Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

Well David did warn us not to destroy our harps when practicing the 4/5 draw bend in Garys Blues. Well I have just done that with my new Special 20, five days old. I use SP 20 for practice and keep the Manji M20 as playing harps. So off to the music shop to replace my SP20 G harp. Happened to bump into the Hohner rep who was not sypathetic at all. I was able to order a new set of plates delivered from Germany cheaper than what he offered in Australia. Like the A that I blew (5) the reed had very clear makings from factory tuning, almost identical. Who said hand/manual tuning was best. continue reading...

First released in 1992, the Hohner CX12 chromatic harmonica won numerous engineering design awards in Germany and quickly became the “workingman’s” chromatic harmonica. The innovative quick release torsion spring and tool-less slider assembly became an important and useful feature for harmonica players requiring quick maintenance access. The charcoal black “Darth Vader” model, available in numerous keys (plus Tenor C), and shown here--the Gold version, with chrome plated reed plates (only available in C): continue reading...

What if any type of metal polish paste would one recommend to buff out and polish up some cover plates?  I just acquired a harp that has some scratches on the cover plates and would love to see if I can polish them out.

Hey Kinya,

I've been trying to retune a harmonica from 12TET to 19limit JI. I've got a tuning app (instuner) for iOS and it lets me create my own temperaments, which I've done. continue reading...

Hi Kenya, The reed on my 1896 marine band harp stopped on me. I dismantled and cleaned it; but the reed still didn't free up, so I had to fairly forcfully push it to get it moving again. I thought this was the end of the problem. It was playing well for a couple of days. Then it decided to do it to me again. I resolved this issue by getting a hair clip and pushed the reed free again. However I dont want this problem occuring again. What do you think is wrong, and what can I do about it?

Hi Kinya !!!!

A friend picked up an old Hohner Echo for me at an antique sale. 

Although it's a bit rough with obvious dirt and rust on the cover plates which are slightly up on both ends I find it very intriguing and will apply some of my learned harp tech skills to it. 

My question is , what do I have?

key of G Echo Hohner, with a half moon type shape at the whole side.

there are four embossed enscriptions. 

Grand Prix Geneva 1927

Grand Prix Philad. 1926

Grand Prix Paris 1937

Grand Prix Chicago (date worn off) continue reading...

Hello ,I recently got a Hohner Blues Harp in the key of D and have been practicing my bends

The issue which arises is i am not sure if its my lack in technique or a harp issue which needs some setting up 

but whenever i bend the 6 hole draw ,the bend fully bends and i can see on the tuner that it hits the bend note 

but along with it also comes this screeching sound ,very sharp sound along with the bent note, espcially when i hold bent note 

Would appriciate any guidance please 

Thanks 

Hi, 

  I'm having problems when I re-assemble my thunderbird after cleaning/gapping.  The 2 blow reed gets stuck.  Have you seen this before?  I've never has this problem with my Crossovers.  Anything different about lining up the comb and reedplates I should know about.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Marc 

Hello Kinya,

I just received a toolkit from RockinRon's website.  I have a Hohner Crossover Key of A and the 10 hole draw is not playing unless I inhale very hard.  

Is this a gapping issue?  Can you give me some recommendations on what I might do to improve this?

Thanks

Brett

Hi Kinya, i hope you're well and feeling good.

Mate, i just wanted to get the oil from you on some stories im seeing floating about on the web and of course they make their way through the social media.

this goes back to the labelling of the sp20 as 'progressive' and some problems with setup which occurred at the same time.  a lot of people began telling stories that the sp20 was not the same harp it previously was, and gradually more and more folk began to attribute this to 'outsourcing to china'.

now i see JP Allen is lending credence to this story. continue reading...