Slimharp
413 posts
Dec 31, 2015
12:36 PM
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I have worked on hundreds of harps. One thing I see often when I pull the cover plates is crap in there that would make you not want to eat for a week. You want a combo for some nasty crap - moisture, warmth, and darkness - -Bingo !
Do yourself a favor. Let your harps have access to air after playin. Many a time I see folks put the harp back in the small case and put that case into the big case, or just put it into the big case and close it. When you get home, open that sucker up ! Let those babies get some air. Your harps will last longer, play better, and it will help in keeping them in tune.
If you can and think of it and have the time, play whatever key your gonna use a little bit before hitting it hard. This will allow the reeds to adjust to your breath ( temperature )and allow the comb ( if it is wood )to adjust as well. Happy New Year !
All of this is in the little paper you get with your harp that nobody reads
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Killa_Hertz
55 posts
Dec 31, 2015
12:54 PM
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I just ordered this"disinfectant" spray.
The exact item is Rouche Thomas Mit-T-Mist. You may have heard of it. Kenya brought it up in a video I saw. Horn players use it for their mouth pieces and whatnot. Was wondering how well it works, or if it does at all. But I agree and it's hard to keep all your harps clean. Bad enough always takin em apart to tune and adjust everything. But they can get gross quick if you let em.
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Slimharp
414 posts
Dec 31, 2015
1:01 PM
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Im sure that spray will help. I think good ole air and some light will do wonders.
Harps are one strange instrument.
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nacoran
8853 posts
Dec 31, 2015
9:55 PM
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Lol! You just came up with the ad campaign idea for my magnetic harmonica lids!
Another one of my crazy invention ideas- Someone, I think it was Tooka, had a video about how you could cut down one of those little pocket LEDs so that it would fit in the hole on a harmonica- good for checking gapping and stuff... what if you had an ultraviolet LED harmonica holder with one LED for each hole. Set the harp down on it and let the sunlight do the sterilizing...
I've also been thinking of ways to leave a good air gap in harp cases to make sure everything dries out well.
It's right on the tip of my tongue- there is a guy who makes harps with little tabs that slide over the reed plates- two screws to hold the covers on but the rest opens without tools.
Turbolids will pop off for easy access too. Or a nice clear acrylic comb so you can see the gunk to remind you to clean it. Of course, that gunk can make it a little more airtight!!!
(Actually, that might be an interesting test- a white comb and a colored powder, maybe blow it in and out with a turkey baster... when I was a kid we had those tablets that you chewed when you went to the dentist that stuck to anywhere you missed when you brushed your teeth... it might show where the leaks are and just how air flows around the rest of the harp... I think I'm a little overstimulated. I went to a busy New Year's party. Didn't drink, but had tons of sugary things and lots of loud noise. Probably won't sleep till 2017.
Happy New Year's everyone.
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Nate
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didjcripey
1007 posts
Dec 31, 2015
10:43 PM
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I've been exposed to all sorts of germs from all over the world, so I'm not real worried about sterilising my harps. Pretty hard to give germs to yourself (that you haven't already got). And although I tongue block I'd say nearly all the moisture in my harps is condensation anyway.
I reckon a little bit of dried saliva and gunge helps to make the harp more airtight... (lazy man's customising!)
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Lucky Lester
Last Edited by didjcripey on Dec 31, 2015 11:16 PM
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nacoran
8854 posts
Jan 01, 2016
1:58 PM
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Didjcripey, the exception, I would say, is if you have some respiratory problems that can't be explained it might be a good idea to give the harps a cleaning. I've read up on other brass instruments can get some fungus type things building up in them which can cause problems. I should try to track that article down again. Of course, compared to a trombone there is a lot better airflow through a harp sitting on a table than a trombone.
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Nate
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Barley Nectar
1018 posts
Jan 01, 2016
2:50 PM
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I just toss mine in clean water for about 15 minutes. Hit them with a tooth brush on the combs and corners, tap, shake, rinse, tap out again the set them out to dry. I do this every couple of months. Easy and works great...BN
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Slimharp
416 posts
Jan 05, 2016
10:57 AM
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Good ideas in above posts. My point was if you let them air out after playing a lot of the fixes wont be necessary. I have found little to no gunk in my harps due to that. I am not worried about my own germs. The main thing is keeping them playable and not throwin a junk of plaque into the reeds. Mouth chemistry has a lot to do with it. One thing for sure, if you let them air out after playing you will be way ahead of the game.
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1847
3086 posts
Jan 05, 2016
11:23 AM
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the session steel is awesome! simply rinse it out
after playing it. it is steel and plastic, water will not hurt it. not one bit. it is so easy to wash out any type of beverage you may happen to enjoy while playing a set. more and more harp players are discovering this fine harmonica. just ask john popper
how he likes his. try one with the 1847 cover plates
you will be amazed. when one does go bad, you simply replace the reed plate. no more collecting hundreds and hundreds of worn out marine bands. just change the plate. no need to send it across the country, or even to another country, so simple to do, even i can do it.
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Barley Nectar
1026 posts
Jan 05, 2016
11:52 AM
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Yep, just like the LO's I've been playing for 25 yrs.
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SuperBee
3195 posts
Jan 05, 2016
1:12 PM
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Watcha do with all those broken plates?
Seems so wasteful to me, I can't do it. I have to replace the broken reed.
I ask folks here what they do with their broken harps. I even offer to buy them. I get very very little response.
I can put a reed in a plate for under five bux. Of course, I have to charge a little more when I do it for others. $15 because I tune their harps and sort any other problems I find and I have to clean their harps twice. But with sp20 at 60 bucks in the shops here, I think it's a good deal. I send back a better harp than they had to start with. Unless it was already an outstanding harp.
But what happens with all those bags of broken harps and reed plates, I dunno. Maybe the metal merchants get em as scrap
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1847
3088 posts
Jan 05, 2016
1:30 PM
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damn catcha
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harmonicanick
2335 posts
Jan 05, 2016
4:20 PM
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just got back fro a gig late, read your post and took my GM's out to breathe while I try to sleep, thanks for the tip:))
I use a sonic cleaner every month or so...
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Philosofy
731 posts
Jan 05, 2016
9:26 PM
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Everyone should learn from my mistake: DO NOT put your harps in a dishwasher! They came out playing like crap! The heat warped all the plastic combs!
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Killa_Hertz
112 posts
Jan 05, 2016
10:43 PM
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I clean harps when i SEE the gunk. If i open em and the plates r horrible. I gotta clean it. Or atleast scrape of what i can see. And clean out the cover plate notch.
That spray i got works pretty good. It's like a winter fresh alcohol spray kinda thing. Just spray it real quick n wipe it down. Its Kind of for the inbetween quick cleaningz
What i clean the most are the inside of the holes. The film that forms on the inside of the comb tines and on the reed plates. Also the back of the rivets on the blow reeds. Stuff seems to collect there fast.
The best tool i use, that works great are pipe cleaners. Not the hobby kind preschool kids play with, actual pipe cleaners. They have like hard bristles in em and they knock all the isht outta the holes. Headshops have em. Or tobacco stores. I Always keep then in my lil road bag.
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"Trust Those Who Seek The Truth...
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