Crossover draw bending hole 3
Hi everyone
I have just received my first crossover in the key of A, and am having trouble with bending the 3 draw.
It seems to take a lot more air to bend compared to my SP 20, in fact I just get a hiss if I play it in the same way to my sp 20.
Are the special 20's a little more forgiving to a beginners bending technique?
Hi thanks for the response, I have tried moving the bend forward and it seems to improved things.
I am getting the bends although it sounds a lot airyer than the SP 20. I will keep working on it, maybe I just need to get used to the differences between the SP 20 and the MB type shape.
If your other A-harps don't present a problem, the harp may need some adjustment.
Try removing the covers and examining the 3 Draw reed (it's on the outside, on the bottom reedplate, 3rd longest reed). If the gap at the tip is significanty larger than the gaps of the neighboring Draw 2 and 4 reeds, you may need to lower it a bit (check Kinya's area for more on how to do this).
Also, try removing the reedplate screws and dismounting the blow plate and examining the Blow 3 reed in the same way.
Also examine the comb for cracks or depressions in the surface around Hole 3 that could allow air to leak.
Then reassemble the harp. When you tighten the reedplate screws, start in the middle and work outward toward the ends. Don't tighten too much, just to where the screwdriver resists your fingertips.
It's posible that the harmonica simply wasn't assembled well and that just taking it apart and re-assembling it will improve its performance.
Hi Winslow, thanks for the advice.
I was holding off taking the harp apart as I would rather blame my technique than the harp.
However I have followed your advice, and have closed the gaps a little on both drawer and blow reeds.
The comb has lacquer on the mating surface with the reed plate which I would describe as far from uniform. (but I am not familiar with how it should look), so have giving that a little sanding (very little).
It is back together and the airiness is much reduced.
So it is either something I have done, or simply disassemble and re assemble has sorted it, or lastly my technique is getting there!
I will persevere as it is and maybe curiosity will get the better of me later on and I will try a few more of Kinya's lessons.
You might be drawing too hard on the bend. Try bending further forward in the mouth. I just tried mine and it is less effort than a G but. I can recreate a "hiss" tongue block bending...but not with a pucker.