Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

Kinya,

I have been trying to dig deeper my thought for two hours (my brain is giving off smoke ;-)).
I saw again the user guide of the Strobosoft tuner by Peterson. If I understand well, the calibration is relating to the correction of the input and it has nothing to do with the fact that I set the concert A for 442,0 Hz. In Strobosoft we don't have the possibility to refer to a specific note but to a specific frequency instead. continue reading...

I recently returned from Japan, and was reminded about the 4 "S". These are excellent guidelines for ensuring that high quality will permeate everything you build. I recommend printing this out and hanging it above your workbench:

SEITON (translation: Arrange Properly)
"A place for everything and everything in it's place"
* Put things in the right order (tidy, ready for use, organize according to frequency of usage).
* Store all materials and information in an orderly fashion at all times.
* Distinguish between those things that are needed and not needed. continue reading...

Hi, Kinya.

I'm really enjoying your videos on tuning and gapping. You make things very clear, leaving only my lack of patience and fine motor control between me and the perfect harp!

I do notice one problem in the videos, though. When you speak of the feeler gauge sizes, you call the .002 size "Two hundred thousandths." But .002 is actually "Two thousandths"
Two "hundred-thousandths" would be .00002.
Two hundred "thousandths" would be .2 (same as two "tenths").

Now I have a headache.

Kinya...Greetings! While browsing through a thrift store i came upon a Vintage 16 hole Hohner 64 Chromonica!!! It seems to be in perfect working order and the exterior is in pristine shape also; a little wear on the cover plates, but, all in all, a nice find!!! $12.53 out the door...Smile included!!!!

So, my question is: How do I go about cleaning the instrument? I have never taken apart my Chromatic and I thought it would be a good idea to ask before I ventured down that road. Being a "Lost and Found" piece, I want to remove any of the previous Owner/(Owners) DNA before playing..... continue reading...

OK!, I've watch the videos several times and here are my questions about this one technique.

When you are doing the scooping my understanding is that you are trying to make wider the tip on the side of the reed that air is entering like a funnel? Does that sound right? (I understand the scooping is an angle leaving the parameter as tight as possible)

Then the next question would be which side do you scoop? would it be different on a draw plate as to a blow plate? continue reading...

Hi Kinya

Since subscribing to blues harmonica I have purchased two Hohner MB Crossover harmonicas one G and one A. I already had Lee Oskar harmonicas. continue reading...

hello Kinya,
In the referred study, you first explained how to set the reed gap followed by the gap near the rivet end and then how to check and correct how the reed enters the slot...... I was wondering... If I were to try reed gapping should the sequence be as follows?
1. Set the Clearance at the Rivet End
2. Set the reed gap
3. Adjust How Reeds Enter the Slot

Is that how I should go about it?

Regards,
LearningTheHarp

The shellac on one of my Marine Bands has worn off the comb. This is a comb I had sanded and sealed with butcher block oil/wax stuff a year or so ago. It is sanded smooth, but still feels rough after a few minutes of playing due to porous wood.

If I apply Bulls Eye shellac on top of it, will it stick? This harp is set up perfect except for the comb and I don't want to ruin it.

What do you think?

Kinya...Greetings! I have 2, 12 hole Chromatic, both Model 270...Are these models problematic with the button getting stuck (froze up)? I have experienced this problem with both of these instruments. Is there a remedy for this problem? thanks, Tommy Hutch

Ok! I give, I have looked and looked but no matter what I type in I get nothing that looks like what you had. The best I find is for Gunsmithing and they are every shape except flat (round,triangle,square) or too large meant for sharping knifes.
Why no link?

HELP!!!!!