Sticking blow notes.
Hi all,
I have a Hohner CX12 and am slowly going through David's chromatic material. I have noted that the 3 and 5 hole blow notes are starting to stick. Generally I can free them with a bit more blow force. Is this a regular problem that I will get used to fixing whilst playing or is there an easy improvement? Am trying not to do too much work on wind savers etc.
Thanks,
Graham
Thanks Winslow. These things are a major pain IMO, when doing the cleaning its impossible to see if it works.
The only way toknow whether the cleaning works is to play the note and see if it sticks. It's rare to actually be able to see gunk on the cleaning strip.
Graham:
There's a world of great information on how to keep chromatics healthy right here in the Forum, if you start scrolling through the years. Or put some key words in your favorite search item about chromatic issues, and include the word "bluesharmonca" in the search bar.
Everyone has different approaches to avoiding windsaver issues. (E.g., don't put your chromatic in an ultrasound cleaner!) For myself, my usual routine includes a heating pad (on lowest setting) under a small towel on a small table in my practice area. I use that to warm my chromatics before playing them. After playing, I gently tap them on a towel on my thigh to dislodge any big drops of spit and then put them back on the heating pad. It may be myth (Winslow certainly knows more than anyone about this), but I think maybe being back on the pad speeds up the evaportation process.
I have never had sticky windsaver issues, save with one chromatic: A Chrometta that I kept in the glove compartment of my car. So it never really got aired out.
If I play chromatic at a jam or other performance, I try to warm it at the venue, in my hands, or inside my shirt, and I pull it out of its case as soon as I get home, warm it, and let it air out for a while.
One smart move you've made: The CX-12. Easy slide maintenance. The topic of dealing with sticky slides is a whole 'nuther Great American Novel.
And re tapping chromatic or diatonic harps on your pants to dislodge spit: Check out David's interview of Mark Ford, who has good advice on always carrying a towel, and preserving your clean pants!
Thanks. As a matter of course, I always take the slide out after playing and often the comb out of the shell too.
Graham: Yep, another great advantage of the CX12.
The valves (plastic strips) that release the blow reeds are mounted on the outside of the reedplates. If they get sticky, they can prevent the reed from souning by preventing air from passing through the blow slot. To solve this problem, you can clean them.
Before you start, figure out whether the problem notes are on the top or bottom of the reedplate. with the slide in its default out position (i.e., not pressed in), look into the hole(s) where the problem notes are.
Remove the reed block from the shell. (Remove the slide, then unlock the sealing bar on the back of the harmonica, and remove the reed block.)
Starting with the largest valve, count over to the hole number where the problem note occurs, and clean the valve.
HOW TO CLEAN A VALVE