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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Always Closing Reed Gaps. Am I Weird?
Always Closing Reed Gaps. Am I Weird?
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TBird
86 posts
Dec 17, 2014
3:20 PM
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As I experiment with playing all kinds of Hohner, Suzuki, Hering, Lee Oskar, and Seydel models (the ones around that magic Marine Band price range), I am finding that I am almost always opening them up and tightening up the reed gap clearances to get them to play like I like. Sometimes it seems like I shrink the gap on the low end to almost half the gap that the out-of-the-box harp came with.
I like to think that I have fairly good bending technique, both tongue blocked and lip pursed, and I always CAN play these harps as they come, but I am finding that I am never really happy until I slam those gaps shut! Is this normal? It's when I hear guys say that they only play OOTB harps and never bother with any adjustment that I begin to wonder if maybe I am being to quick to abandon learning to play the harp that way it comes.
T.Bird
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FreeWilly
441 posts
Dec 17, 2014
3:35 PM
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I don't close gaps as much as I used to. As my playing socialized, I learned to sometimes play louder and/or with more attack or after drinking beer. But still I must concur: OOTB gaps are too wide.
disclaimer: last harp I bought was like a year ago..
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harpwrench
942 posts
Dec 17, 2014
3:51 PM
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The old rule of thumb is the gaps should be set about the same thickness as the reed. Not set in stone but it's a good general guideline or starting point.
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www.spiersharmonicas.com
High performance harmonicas.
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arzajac
1530 posts
Dec 17, 2014
4:08 PM
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"I like to think that I have fairly good bending technique, both tongue blocked and lip pursed, and I always CAN play these harps as they come, but I am finding that I am never really happy until I slam those gaps shut! Is this normal?"
How do you define "normal?" If you mean, "is there anything wrong with me" then the answer is no, you are normal. If you mean "does everybody (or most people) do that?" then probably, not, you are not with the majority. But everybody is entitled to their own preferences and to make one's self happy.
If you play best with tighter gaps, what do you have to prove? Do you think playing a maladjusted harp makes you a better player? I don't.
"It's when I hear guys say that they only play OOTB harps and never bother with any adjustment that I begin to wonder if maybe I am being to quick to abandon learning to play the harp that way it comes."
It sounds to me like you tried it and it doesn't work best for you. That's okay. I'm willing to bet that you will not come across a lick, a sound or a song that you can't play to your liking with your harps set up to your preference. I don't think anything will elude you because your gaps are tighter and you use less force.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
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the_happy_honker
198 posts
Dec 18, 2014
2:51 AM
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My experience parallels FreeWilly's. When I first picked up the harp, I played softly, simply because I was pretty awful and didn't want to be heard by anyone but myself.
As I got better and learned how to gap, I gapped low, and when I learned overblowing, the gapping got even lower. Low volume didn't matter, though. I was alone and could hear myself just fine. I never thought I was lacking in power or dynamics. Nor could I understand all the fussing over harp longevity, because in four years of pretty heavy practice, I never flatted or blew out a reed.
I've started getting together with other harp players, however, and even though the atmosphere is friendly and non-competitive, the subconscious tendency is to project more, or in my case, blank out more.
My teacher, too, has been challenging me on the power and dynamics. He sees me caught in a a cycle of tentativeness --> missed notes --> lower volume and more tentativeness. So he wants me to attack notes with more authority (harder).
So my gaps are gradually getting wider, I'm playing louder. Overbends are more work now, but attacking them harder seems to help keep them from stalling. I suppose I should prepare to lose a few harps soon.
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TBird
87 posts
Dec 18, 2014
5:20 PM
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Thanks guys. I guess this is a "if it feels good [and sounds good], do it" situation, huh?
@harpwrench - "The old rule of thumb is the gaps should be set about the same thickness as the reed. Not set in stone but it's a good general guideline or starting point."
Sounds good to me! But... then... if that is a good starting point, why don't they come somewhat closer to that OOTB?
Thanks again,
T.Bird
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Be humble for you are made of earth.
Be noble for you are made of stars.
Last Edited by TBird on Dec 18, 2014 5:23 PM
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indigo
25 posts
Dec 18, 2014
5:26 PM
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"The old rule of thumb is the gaps should be set about the same thickness as the reed. Not set in stone but it's a good general guideline or starting point. "
Does that apply to the reeds with weighted ends..?That'd be a big gap?
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harpwrench
948 posts
Dec 18, 2014
6:38 PM
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Yes on the weighted reeds, tighter isn't necessarily better you need to go by feel from there.
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