KentuckyBlues
27 posts
Mar 07, 2014
2:58 PM
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So I pulled my special 20 out, and was fiddling with the reeds a bit, and got the 3 and 4 to actually play.
they had previously stopped working, not sure why.
the harp now plays awesome, better than it did, but I still have a way too airy sounding 4 draw, which was why I originally messed with the reeds last year..
any tips on what MAY be causing it?
thanks guys, I want to give the special 20 another chance, so I'll be buying a few new ones soon, but if I can fix this one, that's good too!
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smwoerner
243 posts
Mar 07, 2014
3:29 PM
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The first thing to check is the gap for both the blow and draw reeds. Start with lowering the blow reed gap until it sticks and then see how the draw reed plays. If it's still airy lower the draw until it plays ok and then start to open up the blow reed.
Also, check to see if the reeds are in tune and if one of them is fractured.
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Purveyor of Optimized New and Refurbished Harmonicas.
scott@scottwoerner.com
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KentuckyBlues
30 posts
Mar 08, 2014
2:08 AM
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Is there a way to adjust reeds without taking it apart?
or is this a, open it, adjust, close ot, test, open ..ect..?
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jiceblues
297 posts
Mar 08, 2014
3:25 AM
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You can adjust the reeds with a toothpick ; you just have to take off the coverplates .
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smwoerner
244 posts
Mar 08, 2014
9:32 AM
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You can put a little bend on straight piece of wire (paper clip) and adjust the reeds with the harp completely together.
However, if you are new to this I recommend taking off the cover plates so you can see what you are doing. Don't start working blind until you get a good feel for how the reeds respond.
Does the 4 draw bend respond correctly? Is the 4 blow in tune? If either one of these are giving you trouble as well you have broken 4 blow reed. What is likely happening is the following:
When you’re drawing in the 4 blow is collapsing into the slot at the failure point which is a fracture along the back side of the reed by the rivet and is allowing extra air in through the blow slot. However, when you blow the reed swings back up, closes the gap and seems to respond ok until it finally snaps off. It’s a bit shocking how resilient reeds can be.
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Purveyor of Optimized New and Refurbished Harmonicas.
scott@scottwoerner.com
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KentuckyBlues
31 posts
Mar 08, 2014
10:25 AM
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In tune 4draw. 4dbend is now working well, inreduced the gap on the 4d.
now my 2draw is doing the same but I'm confident I can get it working.
I said I didn't like the special 20's in my first or second thread here, but I change my mind.
now that I know what going on, its not a big deal to fiddle a bit. The sound is better than when I bought it, other than 2 draw right now.
actually considering buying a set of these for 150on amazon....
thanks for the tips you guys!
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KentuckyBlues
32 posts
Mar 08, 2014
10:29 AM
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Wow yeah, can even got some sloppy over blow action on it..
I need to get better at this fiddlin stuff
saw a set of 12 bk Johnson blues king harps, anyone know if they are decent enough that I could fiddle with the reeds and get em better, thus learning this odd practice, and not trashing my good harps??
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groyster1
2562 posts
Mar 08, 2014
3:26 PM
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Ive played Johnson blues king....very inexpensive...some have played very well and some junk...china made harp....quality control is issue
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KentuckyBlues
33 posts
Mar 08, 2014
6:50 PM
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Is it something some reed work wold fix? Looking for a cheap way to practice fixing and turning and all that stuff
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nacoran
7591 posts
Mar 08, 2014
10:49 PM
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Kentucky, I'm by no means an expert at working on harps, but I've tinkered a little, and I think when you are just getting started, unless you are made of money, that cheap harps are the way to go. I've actually had some Piedmonts play well- in fact I had a D that I loved with a little gapping. I learned to open cover plates on Blues Bands, tried my hand at embossing and snapped cheap reeds and was glad that it was a cheap reed. You'll want to graduate to better harps fairly quickly, but for the first few that you will almost certainly wreck, that's the way I'd go. (Or old broken harps- I converted a Lee Oskar comb to use magnets instead of screws to hold the cover plates on- still working on making an improved version.)
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