Todd Parrott
363 posts
Jan 29, 2011
1:25 PM
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Is it really a bad thing to add foreign materials like nail polish and chapstick to the reeds to help eliminate overdraw squeals? For someone like me who is not a customizer, it works great and I don't notice that it deadens the reed - it may, but I don't hear it.
I know guys like Joe Spiers don't need to use nail polish or bees wax, but I'm certainly not at that level, nor do I want to be - customizing is not my cup of tea. The only negative thing I've found, at least with chapstick, is that it can melt a little bit if you leave your harp in a hot car for example.
Are there any other negatives?
On a similar note, I made myself a Golden Melody in D, mounted on a pink dymondwood comb from Chris Reynolds, and it plays pretty good, not like a Spiers harp or anything, but pretty good. One thing I noticed is a significant difference in the tone from stretching the covers open very wide in the back with a couple of brass support beams. And I mean it's opened up farther than any other harp in my collection, about as far as possible without damaging the covers, and it sounds unbelievably good - has a bigger, fuller sound. Hard to explain, but I really like it.
EDIT - The comb is awesome!
Last Edited by on Jan 29, 2011 1:28 PM
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MP
1346 posts
Jan 29, 2011
2:27 PM
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i think nail polish is just fine. i don't notice a tonal difference. it's easier to deal with than wax or chapstick. chapstick is petroleum based (oil) so that can run down your reed and muck it up in a hot car.
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
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HarpNinja
1048 posts
Jan 29, 2011
5:14 PM
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I'd suggest non-toxic nail polish per the melting issue. Please do not do the wax (or other stuff) from overblow.com. While some of it technically works, a lot of it, like the chamfering, is done in much haste and not very appropriately.
You should be fine with embossing, gapping, and some arcing. Use the polish when you need to, but KEEP IT OFF THE REED.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
Updated 1/23/11
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boris_plotnikov
433 posts
Jan 29, 2011
8:51 PM
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I use beeswax to stabilize overdraws (along with microscopic embossing and gaping). It allows to make high reed gaps a little wider and make high reeds sounds a bit smoother. For lower reeds I prefer to avoid beeswax. The only time I have troubles with beeswax is was my stupid experiment 3-4 years ago, when I get marineband classic, waxed combs and wax all reeds (as I saw at overblow.com). After year of playing whole reedplates was covered by wax and reeds start to sticks.
My current custom harps are often have beeswax at 7, 9, 10 draw reeds and I don't have any problems ever. I can reduce gaps a bit to get overdraws without squeezes and wax but I don't like this idea.
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Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
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chromaticblues
543 posts
Jan 30, 2011
10:14 AM
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Yes Todd as Harp Ninja said you can Nail Polish, and regauldless of who uses it or not. It works very well. Yes it does affect how the reed works. It will give the reed more sustain. On the blow reedplate put it on the rivet and the reed pad only. On the draw plate you do that and let it go onto the reedplate behind the reed. Try not to let any get on the reed, but if it does don,t panic. either wipe it off the reed with the jewelers screwdriver. or when it dries you can scrap it off with a pocket knife easily.On certain notes it will sound like the note has a ringing. Ok with that in mind chap stick can be used to counter act this if it bothers you. You can take jewelers flat slot screwdriver and aply it about 1 to 2 mm from the rivet up the side of the reed. Then rub it into the reed slot by using your index finger. put it between two reeds about half way up the reed and just drag it toward the rivet and beyond to the end of the reedplate. That will deeden the reed a little. Just go sparingly. All in all I would advise against using chapstick for that purpose.
Aren't you glad you asked!
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MP
1348 posts
Jan 30, 2011
11:14 AM
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interesting post chro! i'm glad he asked. while i didn't notice a tonal change with nail polish, it never occured to me that it would increase sustain.
i noticed your harps have a nice long decay before the notes die out. but you use wax. a sleigh harp with waxed rivets crossed my work bench the other day.
a foreign substance was messing with 3 of the reeds. it wasn't wax, it was bits of foam from a foam lined harp case.
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
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Todd Parrott
364 posts
Jan 30, 2011
3:00 PM
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Thank you all for your responses! This helps a lot!
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chromaticblues
545 posts
Jan 31, 2011
9:52 AM
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@ MP you must have the harps I worked on mixed up with someone elses. I have never put wax on rivets for a customer. I tried it on a few of my own harps and didn't like it. If you read me post carefully I never said I didn't have a good use for it! I would never glob wax on the rivets or advise someone to do so. I have allways thought that was a bad idea! To much can go wrong latter if it gets loose.
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MP
1349 posts
Jan 31, 2011
10:23 AM
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sorry about that. don't want to spread misinformation. my sincere apologies.
CHROMATICBLUES DOES NOT WAX RIVETS!
i see so many harps i probably got yours mixed up with another guy who puts wax on SP/20s with MB coverplates.
the waxed ones were excellent by the way.
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
Last Edited by on Jan 31, 2011 10:27 AM
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chromaticblues
547 posts
Jan 31, 2011
11:51 AM
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OK MP now you just being funny! You don't have to apologize! I didn't mean it that way. Oh and have ever seen another SP 20 with MB coverplates? I'm pretty sure I put nail polish on those. I don't remember if I did it to all three of his harps. I do use chapstick (or beeswax mixed 50/50 with mineral oil) infront of the rivet on the sides of the slot for about 2 mm on some holes. Maybe thats what you talking about? I don't do it the same on every harp. It depends on the key and what harp it is.
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