jbone
3113 posts
Jan 19, 2020
9:37 PM
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I was given a Seydel Soloist Pro, and also an 1847 Blues. Both are good harps, solid and very playable. There's a difference between them I've noticed and it's a first for me. The Soloist has reed plates that taste odd to me. Or feel odd. When I'm tongue blocking that harp it's very apparent and not very palatable. A kind of tingle.
I'm wondering if there's any solution to this? I like the harp a lot but it would be nice to get full use out of it ie 3rd position TB.
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Music and travel destroy prejudice.
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SuperBee
6433 posts
Jan 19, 2020
11:18 PM
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Solist Pro is a wooden comb as far as I know.
I’m far from expert on galvanic reactions but the little I’ve read leads me to believe these problems come with combining different metals, typically brass reedplates with aluminium combs. The stainless steel covers don’t usually cause problems with brass reedplates, but if you look at old nickel plated steel covers often they would rust where they contacted the brass.
Seydel reedplates are usually ‘German silver’ which is like brass but with nickel included. I don’t think that should be more reactive than normal brass.
If the stainless which Seydel are using is not so “stainless” maybe there could be drama with the reedplates when saliva gets involved. Especially if your mouth water is extra salty, or more acidic/alkaline than usual.
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Bilzharp
195 posts
Jan 20, 2020
1:50 PM
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Metal fillings can cause a "mouth battery" effect when your saliva comes in contact with certain other metals.
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SuperBee
6436 posts
Jan 20, 2020
2:35 PM
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Yeah, just not sure why the nickel silver would be different to standard brass though
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jbone
3114 posts
Jan 20, 2020
6:30 PM
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This is a very tongue specific thing I think. If I'm in 2nd position where it's just my lips in contact there's no tingle at all. When I TB it's very prevalent and distracting.
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Music and travel destroy prejudice.
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nacoran
10221 posts
Jan 21, 2020
10:48 AM
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Are you sure it's the plates? The Solist has nickel in their covers. You do say it's when you TB though, but just a thought. I painted my Solist covers because I was getting lip problems.
I don't know if I've shared this here. I've shared it on the FB group in a couple threads where it came up. It is, as best as I've been able to assemble (props to the companies that responded) a harmonica materials sheets for diatonics.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ipF4IrsD7FmZLbBsdQ4We-YnUCYrUSx5pXVR2YzIB4o/edit?usp=sharing
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Nate
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Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
First Post- May 8, 2009
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florida-trader
1486 posts
Jan 21, 2020
12:13 PM
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This is an interesting topic. I have had several conversations over the years with guys who can feel a microcurrent with some harmonicas. I do agree with SuperBee that frequently harps with aluminum combs create an issue. It shouldn’t but sometimes it does. I say “it shouldn’t” because generally speaking, aluminum combs are anodized to eliminate corrosion. Anodized aluminum has a layer of aluminum oxide that not only coats the surface, but also penetrated the metal. Aluminum oxide is harder than aluminum and is non-reactive. So, in theory, a harp with an anodized aluminum comb should not react with the brass reed plates. But sometimes they do, because the aluminum was not anodized properly. It is not uncommon for manufacturers to cut corners and do a poor job on one component or another.
That said, I think there is another potential culprit in play here and that is the screws that are used to fasten the harp together. We look at brass reed plates and aluminum combs and steel covers, but we forget that everything is held together with screws – usually steel screws. I have seen corrosion around the screw holes on some harps which means there is some galvanic reaction taking place. I wonder if swapping out steel screws for brass screws would make any difference. Jbone – if you want to try that, let me know. I have some 1.6mm brass screws I can send you that will work perfectly on a Seydel.
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Tom Halchak
Blue Moon Harmonicas
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jbone
3116 posts
Jan 22, 2020
4:24 AM
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Thanks Tom and all. I have the harp in front of me, covers off. No corrosion around the screw holes at all. This phenomenon is between the reed plates and my tongue. The comb is wood, sealed, btw.
I had a reed replaced recently, that's how much I like the build of this harp. I doubt there's a way to neutralize the plates so I'm just going to go forward and use the harp for 1st and 2nd lip purse stuff.
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Music and travel destroy prejudice.
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