Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

How do I clean the harmonica 

Hello Kinya,

So I bought a seydel lightning (key of A) and I've been anxiously waiting for it but apparently canada post will take another 2 weeks to deliver :|

I couldn't wait that long to have a new toy so I bought a Manji in the key of A from a local store haha

This is part of my try them all plan ( gonna compare apples with apples, key of A is my home base at this point) continue reading...

Hello Harp Techs.  Chromatic harmonica players know that the instrument’s windsavers (a.k.a. one-way check valves) are all things good--allowing us to play angelic notes that will make the sun shine brighter and people smile. On the other hand, when the windsaver fails, the note you were playing will come to an embarrassing stop. Naturally, dark clouds will appear, and people will start crying. continue reading...

• The video said a chart for each key...I am assuming that if I have a chart for Crossover in a particular key I could use it as a starting point for point another brand of harmonica but I need create one for that harmonica.  I am guessing that the alloys used in manufacturing a reed varies from brand to brand and that could change the gap.

Hello Harp Techs, I decided to download and bench test the “Tuner-Pitched” chromatic tuner for iOS platform (version 3.2.0). For the Google Android platform, you would download the Pitched Tuner. Developed by Jo and Andy at Stonekick. The free version has ads, and the $1.99 version is ad-free (worth it for me) continue reading...

Hello Harp Techs, it occurred to me that I could improve the efficiency of the air flow (read: playability) by channeling more air directly under the free end of the reed to give it more “lift”. Yes, it worked. These are the modifications I made:

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Hello Harp Techs, continue reading...

Hello Kinya,

So I bought a marineband 364 in low D (what a cool harp) and I plan on modifying it eventually but for now I play it as is (ouch). So I've noticed I abosolutely cant bend 1 and 2 draw ( can get variation on pitch but not a new note). I can get all of the 3 draw bends and up. So I've been looking around about bending on low keys and some people say it can't be done whilst others say it can but depending on the key (like forget LLF but maybe a LF). So realistically speaking, a well tuned/customized harp, what should I expect bending wise for low keys ?

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Howdy!

I got a marine band A natural minor harp as a gift. I'm thinking of trying to retune it to A major by tuning up the minor 3rd and 7th. Do you think this is doable? Also, did the "Marine band 101" series ever get created? I can't seem to find it. Thanks

Hello Harp Techs, our friend and mad scientist, Brendan Power developed and now makes available at https://www.brendan-power.com/GasketValves.php his new Gasket-Valve product for diatonic harmonicas. 

For those readers not familiar with the feature/benefit of Gaskets and Valves, I will list a couple: continue reading...