Nibiria
4 posts
Jun 23, 2014
2:54 PM
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I've looked around for a while and couldn't find this topic anywhere, so it may be unique to me, but I thought I would post it here in case it's something stupidly basic.
I've been playing my Special 20 for about 3 months now, and have had a recurring problem which dampens my enthusiasm for the instrument in general: the cover plates get dirty. Now, sort of a gross visual incoming, so I apologize. Pieces of what I assume to be my lip get stuck on the cover plate which I either have to scrape or take off with a wet paper towel. If that isn't happening, the cover plates begin to get a weird texture, almost like they've been painted.
Do I just not drink enough water? Should I get a replacement set of cover plates (it happened on my Blues Band too)? Am I just doing something wrong? The first problem is mitigated when I'm not using my harmonica holder, but the model I have makes it so very little harmonica is actually available to play (bad purchase decision). It's just been getting on my nerves (note: I have tried TurboLids, but I like the look and feel of standard cover plates if I can get it).
Thanks in advance for the help, y'all are great.
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nacoran
7828 posts
Jun 23, 2014
5:48 PM
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Lip gunk, the bain of all harp players. The worst part is it's rough, which in turn, scrapes off more lip.
Cleaning the insides of a harp takes a little finesse, but if you take of the covers you can be pretty aggressive with them. You can use an old toothbrush on them. I also get the gunk in the holes. My two most trusted tools are a bag of craft picks (they are basically the heavy duty toothpicks model enthusiasts use to put a tiny drop of glue in place) and a Seydel polishing cloth. (Any non-impregnated polishing cloth will work- you just have to make sure it doesn't have silver polish in it, actually, any microfiber cloth would probably work.) Use the craft picks (one bag should cost you a couple bucks and last you at least as long as it will take you to lose the bag in the back of some drawer) to loosen up any gunk, and wipe it off with the polishing cloth. Occasionally you can take the covers off and brush them with a toothbrush, but if you wipe your harps off after you use them, before things dry and harden, you should be in pretty good shape.
Generally speaking, it will happen on any harp. Plastic Piedmont covers do it less, but they muffle your sound and taste awful. Blues Bands have less carefully deburred covers and are likely to rip you up more.
So, it's not you. When I kid, I accidentally inhaled when I was playing the baritone tuba. Nothing a harmonica can throw at me will be grosser than that. :)
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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Nibiria
5 posts
Jun 23, 2014
6:01 PM
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Thanks so much! I was surprised I couldn't find anything on this. Is a wet paper towel a bad idea or is a cloth just better?
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1847
1887 posts
Jun 23, 2014
6:39 PM
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once you get the gunk off
try some carnaube wax
i use zymol, but turtle wax is fine also.
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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nacoran
7829 posts
Jun 23, 2014
7:10 PM
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A cloth will work a little better since it won't break apart, and a wet paper towel won't be as absorbent to get any of your moisture off of it. You'll have the best luck if you get them before the gunk can dry. Here is a link to the Seydel cloth I use. They last quite a while. You are more likely to lose them then wear them out. (Come to think of it, I should order a couple to leave around my harp playing areas).
http://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel1847.sf/secbf897d0c31/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Seydel/Products/801
1847, I don't know if you are pulling my leg or not!
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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Nibiria
7 posts
Jun 23, 2014
7:50 PM
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1847, won't that cause damage to the cover plates or your lips? If not, I'm 100% for that.
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STME58
942 posts
Jun 23, 2014
7:55 PM
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Carnauba wax is used to coat gummy bears to keep them from sticking together. Don't take my word for it, it's listed on the ingredients!
If you can eat it, it shouldn't be a problem to have a layer on your harp.
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Nibiria
8 posts
Jun 23, 2014
8:04 PM
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Hm alright. Shame it's so expensive, but I suppose it's worth it!
EDIT: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GZQP08/ref=s9_simh_gw_p263_d0_i7?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=011FS7VKR11HSY8J6XP3&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846
Would that work?
Last Edited by Nibiria on Jun 23, 2014 8:17 PM
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STME58
944 posts
Jun 23, 2014
9:47 PM
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All of my harps have stainless covers and plastic or sealed wood combs. I occasionally rinse them with warm water, tap the water out, dry the outside, and let them standxqjqqn for a while to dry before putting them back in the case.
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Gnarly
1035 posts
Jun 23, 2014
10:18 PM
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Hot water works wonders.
I also like a metal polish recommended by a member on slide Meister, it's called Maas.
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HarveyHarp
591 posts
Jun 23, 2014
10:34 PM
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MAAS is the best, and a little goes a long way. I also polish my chromatic slide pieces with it.
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HarveyHarp
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Slimharp
339 posts
Jun 24, 2014
8:30 AM
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One thing that will help prevent this is to wipe off your harp after playin it, either on your Levi's leg or a cloth or paper towel. Takes about 7 seconds.
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1847
1890 posts
Jun 24, 2014
9:15 AM
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car wax is similar to what they use in chapstick
without the petroleum jelly or fdc dye #4.
so it is most likely better for you.
it does not taste as good as gummy bears,
but it does taste way better than brasso.
the cleaner wax is under $10.00
works great on guitars also.
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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dmitrysbor
126 posts
Jun 24, 2014
9:17 AM
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good
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http://www.youtube.com/user/dmitrysbor
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1847
1891 posts
Jun 24, 2014
9:21 AM
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dmitre that was awesome
i especially liked the tshirt B b lol
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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barbequebob
2609 posts
Jun 24, 2014
10:01 AM
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What you have happening is coming from not only layers of dried on saliva and dead skin, but also the oils coming from your fingerprints on the instrument as well.
What I recommend that you do periodically is to get a lint free paper towel (NEVER get cheap stuff because they are notorious for lint problems, which only makes things worse, so being a cheapskate when it comes to this instrument is an incredibly dumb thing to be) and some isoporopyl alcohol (preferably 91% by volume), which you can get easily in any good drug store for very short money and every few weeks wipe the covers down, and then allow them to fully dry, but you do have to be diligent about it so that it doesn't build up.
Cover plated are pretty much all made of stainless steel now, but they used to be nickel plated, the staining was worse and what I used to get was a German made automotive metal polish called Happich Simichrome, which some auto parts store carry and it was the only one I ever found that did an excellent job with nickel plated covers.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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Slimharp
340 posts
Jun 24, 2014
10:03 AM
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If you want to get a buzz use Brasso.
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A440
162 posts
Jun 24, 2014
11:07 AM
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I wipe my harps down with a Seydel cloth at each gig. And about once a month I take off the covers and clean them with iosopropyl alcohol.
Last Edited by A440 on Jun 24, 2014 11:08 AM
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Lonesome Harpman
164 posts
Jun 24, 2014
11:44 AM
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You can use distilled white vinegar, then a light rinse with water. Works very well. Cleans and kills germs, mold,and mildew. As BBQ Bob warned, lint can be a problem, just be careful. Good for green folks who want a safer, biodegrable cleaner. My wife detests the odor, so it's not for everyone. I haven't tried apple cider vinegar, my guess is it also works.
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tookatooka
3670 posts
Jun 24, 2014
2:52 PM
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Wet Wipes.
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