Embossing: how much is "too much"
Hello Kinya,
Before I "break" some of my more expensive harps though I would like to ask you if you would have some helpful tips on how much to decrease the gap.
That is besides the obvious point when the reed actually starts toiching the reed plate.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Angel, learning and understanding the impact that sizing the reed slots will have on your harmonica is a learning process to be sure. My recommendations to build your skills:
- size the sides of the 2 and 3 reed slots
- reassemble your harmonica and play reeds 2 and 3 to realize any changes to playability, tone and volume
- record yourself
- next, close the tolerances of the zero points
- reassemble your harmonica and play reeds 2 and 3 to realize any changes to playability, tone and volume
- finally close the tolerance on the reed slot tip. In general, sizing the tip of the reed slot will increase the brightness of your harmonica.
- reassemble your harmonica, then play reeds 2 and 3 to realize any changes to playability, tone and volume
- record yourself
- listen back to your recording and decide what you like best, then proceed with the other reeds
Considerations: it has been my experience that diatonic harmonica players who are still in the process of developing their bending skills, will have a tad bit of difficulty enjoying the nuances created by reed slot sizing. When in Trossingen, Germany, Steve Baker used the 1966 TV theme song from Batman to assess the bending skills of his class (which I use as well):
2 2 2' 2' 2" 2" 2' 2' 2 2 BATMAN!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK4H-LkrQjQ
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Thanks, Kinya! It seems I wll need to play some more with the batman theme cos I may hit those bends but it is difficult to maintain the speed :)
Can you please clarify this lesson for me:https://www.bluesharmonica.com/harp_tech_study_6_reed_sizing#TB_inline?inlineId=17650&height=480&width=640
As far as I understand here you explain how to increase the tolerance at the end of the reed.
Does it come to a matter of taste if I would like to increase this tolerance ir decrease it or is there something more to it that I do not yes understand?
Thanks in advance!
Ah so ... I think I understand your question now.
These days, I only use the Tip Scooping technique for two reasons:
- The factory installed the reed too close to the edge that results in a clicking noise when played. Tip Scooping will remove material from the tip of the reed plate tip and allow the reed to swing in/out without touching.
- The player would prefer to "brighten" (increases the treble) the voicing of their harmonica
Sometimes the factory will install the reed with too much space between the edge of the reed plate to the tip of the reed. In this case, I would Size the tip to close the distance.
I hope this helps Angel, and by the way, mastering the Batman bending lesson is not about speed, but rather accuracy (similar to mastering the 3 draw, except there you have three bends ;o)
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Another question I would like to add to the same topic is: Decrease or increase the gap at the tip of the reed.
I came uppon one otpic in this forum called "the size matters" explaining embossing where it is mentioned that the gap at the tip can also be decreased.
In the video lessons section you expain how to increase the gap in order to get a louder tone.
Now I wonder which way should I go or have I misunderstood something.
Can you please help me demistify that?