Roverharp
65 posts
Sep 02, 2018
5:28 PM
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Looking at some of my better playing harps i was reminded that I used to put a dab of nail polish (or wax or whatever) right where the reed meets the reed pad.
I would often put another small dab in the middle of the reed. This helped to stabilize the reed for over-blows and seemed to offer more control in general.
As tools and techniques improved to emboss the whole length of the reed slot i get the impression that waxing has fallen out of favor. Am I correct or is it still a good way to stabilize the reeds?
Last Edited by Roverharp on Sep 10, 2018 3:40 AM
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Todd Parrott
1461 posts
Sep 03, 2018
11:41 AM
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I still use wax.
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Moon Cat
769 posts
Sep 10, 2018
1:35 AM
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I still use nail polish...
www.mooncat.org
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HarpNinja
4291 posts
Sep 10, 2018
7:48 AM
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Full disclosure, I've moved to doing almost no work on my harmonicas (Special 20's). Basically just gapping and tuning. If an overbend is squealing, I might adjust the positioning of the reed.
I almost never emboss and I haven't waxed a reed of my own in forever.
My .02 is that if you are doing a lot of reed work, polish or wax is added icing on the cake.
I like my gaps wider than normal for overbending - not because I play with a lot of breath force, but because of how I use my tongue to articulate. I find that I play with enough pressure, though, that it eliminates a lot of squealing.
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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zx679
44 posts
Sep 11, 2018
10:58 AM
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I'm on the fence. Wax works but I've discovered that gapping where you (aggressively) adjust the base of the reed before you adjust the tip of it also works. However, it does tend to make the reed choke easier with higher breath pressure and getting too enthusiastic can cause the reed to go out of tune a bit.
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something something harmonicas...
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indigo
523 posts
Sep 11, 2018
10:42 PM
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Only in summer..^)
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