Blow Reeds
Hi...I'm somewhat new to blues harmonica playing. I play only Special 20's, at this time. I'm very frustrated because I have blown 3 reeds on 3 harps now. My A harp, which is only less than 3 months old, is the latest catastrophe with a blown 5 draw. I feel it should last longer than that! So, my questions are: Is it worth getting them repaired? If so, do you know who does it? I know they're $35 harps, but it adds up! Also, do you suggest another brand or model that last longer and is still easy to bend? Appreciate it...
Thank you! Makes a lot of sense. I'll be reminded of that when I play. By the way, I found a guy in Tulsa who is going to repair/tune my broken SP20's for $15 a harp, plus shipping. I thought that was fair.
As long as he does good work, it is. The replaced reeds should play with the same response as the neighboring notes
- not sound airy
- not take more breath than the other notes or choke up under normal pressure
- and should sound in tune when you play chords and octaves.
If the repaired harp meets those tests, you've found a good deal.
post-post edit: [ in re-reading Winslow's original response I see he DID actually say what I just said below - but I've said it a slightly different way so maybe it will be helpful anyway....]
I'd like to add something to Winslow's sage advice. I blew through a lot of Special 20's when I was learning. It is in fact a common problem. We tend to strain and blow (or draw) too hard to get bends when we're learning. But here's another thing you might not have noticed. The 5 draw can only be bent 1/4 step. This is because the lower 5 blow is only lower by 1/2 step. When I was learning, I just played a lot of notes all over the harp and tried - somewhat unconsciously - to bend them all. When you try to bend the 5 draw down and it doesn't go, you try harder - and now you're REALLY stressing that reed. As you become more familiar with the harp you will subconsciously understand NOT to try to bend that hole. One day I noticed I had stopped going through harps. You will get there too. I hope this helps get you there sooner!
Cheers
That quarter-tone bend on Draw 5 is actually useful and expressive - just listen to Little Walter using it in Juke. But, as Greg says, it's *only* a quarter tone, so if you're going to use it, learn to bend it only as far as it actually goes.
Thanks you guys! All good stuff to be conscious of. Appreciate it.
If it makes you feel better, when I first started (2 years ago) I blew threw over half a dozen "indestructible" stainless-steel-reed Seydels within 3 months + one Lee Oskar. I have yet to blow out any of my Hohner Crossovers or other Lee Oskars though. I'm wondering if it has to do with individual's unique chemistry composition of their saliva? I know saxophone pads of different materials hold up better for different people for this reason. Anyways, try a Crossover. Maybe a little bit pricey but if you find out it outlasts the others, it might be worth it. Usually my draw reeds go out. I have yet to 'blow out' a blow reed though. Of course check out Kinya's videos on this site regarding harmonica repair when you have time.
-Taylor
Thanks for the story. Misery loves company! Will consider your advice.
Reeds sometimes fail early due to manufacturing defects but this is rare.
Special 20 harmonicas usually last much longer than three months.
My guess is that you may be playing too hard - forcing your breath through the reeds with an amount of force that they can't handle.
Try the warm hand exercise:
Hold the palm of your hand about an inch from your open mouth and exhale gently onto your hand.
Notice the warmth of your breath?
Now try breathing so gently that you can feel the warmth but not the wind (not the force of the iar hitting your hand).
Now, try breathing into the harmonica - both exhaling and inhaling - with that same gentle breath.
That's all you need to make the reeds sound. And you can make the harmonica sound fully with not much more air than that. Same thing for bending - it's all a bout persuasion and setting up the right conditions, even when playing very softly.
Also, you can breathe deeply from the diaphragm and move a large amount of air gently. The mass of all that air, even whn it moves slowly, gives you plenty of control over volume of sound and also over your bends.
Bending done right will not harm the reeds. However, if you use force instead of finesse, or if you try to bend the note farther than it can go, you'll stress the reed and it will fail. Draw 5 only bends a small amount, only half as far as Draw 4 or Draw 6, so you may need to ease off when you bend that note.
Is it worth repairing a $35 harp? Sure, if you learn to do it yourself. Otherwise, most capable techs will charge more than the harp is worth for that repair - they're good at what they do and their time is valuable. Learning to fix your harps is worth it, even if you don't feel like learning that skill now on top of learning to play. Keep your broken harps and put them in your boneyard - they may be a useful source of parts in the future.