Distinguishing draw reeds from blow reeds
I've been watching your videos about replacing reeds. It's my 5 draw which sounds like a very common problem. My first question (which might answer my main question): how do you get reeds to sound when you are just playing the unattached reed plate? My main question: how do I know which reed plate is for draw notes (and has the broken reed) and which one is for the blow notes? Thank you for your advice.
To distinguish between draw and blow plates. The blow plate has all the reeds in a straight line near the edge of the hole openings. The blow plate will have the reeds facing into the comb. On a Marine Band "sandwhich' style harmonica there will be a grove where the covers index into the reed plate. With draw reed plate the reeds angle in a diagonal, with the longest reed next to the edge of the plate and the smallest reed the furthest from the edge. The reeds on the draw reed plate face out from the comb.Of course when you reassemble the harp make sure the long reeds are lining up with the longest slot of the comb.
Thanx Jon!
Hi Nance, thanks for joining us.
Q1: how do I know which reed plate is for draw notes (and has the broken reed) and which one is for the blow notes?
A1: with the reed plates attached to the comb (cover plates removed)--with the longest reeds on your left count over to your right, five rivets--then place an "X" (sharpie ink marker) by the rivet of each reed. This will be the top reed (5 BLOW), and bottom reed (5 DRAW). With your Chromatic Tuner set to 442Hz, (i.e. on a C harmonica), blowing into the 5 hole, your tuner should display the E note, flattened with the range of -5 cents to -15 cents. Drawing into the 5 hole, your tuner should display the F note, flattened with the range of -5 cents to -10 cents. If your readings are signfificantly lower (more than a semi-tone), you have a fractured reed.
A2: remove the reed plates from the comb (the threaded holes for the screws are ALWAYS on the DRAW reed plate). With the reeds exposed to you, "plink" the faulty reed(s) a dozen times and the reed will most likely break off near the rivet end. Follow the video to guide you through the replacement process.
Keep us posted! Your Harpsmith, Kinya