Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

Hi Kinya,

I was wondering if you happen to know of any customisers who can tune my harmonica to reference pitch A=432hz?

best regards,

Hello,

i'm trying to find new reeds to repair my MB's.The donor harps that i have have finished their life!

Any help please???

Thanks

George

Hi Kinya,

I've been wondering why Marine Bands converted from nails to screws often only have two screws securing the coverplates? I can see some advantage in it making it easier to assemble/disassemble the harp in that it only requires dealing with two sets of screws/nuts rather than four. Some might argue it's an aesthetic thing and that it 'looks cool'... continue reading...

hi,

i bought the "1896 marine band" in the key of A a few months ago and im playing it almost every day since then. few days ago the sound of the 5 draw has changed completly. now it sounds like the 4 draw. i wonder if theres something i can do about it myself. if so, how can i fix it?

thank you

Thanks Kinya, your videos have really helped me out.

I thought that I was going really backwards with my learning. I thought I was in for months of relearning my technique to drop some bad habits.

Nope! Turns out that my 'A' harmonica was just really in a bad shape. No wonder I couldn't play certain songs in a soft, warm, relaxed manner. It wasn't the songs at all, just the harmonica they were played on. Getting 3 draw to sound at all required something akin to sucking honey through a straw. And I had nobody who could tell me that it wasn't normal. continue reading...

Hi Kinya,

I'm working on "Blowin' The Blues" with all of its high octave blow bends.  When I practice the blow bend licks, I find that the draws, especially draw 8, stick on me.  They open if I draw very hard on the harp.

Do you think I need to adjust my harp, such as gap, or is it my technique that needs adjustment.

I'm relatively new to blow bends.

Thanks,

-Steve

Hello!!

i have a lot of Marine band deluxe and classic with reeds that need replace.I want to ask if there is some cheap harps (new) out there with same dimension reeds that i can use for parts.I have tried fron bluesharp but they are different size.Same with lee oscar's.

Thanks

George

Hi, Kinya:

I got a new Suzuki Manji, key of G, that is giving me some trouble on the 2 and 3 hole bends. On these holes, the unbent notes (both draw and blow) sound without effort. When I bend them down, it takes more effort than it should. There is also the sensation of air escaping from the harmonica.

I have been playing long enough to know that this is not how it should feel. Is this what people call a "leaky" harp? What does a harptech do about leaky harps?

I have a new seydel in the key of A.  I am having trouble with the two blow reed.  It is hard to describe but it's hard to blow on that reed.  I used a tuner and its in pitch.  I have to blow a lot harder than I should to make it sound. I took it apart and checked the gap On both sides and it appears to be equal.  

Any thoughts?

Hello Harp Techs,

In previous videos and blogs, I have commented that setting the Zero Point--the gap located at the rivet end of the reed--is just as important as setting the proper gap on the free end of the reed. continue reading...