devices. this one looks the best
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arzajac
1130 posts
Aug 20, 2013
9:41 AM
I just posted a tuning device of mine in the For Sale thread... It's quite low-tech in comparison to these types of devices.

Here is the video of it:


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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.

Last Edited by arzajac on Aug 20, 2013 9:44 AM
HarpNinja
3421 posts
Aug 20, 2013
1:31 PM
At the risk of sounding like I am hating, which I am not...

Why not just tune with the harp on the comb? For most players most the time, this works just fine. A lot of harps come out a tad sharp on the blow plate. If you tune to A=442, you can simply use a draw scraper to tune to pitch.

If you have to raise the pitch, you can use a file (I don't like this, though), or the same scraper. While it may visually look a hair rough, does it matter?

I generally only tune down with the draw scraper from underneath a la Richard Sleigh. If I need to raise it, I might from the top if it is really close...otherwise I use a tuning table or Corian cap from Hetrick.

I always error on the sharp side on the blow plate...and often tune to the 10blow instead of 4blow...depending on the situation.
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Mantra Customized Harmonicas
My Website
arzajac
1131 posts
Aug 20, 2013
6:22 PM
That's a great question Mike!

As you say, no one needs any special apparatus to tune a harp. You can tune the bottom plate on the comb with the screws on. You can tune the top plate in the same way, but you need to hold the harp together without screws because you will be taking the plate off to make adjustments.

The big (huge!) advantage of this method is that you don't have to rely on any special equipment. The draw scraper is not cheap - although it's worth every penny.

I use it often but I try to not rely on it. You also can't use it on Stainless Steel reeds.

The disadvantage of tuning on the comb is that it's a bit of a struggle and takes a little more time and effort. Also, since the harp is not held together tight, there is the possibility of not getting accurate readings on the tuner or your ears when working on the blow plate - it may sound right but once you get the screws on, you need to make some adjustments.

The French Tuner is an inexpensive compromise. It doesn't really do anything that you can't do without it, it just makes the process faster and easier.

You mention erring on the side of sharp for the blow plate. I find it a lot easier to stick a support through the slot from the front and rest it on the back of the slot and sharpen the tip of the reed that way. I guess I find it more accurate (for me) than flattening a reed on the comb. So I err on the side of flat. Lol!

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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.

Last Edited by arzajac on Aug 20, 2013 6:25 PM
smwoerner
212 posts
Aug 21, 2013
8:49 AM
Here is my approach to tuning both the draw and the blow reed plates on the comb.





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Offering Optimized New and Refurbished Harmonicas as well as Repairs.

scott@scottwoerner.com
HarpNinja
3422 posts
Aug 21, 2013
9:04 AM
If it is brass, I can tune down the blow plate with the whole harp assembled. What I do is just like Scott, except the reed plates are screwed on and the covers utilize the mini vise things.

The con is obviously if you over shoot and need to tune up.

I have a little tool - I think the only one in the world - from Dick Sjoeberg that makes it way easy to hold the reed and tune it up from the backside.

If I didn't have that, there are other options like the Einstein table, etc. Generally, though, I can just use the tool from Dick and tune from the edge with the scraper.

On steel, you can do the same with for tuning up with a hand drill. You can also tune down that way too. While it is easy to shift the gaps, they tend to no drift like brass when you reshape.
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Mantra Customized Harmonicas
My Website
smwoerner
213 posts
Aug 21, 2013
9:25 AM
Maybe something didn’t translate in my video. I basically just take a blank reed plate, tape over all of the slots and holes and use that on the blow plate side. I then just swap out the blow and draw reed plates on the draw side. When you put the blow plate on the draw side you put the reeds on the outside just like the draw plate. It’s just like tuning a draw plate except the reeds are pointing in a different direction.
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Offering Optimized New and Refurbished Harmonicas as well as Repairs.

scott@scottwoerner.com
rogonzab
365 posts
Aug 21, 2013
9:53 AM
I like to keep my harps in tune, and I do some work on others peoples harps.

Tuning is a slow proces, and blow plate tuning is a even longer proces.

I think that the French Tuner is awesome, I am going to buy one, or maybe two, because it seems that is perfect to tune by octaves, and that is all about.

Congratulations arzajac!!!
dougharps
428 posts
Aug 21, 2013
9:54 AM
I just bought one of these at SPAH, but have not tried it yet. It is for tuning on the comb, and supports the blow reed from inside while tuning on one end of the table, and supports the draw reed on the other end. It even comes with a "plinker" for after you scrape or file.

No affiliation, just a recent customer...

Harmonica Tuning Table
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Doug S.
1847
999 posts
Aug 21, 2013
10:01 AM
no that was pretty clear in the video
i use the same clamps... 6 for a buck
the einstein table works well

but i am a fool for all the cool tools
i really like the sjoeberd tuner
but at $400.00 dollars.. hmm
may have to pick up arzajac tool just because.

if i blow out a reed i just put in a new set
seydel session steel works for me.

i have a few vintage meistaerclass that need repair
also a few crossovers who the heck blows out 9 blow
also 6 draw
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master po

i get a lot of request when i play
"but i play anyway"
smwoerner
214 posts
Aug 21, 2013
10:36 AM
I may grab one of Andrew's tools also. It's a nice size and easy to grab for checking a reed after embossing or centering as well as tuning. The Einstein table is cool but, I almost never have to retune after I screw the plates back together, and it doesn't work on Special 20's or GM's unless you've cut the little center pieces out of the comb.

As for blowing 9 blows, I don't, but I do have one my folks that goes through 9 draw reeds on very regular basis.
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Offering Optimized New and Refurbished Harmonicas as well as Repairs.

scott@scottwoerner.com


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