swamprat
1 post
Jan 16, 2011
3:32 PM
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I was playing last night in front of a home crowd where we the band got our start. Always the best crowd that really into things. I picked up a Hohner crossover in a g on my way to the show played it for a while before the show. On the next to last set I steped out into the crowd and was playing a solo I felt something in my hand aNd when I was done I looked and it was a reed ( #7 blow) first time I've ever broken a reed is this common. Kind of made me mad one show on a set of reeds!
Have to say this is my first post Ive learned alot and have enjoyed this site so far.
Thanks
Jason
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jbone
473 posts
Jan 16, 2011
4:16 PM
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i have to ask the obvious question: are you a hard blower/drawer?
i have broken reeds using too much force in the past.
last ms harp plates i got were really thin although the reed plate was thicker than stock. i later learned that a thicker plate actually can help flat out a reed. i don't mess much with hohners these days.
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nacoran
3660 posts
Jan 16, 2011
11:03 PM
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Some people go through reeds faster than others. I've only busted a couple, always playing unamplified with someone else (except the ones I've broken with the harp open trying to 'improve it'.) See if you can get the same tone playing with less force. If you can, great. If you may have lots of broken reeds ahead. If it's worth the tone difference, oh well, what can you do, except maybe set the gaps a little higher if you aren't overblowing.
Welcome to the forum. :)
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MrVerylongusername
1503 posts
Jan 17, 2011
3:18 AM
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I'd be interested to hear other people's perspective on this, but from my point of view, to completely shear a reed off is unusual. In fact in 25+ playing I've never had a reed completely snap like that. I've had a fair few flat out, retuned 'em and then flatted out again. I've never had a reed completely fail so absolutely.
Even for a hard blower that kind of total reed failure sounds odd. I think you should send the harp back to Hohner for a replacement.
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Andy Ley
53 posts
Jan 17, 2011
4:14 AM
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My first (and last) Sp 20 had the 4 blow reed stop sounding one day after a few months of playing. When I opened it up the reed appeared to be jammed in the slot. I tried to free it up with a light prod and that's when I realised that the reed had snapped off the rivet end and jammed itself in the slot.
I replaced ther Sp 20 with a Suzuki Bluesmaster which, 12 months on, has been virtually bulletproof.
Edit: I will add that the Sp20 was the first harmonica I had and tried to learn to play in earnest. I would at this point have had poor breath control etc. etc. but the complete shearing off of the reed still struck me as excessive.
Last Edited by on Jan 17, 2011 4:18 AM
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jbone
477 posts
Jan 17, 2011
4:20 AM
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come to think of it, almost all of the 4 or 5 reeds i've broken off have been sp20's.
i nust stress though, i was playing much harder back then and it has not happened for 10-12 years now.
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apskarp
391 posts
Jan 17, 2011
4:38 AM
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If you have little bit pioneer spirit, you could do heat treatment for the reedplates in your own oven. That would reduce the inner tensions of the reeds and make them last longer. Few hours in 250C would do it, but then you'd have to readjust the reeds also as the heat might bend them little bit.
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swamprat
2 posts
Jan 17, 2011
4:13 PM
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Thanks for the replies, never thought that I blow very hard but then again I have a broken reed. I do some overblows and alot of bends. I love the sp 20 for the type of music I play but can't get them to last very long. Thought the crossover would be more durable guess not. Looks like I'm going to shop around and see if I can find one I like that will last. I'll try something new everyonce in a while but I end back up with hohners.
Thanks again
Jason
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