Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

Hi. I have recently bought an Easttop Lucky13 Bb (in Richter tuning). continue reading...

Hello Harp Tech, many of the tools and fasteners I use on the HARPSMITH Bench come from MicroMark. Everything in their catalog is on SALE. Now is a terrific time for you to invest into your harmonica workbench.

https://www.micromark.com/

Your HARPSMITH, Kinya

Hello Everyone, I recently read (m.manson) that we should approach "life advice" not as immutable laws, but rather like trying on clothes. It applies perfectly to getting advice on Harmonicas.

Why it matters,

a particular harmonica make/model (or how-to-play technique) will fit you well and might even sound flattering. On the other hand, what worked well for one Player may be a horrible experience for You.

Pick and choose your advise to suit your personality and the occasion.  continue reading...

Hello Kinya,

I'm trying to replace a reed but I’ve not been able to drill a pilot hole properly. Once the hole is done and the screw is inserted, I can tighten it to the bottom, but then, once it’s there, it doesn’t grip, it just spins loosely. continue reading...

Hello All, 

You should never use a musical instrument that stifles your creative playing. HARPSMITH understands this and offers four HOHNER models that will feel like the harmonica disappears into your music...

Whether you are considering updating one harmonica, or your gigging set of harmonicas, now is a good time to check out: 

https://harpsmith.com/products-%26-photos continue reading...

Hello Kinya, continue reading...

Hello Kinya,

I have had quite some headaches lately by trying to octave tune my harps so I need your wisdom.

It is mostly the blow plate I need an advice for because it has the reeds facinf inwards while on the comb.

Initialy I have been using a "french tunner" to octave tune the blow reeds + a lense blowes so that I clear all the excess moisture in between tunning and playing the octave.

  continue reading...

Hello All, to my eyes the new HOHNER Golden Melody cover plates reminds me of the '48 Tucker. Check out my photos:

https://harpsmith.com/products-%26-photos

I'm just saying ...

Your HARPSMITH, Kinya

p.s. while you are visiting my gallery, look for harmonica legend, Andy Just ;o)

I just recieved a new hohner marine band deluxe and im getting a rattling noise from the 2 draw. Maybe its the reed is not aligned up with the hole. I maybe see less space on one side of the reed than the other when holding it up to the light. How can I safly rotate the reed without a reed wrench?

Hello Kinya,

First of all let me thank you for all the instructional videos in here. I coulnd't see the whole library yet, but thanks to your videos I learnt and managed how to gap, chamfer and emboss my harp! Maybe it's not perfect at all, i'm still struggling with some things and as a beginner I'm not experienced enough to understand well if there's something missing or it's just poor tecnique... But I'm know able to play fully chromatic and i can also bend up to 1 or 2 half tone overbends on hole 4 5 6 and 7! continue reading...