HarpNinja
829 posts
Dec 13, 2010
10:28 AM
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All the talk of GM's had me digging through old harps and I found a Bb that was customized about 5 years ago from someone Jason Ricci had recommended (not sure if this person is still in business even) who had sanded the reeds to remove the tuning marks.
Anyways, it got me thinking about comments I've read regarding the topic, and I was curious as to any specific techniques used to do this.
For the record, on these old harps, the "sanding" was quite obvious and not very smooth. They were great harps, tuned to compromise and easy to OB on hole 6....not as good as the Buddha and Spiers stuff I've played, but nice harps none the less.
Thanks!
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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MP
1120 posts
Dec 13, 2010
10:41 AM
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mike,
i have wondered if about this technique too. most specifically; does it really make that much difference? can you hear or feel the difference?
chromaticblues uses a dremel, i think. also maybe jim does this too.
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
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HarpNinja
830 posts
Dec 13, 2010
11:20 AM
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I'd imagine a Dremel being a bit abrasive and similar to what the older harps referenced have.
I have two thoughts on why one would do this. 1.) so the reeds last longer and 2.) so they become more efficient.
I don't know if either has been proven/disproven in the past and I don't have any specific insight other than I've seen it mentioned several times in the past on various harmonica sites and am just now interested.
I would *think* it could be as easy as sliding paper under a reed and using a sanding wand, etc, with a light touch. I would think smooth reeds would be better than gouged reeds, but again, have no direct experiences to comment from.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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MP
1122 posts
Dec 13, 2010
11:35 AM
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mike,
i'd thought also that a sanding wand with very fine grit (light light touch) would do the trick.
all my harps have tuning marks. some play better than others. i might try removing tuning marks as a lark to see what happens.
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
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HarpNinja
831 posts
Dec 13, 2010
11:39 AM
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I was snowed in all weekend and it looks like more is to come. Way too much down time to start thinking of stuff like this! It is too hard to play harp while the kids are napping, so I end up working on them instead.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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timeistight
3 posts
Dec 13, 2010
12:02 PM
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Doug Tate recommended this in Make Your Harmonica Work Better but I seem to recall reading somewhere that he later decided it wasn't worth the trouble.
One problem is that the sanding would likely throw the reed out of tune so you also have to tune each reed you sanded.
Last Edited by on Dec 13, 2010 12:04 PM
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chromaticblues
389 posts
Dec 13, 2010
12:02 PM
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@HarpNinja Mike you can use a dremel. I had a high grit flap wheel that was alittle used so it was wore at anangle so worked well on a Seydel that needed some agressive sanding. What I use alot when I need to careful is a solon nail file. The one I have now is 320 grit. That works pretty good. I just put a feeler gauge under the reed I'm doing and over the two adjacent reeds. Its a liitle time consuming, but you want ruin anything with the file!
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MP
1124 posts
Dec 13, 2010
1:09 PM
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mike,
i know what you mean about",thinking of stuff like this!"
even so, i think you've inadvertently given me an idea.
a very very good friend blows out his 4 and 5 holes on his Ds and now is down to one working D harp. since i have a popper and can replace reeds i keep his harps up and running.
this time i'm going to remove the marks from the 'donor' reeds while they are still on thier plates prior to replacement.
maybe, just maybe, they will last longer. he's a hard blower but whatever. we all know the prescription. but maybe, even with too much force, the life expectancy can be improved.
if this makes them last longer it's worth a try.
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
Last Edited by on Dec 13, 2010 1:10 PM
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HarpNinja
837 posts
Dec 13, 2010
1:15 PM
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I hate removing/putting in reeds. Honestly, I really enjoy doing reedwork but I hate everything else, lol.
I have replaced reeds when necessary using 080 sized materials, etc, but I don't have a drill press...
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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MP
1125 posts
Dec 13, 2010
1:23 PM
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i don't use a drill.
i hand thread with a seydel tap. i remove rivets with a pliers type popper from the same seydel kit. i still have lots of seydel screws and nuts i got from david payne.
luckily he plays SP/20s(seydel tools work fine on them) you have to cut the screws flush to fit MB draw plates.
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
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