Ugly Bones Ryan
107 posts
Aug 04, 2014
7:23 AM
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I have a Lee Oskar maintenance kit that I want to use to tune my Hohner Crossover. Only trouble it I heard they are very rough and I don't have a great idea of how to tune anyway. Anyone have some directions they could provide so I don't jack up my reeds?
Thanks,
Gabriel
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S-harp
223 posts
Aug 04, 2014
8:29 AM
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Don't use the file ... throw it away ...
Use the chisel (the wider one) when you tune. Shave metal off with a low angle. The chisels are quite good, as well as the pick/plinker.
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The tone, the tone ... and the Tone
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DannyRanch
1 post
Aug 04, 2014
8:40 AM
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Hey first of all I strongly advise you to try all tuning and reed actions in a old harp (a harp you were thinking about throwing up will be perfect)
Because when you are learning to tune and work on with reeds it is much better to try on an old harp because chances of damaging a reed are high when you are starting.
Refer to This video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajAvXZlqesY
That will help you to get the basics of tuning down.
I recommend you some tuning app that has a mic on it so you can have a reference pitch
I use myself a Boss TU-3 Tuning Pedal plugged though a Mic, but you can google "Chromatic Tuner" and as long as you have some mic on the computer it will work.
Now for tuning you have to scratch some metal from the base to lower pitch and from the tip to raise it up.
Use something that is not much more harder than the reed itself (I use a really small screwdriver)
It has to be very lightly and it takes some time, keep testing after a while when you are tuning. (Lowering or Raising it just a half step takes some time)
Don't apply much pressure so the reed doesn't change curvature.
Take out the reeds and put a piece of paper or something below it to support it and thats it.
If you plink the reed and it does not vibrate hold the reedplate against a source of light and if you see that it is not centered enough you will need to center it up.
Take a piece of paper below the reed and gently push it to the side you want it to face then plink the reed again with some needle or something to ensure it vibrates
Remember to try several times with an old harp you don't care much!
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arzajac
1438 posts
Aug 04, 2014
9:12 AM
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Tune a harmonica using your ears and a simple chromatic tuner
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
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Kingley
3662 posts
Aug 04, 2014
9:47 AM
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Everything in the Lee Oskar kit except the file is pretty good. The wide chisel was my tool of choice for years to tune my harps. You'll probably need another screwdriver as I don't think the Lee Oskar one fits the Hohner screws. Also the reed wrench wont fit Hohner reeds. I'd get one of Arzajacs reed wrenches. Very good value and a great little tool. If you don't own a chromatic tuner already either get one or Google "Seventh String Tuner". It's a free online tuner and works fantastically well.
Other than that practice on some old harp and not your best Crossover to get the hang of tuning.
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