Squeal
Hi Kinya...I have a Special 20 harmonica in Bb. When I bend the three draw, I get a high-pitched squeal, almost all the time. What do you think is causing this and how do you think I can remedy it.
Thanks in advance for you input.
Homer.
Hi Kinya!
The three draw starts to squeal during the whole step bend, A, and beyond.
Homer.
Hello Homer
Are you comfortable with disassembling your harmonica, and attaching to this forum, close up photos of both your 3 blow and draw reeds? I would like to see the offset (gap) and profile (side view) of these two reeds.
Your Harpsmith,
Kinya
Hi Kinya...I can disassemble the harmonica and I will try to insert pictures. Stand by!
Homer.
Excellent. Remember, I need to see clear photos of the offset (gap) and side profiles of both the blow and draw reeds. Most digital cameras have a "macro" setting for close up shots. If you have an iPhone, there are attachment macro lens that will allow you to take close up shots. http://www.cyberguys.com/product-details/?productid=72879&rH=1834
Your Harpsmith
Kinya
Hi Kinya...Okay, I have taken some pictures using a Canon 35 mm camera with a 18-35 mm lens. It seems the file sizes are too large for me to upload. Can I email them to you, or is there a way for me to insert them into the forum?
Homer.
Hi Homer
- Most PC and Apple computers have products that will allow you to EDIT "resize" the images.
- If you need to send photos to the forum one at a time, that might work.
- I know it is a pain now, but it will be worth it!
- Otherwise email to: schooloftheblues@sbcglobal.net
Your Harpsmith
Kinya
Hi Kinya...Looks like I had some luck. Here are the two reed plates, before I did anything. I have a reed wrench, so I wiggled both the blow and the draw reeds a little bit and there seems to have been a large improvement. Not sure what I did, but, the squeal has been largely minimized.
Homer.
Perfect photos Homer!
- Verify that you had sucessfully centered the reed inside the reed plate slot(s) with your wrench
- Hold up each reed plate up to the light, the sliver of light surrounding both sides of each reed should be even
- Can you "plink" the reed and have it resonate, without clicking against the walls of the reed plates?
- If not, repeat the process until the reed resonates properly.
- Your next move is to take care of your offsets (gapping). The photos revealed that your blow and draw reeds #1, #2, #3 are too high for good bending. Better to match the gap shown on reeds #4
- TRY THIS: With your thumb, carefully press down on the rivet end of reed #3 draw (about first 1/4" from the rivet) and make the tip of the reed drop into the reed plate slot ... release ... then repeatedly plink the reed. Your goal is to match the gap on reed #4
- The plinking process is extremely important to "settle" the reeds. This is because reeds are made of spring metal with memory. When gapping your reeds, your are esentially "erasing" the original offset and replacing with a new offset.
- Repeat this technique for all six reeds
- Reassemble, play, then let us all know how it went ;o)
Your Harpsmith,
Kinya
Hello Homer, Good to hear from you.
Relative to a C harmonica, there lives three bends on the 3 draw:
Which note squeals?
Your Harpsmith, Kinya