andysheep8
94 posts
Aug 05, 2021
6:39 AM
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A common problem I have is the 4 draw reed getting stuck in its slot. I clean it gently, ping it, try to tease it out but often end up with an un-usable harp. What should I be doing?
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florida-trader
1552 posts
Aug 05, 2021
7:52 AM
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Andy - there are some red flags here.
"common problem"
"often end up with an un-usable harp"
The operative words here are common and often.
I do not think that the issue is the harp or harps you are playing - unless you are playing cheap Chinese junk harps, in which case, the solution is to step up and buy some quality instruments. In my personal opinion, it has something to do with the way you play. It would be very helpful if you would post a video of some of your playing. I have my suspicions about what the cause is, but without video evidence, I would be merely speculating. Are you up for it?
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Tom Halchak
Blue Moon Harmonicas
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nacoran
10362 posts
Aug 05, 2021
10:35 AM
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Are you talking about just one harp or multiple harps? If it's multiple harps Tom is right on. If it's one harp, and it's not junk, you might want to check the reeds alignment. It might be just a tiny bit out of alignment.
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Gnarly
2996 posts
Aug 05, 2021
10:46 AM
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Four draw is a likely suspect, right after 5 draw.
Don't bend below the floor.
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SuperBee
6998 posts
Aug 05, 2021
5:39 PM
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When you said “stuck”, I thought misaligned, but then I read the post and sounds like you are cracking them. It used to be a big deal for me too. 4 draw was my most common break but for most people it’s 5 draw (I broke those too!)
The real fix is to play less forcefully, and especially take more care when bending.
The fix for the harp is to replace the reed. I learned to mend my own and in the course of doing so I learned a lot more things, including some which led me to no longer break reeds. It’s not really difficult to mend them, but the well can be quite deep.
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andysheep8
95 posts
Aug 06, 2021
2:30 AM
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Thanks for the feedback, has really given me food for thought. Hard to face up to the fact it might all be in my technique, but that is where you guys are valuable. Not using cheap harps, the one in question is a Special 20, and looking at my history, I am not killing reeds quite as often as I used to. I am by no means a pro, but get to play in a few bands, some straight ahead blues, others a mix of rock, pop, folk and country, so I do get to wail on that 4 draw a lot. The reed in question does not seem to be cracked or misaligned, just dead and will not ping at all.
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jbone
3368 posts
Aug 06, 2021
4:50 AM
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I played a lot of SP20's in the 90's and killed a lot of 4 and 5 draw reeds, one night I went through about 4 harps, on stage with a loud band. One of those reeds disappeared, maybe into my stomach! But you can't see the metal fatigue a lot of times. You have to learn to intuitively know where the limit is on draw bends and stay within that limit. Or keep killing reeds!
Most of us learned early on how much fun that 4 or 5 draw is. A lot of us have blown that reed. But once you unlock the key of using focus and not force in your method- which involved for me breathing exercises and some voice training- You will not be harder on your draw bends than you need to be to get the result.
You can probably have the reed replaced for less than a new harp.
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florida-trader
1553 posts
Aug 06, 2021
8:04 AM
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I suspected the next operative word I would hear was "wail" and I was right. I will spare you the lecture Andy. I think you know what I would say.
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Tom Halchak
Blue Moon Harmonicas
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