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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
I think I have a gaping question....
I think I have a gaping question....
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LumberjackShark
48 posts
Feb 09, 2015
2:19 PM
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I have a Marine Band Deluxe key of C harp that I'm starting to have problems controlling my bends. This mainly is on the 2 draw, and sometimes on the 3 draw. What I mean is it will easily, often too easily, drop a full bend on me, even when I'm trying to not bend. I'm wondering if it is gaped too much? FYI, I've had this harp for around a year or so.
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timeistight
1691 posts
Feb 09, 2015
4:02 PM
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Sounds like a technique problem to me. Drop your jaw, open your throat and then work on subtle tongue position adjustments.
Dozens of people will tell you it's the gapping, but you can believe me, because I never lie and I'm always right.
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WinslowYerxa
780 posts
Feb 09, 2015
4:06 PM
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Is it gapping or technique - or is the reed about to fail?
It could be any of the three.
Do you have other harps, especially other C harps where this problem doesn't happen?
If it happens on other harps, too, then maybe it's your technique.
If it's only on this harp, then maybe it's something about the harp.
If it's always happened on this harp it may be the gapping.
If this harp played fine before and you didn't poke something into the harp to disturb the gapping, then maybe the reeds are fatigued, dropping in pitch, and are about to break off.
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Winslow
Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition with tons of new stuff
Deepen your playing at the Harmonica Collective
Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Feb 09, 2015 4:07 PM
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LumberjackShark
49 posts
Feb 10, 2015
6:41 AM
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Thanks for the input. Yerxa, I do have a SP20 C harp, and it doesn't do this. I haven't messed with this harp, or done anything to the reeds. It has been slowly coming on. At first it was great cause I could so easily bend, but now I'm having a harder time NOT bending. If it is reed fatigue, should I consider replacement?
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harpwrench
990 posts
Feb 10, 2015
7:13 AM
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They normally won't bend unless you're commanding it to bend, it's most likely a technique issue. Pretty rare for most to have a 2-3 draw reed go out. I suspect the marine band is finally sealing itself up and starting to respond like it's supposed to, while the other harp is leaky and not as responsive to your unintentional command to bend. Just my opinion though.
Last Edited by harpwrench on Feb 10, 2015 7:14 AM
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WinslowYerxa
781 posts
Feb 10, 2015
9:34 AM
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One way to check for possible reed failure (though harpwrench is one of the country's best techs and is right that these particular reeds seldom fail):
Remove the covers. The draw reeds are mounted on the outside, on the bottom reedplate. Using something thin and stiff, like a credit card or your fingernail, plink the reed: gently lift the tip of the reed and then release it to let it vibrate.
Does the resulting note match the pitch when you play the note on your other C-harp? If it does, the reed is probably fine. If it's significantly flat, the reed may be on the way out.
When I suspect a reed may be about to fail, I perform the 100-plink test: I plink the reed 100 times in a row fairly quickly. If the reed is about to fail, it will usually do so during the test.
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Winslow
Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition with tons of new stuff
Deepen your playing at the Harmonica Collective
Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Feb 10, 2015 2:06 PM
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LumberjackShark
50 posts
Feb 10, 2015
12:26 PM
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OK. I will work on my technique and if still an issue, check out the reed.
Thanks again for the input
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