Hello and Manji-related bitching
Hello all, I'm a beginner who just today got a Special 20 in C and a Manji in A after more than a month of wating. I've been using a Hohner Silverstar and a Swan 10 hole in the meantime, both in C. Using the Special 20 after using the other two is like night and day. I always had trouble with attacking the 2 draw fast on the Swan and the Silverstar, but with the Special 20 it responds instantaneously and gave me such a great feeling. Unfortunately the leaky 2 and 3 hole on the Manji sucked all the happiness away. It takes an absolutely enormous amount of air to get the two of them to respond, and I am certain that it isn't because of the new key that I am feeling this. I even took apart the reedplates and checked the comb, and it is not a pretty sight. Anyone have any quick fix methods for sealing (like Vaseline)? I really want to avoid sanding the comb if possible.
Cheers
Hi Winslow, thanks for your response and sorry about the lack of detail. The comb is bowed and the reedplates are also not flat. When I hold up the tines against a flat block to a light, I can see the light shining through on holes 2 and 3. The trobule for me is that I'm in a different country to the one where the Manji was bought, so I can forget about the authorized service center. The gaps don't seem to be too large compared to the 1 hole reeds, but it is something that I am checking also.
It's normal for reedplates to be bowed so that the ends curve outward. This allows pressure to be applied in the middle when the ends are pressed down. But if they're bowed the other way, that defeats the purpose. That said, you can re-bend them by carefully flexing with your hands.
You may be able to sand the comb flat. You'll need a hard, flat surface, such as a piece of glass or marble, and some sandpaper somewhere in the 200-to-400 grit range.
The first thing to do is to reveal flaws without making any changes. to do this, paint the comb surface with a bright colored marker. Let this dry, then turn the sandpaper over so that the non-grit backside is facing up. Press the comb flat against it and rub it around on the paper.
Examine the comb and you'll see the high spots will be where the ink has rubbed away, and the low spots will show up where the ink remains.
Now use the sandpaper to flatten the comb, checking for high spots and low spots. It's OK to have low spots where they won't cause leakage.
Sand in a pattern that won't take more material from one part of the comb. Use a swirl of figure-8 pattern, and vary the leading edge - the part that gets bitten first when you move the comb on the paper.
You don't give any details on what's wrong with the comb. If it's not flat or has gashes or cracks or other defects that cause leaks, and you bought it from an authorized dealer, you could ask for warranty repair or replacement.
Sometimes the reeds in those holes are gapped high. What do the gaps at the tips of those reeds look like comared to their neighbors?