Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

Hi Kinya.

I killed a 5 draw reed and since I am not yet ready to tackle changing a single reed I bought replacement reed plates.  Once I changed them, the harp seems "airry" now.

It is a Crossover A harp.

Any thoughts, is there something else that I should do besides just replacing the reed plate.  I know there is wiggle room with them and I thought I lined it up the same as the other harps but maybe I still didn't do a great job.

Thanks for any insight you can provide.

J.D.

Kinya,

Can you tell me a good source for official Hohner-made reedplates?  I need to find a blow reedplate for a B-Flat Crossover.  I did a Google search and found a place called CShop under wwww.hohnershop.com, but I don't know how legit they are.

Do you have anyone to recommend?

Hello Harp Techs

Mastering the essential skill of embossing (aka: sizing, burnishing) reed plate slots is a worthy endeavor for every serious Harp Tech. I, nor will you ever tire of the thrill of playing a harmonica that was successfully embossed. continue reading...

in my LOA 4 submission, the strut, David noticed my D harp had a flat 4 draw. Which I didn't realize and I was so surprised that he caught it. Professionalism at its best. So after watching your lessons on tuning I have attempted to tune that flat reed and to my surprise I successfully did it. So again thanks Kenya for all the efforts you put into your lessons and teaching in an easy to duplicate way for success. I don't have any of the correct tools you describe and mostly made due with a pocket knife and some jewellers screw drivers and my IPhone. continue reading...

Kinya!  How are you?  It's been a while since I posted here, and I have a question. continue reading...

Here is how it sounds:

http://picosong.com/9XDg/

I uploaded only pictures of the draw reeds, If you need the blow reeds too tell me... I especially get the metally sound when I do articulation, fast riffs or chords where it sounds horrible. thanks in advance. continue reading...

Just getting started looking at your videos to upgrade my skills. In my work I tend to shape all the reeds first to get them to enter their slots the way I prefer. I then gap all the reeds. My final step is tuning each reed. I'm not sure about the benefit v time of embossing so I generally forego that. continue reading...

Hi Kinya, Dave said you could be of help here :)

ill copy-paste what I wrote in the other forum section:

1) I'm learning "The Strut" at this moment, and I have a difficulty with the 3/4 dip with continue reading...

Hello Harp Techs,

Now available from Hohner is the remarkable Rocket diatonic harmonica--melding the air tightness and comfort of the Special 20, with the acoustic voicing of the Marine Band harmonicas.

Before the Hohner Rocket, Harp Techs would have to modify the SP20 harmonica by: continue reading...

Hellllloooooo:

I've just started my learning experience.  First thing I bought two harps: C & A.  I have just a few questions.

1.  Is there anything I need to do to the brand new harps.  I heard something about bending the reeds, is this a good idea or something I should forget? continue reading...