4 Methods for Removing and Replacing Harmonica Reeds (Ep9)
Heads Up Everyone, Episode 9, "Easy Reeding" 4 Methods for Removing and Replacing Harmonica Reeds is live and chock full of terrific close-ups and comprehensive handout. Let's chat after you've had a chance to view...
https://www.bluesharmonica.com/harpsmith_bench
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Hi ACHarper, I feel your pain. It appears that most of the Asian harmonica manufactures (including KongSheng, Easttop, Suzuki) are following the Tombo/Lee Oskar playbook. If anything at all, they are offering full reed plate replacements. I consider myself fortunate, because over the years I have accumulated many Lee Oskar and Suzuki harmonicas that I have been able to cannibalize for reeds.
Just out of curiosity, do you have a KongSheng harmonica (reed # and the pitch) that requires immediate attention?
Another solution is the new Brendan Power Modular Reed harmonica. It is manufactured by KongSheng! I just purchased mine to review and plan on doing a write-up shortly. The premise is that all twenty reeds snap in/out for easy repairs, or if the player is interested in converting their standard Richter tuning into some other tuning, for example; Natural Minor, Country Tuned, Paddy Tuned, etc. All that is required is a small Philips screwdriver to remove the cover plates. Check it out:
https://www.brendan-power.com/ModularHarp.php
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
No, I don't have any ailing Kongsheng harps at the moment. I only own 2 total and I don't play them as much as I'd like because I'm irrationally afraid of breaking them and having to throw them away. Makes no sense, really, since it's not like $50 would break the bank. But I also put a lot of time into adjusting the 20 reeds and slots (along with chamfering the edges of the coverplates and reed plates to my liking, and if I have to buy a new one I have to do that all over again. It's just a lot of work to put into a harp that's disposable.
They just play soooo nicely, and they're gorgeous to hold and look at. Pity. I wonder if I could get that same feeling in the hand from a Seydel Noble, since it too has the aluminum comb.
Hi AC, if you are fluent at switching back and forth from Phosphor Bronze to Stainless Steel, I say give it a try with the Noble.
I'm curious, you mentioned that you had chamfered the edges of your cover plates. Please send us photos?
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
LOL sorry. I was distracted and thinking about Crossovers and Special 20s when I said that about cover plates. That's one thing Kongsheng got right. Like Seydel, they roll the back all the way to the edge. On Kongshengs, it's the corners of the reed plates that need softening. No wonder you were curious!
Ah so!
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Got the Noble today, in A. Now that I'm holding it, it's patently obvious this is the harp Kongsheng intended to copy with their Solist. Same matte, vented coverplates, aluminum comb. Exact same method of rolling the plates in the back. Except the Noble isn't disposable. Think I'll really like this.
Oooo, keep us posted!
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Can only Seydel and Hohner reeds be replaced? I haven't seen anywhere you can buy individual reeds for non-German harps, only full reed plates. Or is it possible to use Hohner or Seydel reeds/plate on other brands of harps? Do they fit?
I would love to buy more Kongsheng harps, but I also have an issue with seeing harps as disposable, so that's kept me to mostly Hohner.