Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

Hello Harp Techs, remember that Easttop brass chromatic harmonica that I reviewed a few weeks ago? Well, I got careless by placing this heavy harmonica on my armchair, then with my elbow, accidently knocked it off onto the hardwood floor, landing on the BUTTON!

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Hello Harp Techs

Typical Richter tuned diatonic harmonicas have twelve (12) bendable notes [8 draw and 4 blow]. continue reading...

Hello Harp Techs,

I have been promoting the importance of magnification to Harp Techs for numerous years. The precision work we do with reeds is difficult to see with the naked eye--sort of like trying to “spot a needle in a haystack”. It can be fatiguing and extremely frustrating to try to find the cause of a clicking or stuck reed.

Magnifying the view of your work will help, for example, locate that nasty burr hidden inside the reed plate slot. continue reading...

Hi Kinya,

 Can you recommend a specific ultrasonic cleaner?

Thanks

Hello Harp Techs,

There are numerous skills that must be mastered, then applied to the art of customizing a diatonic harmonica.

In particular, is a technique developed by former Hohner USA Technician, Rick Epping. As an accordion technician, he had discovered that by decreasing the air gaps surrounding the reed, he could reduce air loss, increase compression, and ultimately improve the playability of the accordion. continue reading...

Hello Harp Techs,

A mantra drummed into my head throughout my childhood, “Be true to your teeth and they won’t be false to you”.

The same could be said about your harmonica mouthpiece. Preventing debris from being sucked into reeds could help mitigate reeds from “locking up”. An event that occurs when particles lodges itself in between the reed and reed plate slot. continue reading...

I know this is not really a harp tech question, but I have to ask you. I am learning from your harp tech videos the basic maintanance of harmonica. I got interested and saw your series on tuning and gapping as well. But while learning gapping, I heard the little song you play in its introduction video. I loved it. Then I heard it again in the introduction of reed replacement series! Now I have to ask, what are you playing? And what key of harmonica is it? It sounds very catchy. I'd love to play it!

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Hello Harp Techs

Friend, and internationally recognized harmonica player and fabricator, Brendon Powers strongly endorsed the Chinese made Easttop T12-48 brass comb chromatic harmonica on his web site. He gave high marks for craftsmanship, playability and a tone unique to brass comb harmonicas--all at an affordable price! I was intrigued.

I recently received my Easttop T12-48 chromatic harmonica. It is an excellent value. continue reading...

Hello Kinya,

I have a new hohner crossover in the key of G(out of the box).  I am working an a solo study that has a fast passage on the low end and requires a lot of bending.  I was wondering if I make the gaps on the lower end a little tighter woud that make the response time faster and less effort to acheive the bends? if so what amount of gap should I use?  

Thank you 

Kinya,

Does such thing exist?

I am thinking:

Symptom  |  Cause  |  Resolution

Reed is late to respond -> Gap is too big -> Decrease the gap

Reed stalls -> Gap is too small -> Increase the gap

Bending is too hard -> Gap mismatch between blow and draw reeds (?) -> Balance the gap (?)

Tone is flat more than half-step -> Reed is cracked -> Replace the reed

Metallic rattle -> Reed is off-centre, or touching the cover -> Center the reed or bend the cover continue reading...