Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

 I have a chromatic that has a severe bend in 1 of the wind savers..I can not fix it.. Is the wind saver replaceable? or is the fix a new reed plate?

thank you..k

Hi

Dear Kinya  I need a small light box sitting on my desk for reed adjustment.

Can you kindly send me a link to a practical affordable light box in Amazon?  :)

Thanks a bunch

Hello Kinya,

On the web I’ve found information on how to  setup the harmonica for overblows, very little on how to do it for overdraws; just that the setup is similar. So on a new harmonica I gapped it a bit, managed som OD’s, added curvature, arching - and then it was not possible anymore? Flattened the reed back again, and it worked again! So now I don’t do that but compared to overblows the draws is much more of a struggle, overblows much easier. I’m experimenting with embossing and nail polish to make it more air tight. continue reading...

Hello Kinya,

I had some issues for a long time with one of my harps (Crossover) from the beginning. I could make no sense of what was going on.

Finally I went back to the notes I had taken looking at your videos, and there it was written : "if the 2 draw bend is difficult, reduce the 2 blow gap", I applied that to my 3 draw bend problem and kaboum : good clear sound.

So thanks for theses videos and helping me find a solution to my issues.

Bod

Hi, thanks for the vis about custom, they were great.

my question is. If I do everything of the vid, like gap, and etc, Is that enough for the over/blows/draws?

In an harmonica I adjust the gap some time ago I canto do them on the 4,5 6, 7 holes, but not in the rest. Do you think it will be enough to get them.

I case that is no t enough, what else should I do?

Thanks alot for your time. :)

Any picture on how to set up cleartune tuner for harmonica?

Specially for marine band harmonica that has comporomised tunning what temperament should I choose?

Kinya,

When I was first starting at BluesHarmonica.com I favored very responsive harps that made it easier to learn to bend.  But now that I've been at it for a while I'm nore focused on trying to play the 2 and 3 draw bends accurately.  Using the Harp Ninja app I can see that some of my most repsonsive harps are the most difficult to play consistently in tune. Is this me, the harp or both?

Thanks,

Dan

I got a harp the other day with a strange tuning. It's stamped E and Moll on the coverplate and reed plates. As near as I can figure out it is an E harmonic minor. G#s tuned to G. C#s tuned to C. Am I close on this. The tuning is too close to being on pitch to be random. Also it is in tune with itself. If that makes sense. "Moll" must be a German Key notation.

I'm a sucker for strange stuff.

thanks......Mike

It would play well at the Mos Eisley Cantina. ;)

From a Revlon Stainless Steel Nail Groomer, to a reed adjustment tool.

Hello Harp Techs, recently MX gave us all--on this Forum, an excellent description of reed metallurgy. This prompted me to reprint Rick's paper. Enjoy!

Rick Epping retired from Hohner USA in 2005, but his research and body of work continues to serve the harmonica community. Reprinted here is Rick Epping's paper on "REED LONGEVITY; from ELASTIC to PLASTIC": continue reading...