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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
half- or whole-slot embossing?
half- or whole-slot embossing?
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the_happy_honker
257 posts
Oct 09, 2016
2:37 PM
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A question or three for the tweekers out there:
I have been lightly half-slot embossing my harps for a few years now. I use the "magic penny" (actually a Swedish 50 øre coin) method. It is fast, easy and, because I am not trying to push every last bit of brass into the slot, I generally don't screw it up.
The result, provided I have done the preliminary things right (eliminate air-leaks, center misaligned reeds, arc the reeds correctly etc.), is a harp that is markedly louder, richer-sounding and more responsive. It's probably not a pro job, but still pretty decent.
I am curious as to the benefits of whole-slot embossing. I have not been entirely satisfied with the quality and consistency of the overbends I get. Will whole-slot embossing help with that? Is moving the reed aside with a reed wrench and pennying the slot a good way to go? What are the pros and cons of an embossing tool?
Please come with your ideas and experiences.
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arzajac
1793 posts
Oct 09, 2016
3:03 PM
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"provided I have done the preliminary things right (eliminate air-leaks, center misaligned reeds, arc the reeds correctly etc.), is a harp that is markedly louder, richer-sounding and more responsive"
I agree - provided you eliminate some common problems, that's what you can expect. But I suggest another condition, too. If you over-do it, you will not like the results so much.
Embossing the rivet end of the slot can help deal with squeal. But again, it is not a solution in of itself. Reed shape is extremely important. Without a proper shape, simply embossing the base of the slot probably won't offer much.
Rotating the reed and embossing the slot is a time-consuming way to get the job done, but it can work very well. You will find it can take an exponentially large amount of time to fix the areas where you over-do it using this method because you are pretty much working blind.
That's why using a specialised tool which does the work with the reed in place can offer a lot of benefit (and avoid frustration).
I hope that helps.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica Combs and Tools.
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John M G
75 posts
Oct 09, 2016
5:39 PM
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One of the issues I'm concerned about is embossing up near the rivet and the possible damage to the side of the reed itself. When you're down at the bottom end of the reed it's fairly easy to do the embossing directly over the reed that just bows into the reed slot. Up at the rivet end it's a different matter.
The Manji harps have spot welded reeds so centering or swinging them out the way isn't an option.
I've made an embossing tool out of an old warding file with all the teeth ground off and a polished edge on the tip, but there's got to be an edge that's going to rub against the edge of the reed and that worries me.
I stoned a radius on the corner of the tool so once you get far enough up the reed that it won't bow into the slot, the embossing tool then isn't as close to the edge of the reed slot because of this radius.
I need to get more hands on working on my harps. I need to learn more of the subtleties. I've not done any reed arching, only gapped a couple of lee's.
I'd like to get one of these purpose built embossing tools. Can you tell me where to get one.
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arzajac
1794 posts
Oct 09, 2016
6:39 PM
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John:
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/5494010.htm
If you follow the links to my website and look around, you will find a few posts on embossing covering different methods/strategies, tips and tricks.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica Combs and Tools.
Last Edited by arzajac on Oct 09, 2016 6:55 PM
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John M G
76 posts
Oct 09, 2016
10:20 PM
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Thanks for that link Andrew, all the help that's so generously given. It's magic.
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Killa_Hertz
1792 posts
Oct 10, 2016
5:04 AM
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I also highly recommended taking advantage of all of the information Andrew has on his blog page. It is ever growing and can be alot if info to sift through, but i assure you its a great source that he has provided.
His tools are also very good. I do not have his embossing tool, but i can tell you from the combs and tools i do have, that his attention to detail is excellent.
Richard Sleigh also makes tools and has a great section on slot embossing in the hotrod your harmonica videos.
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Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Oct 10, 2016 5:05 AM
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