tuning problems
Hello Kinya I have been messing around with tuning some of my older harmonicas. And I use a dremel 8220 which might be a bit of over kill. This time in tuning I ran into something that has not happened before. I was re-tuning a MS Big River Harp. The tuning came out fine. But the reeds on holes 1,2, and 3 on the blow plate. Fell back into the slot after tuning them. Could it be that on low power on my dremel that the vibrations just from one tap. Forced the reed back into the slot. Or could it mean that it is a weak/bad reed. But after raising the reeds back up they seem fine.
I have a CX-12 and it seems some notes are really slipping out of tune. Now the draw 6 F is way low (20 cents lower than F blow with slide in). I could tune it myself but the problem is that when I take the comb out of the plastic case the pitch goes up, than I put it back in, it goes down again. It doesn't do that with other notes. Any ideas as to why that happens.
Hi Morris, good to hear from you.
For most chromatic harmonicas:
- Calibrate your chromatic tuner to 442Hz
- Remove top and bottom reed plates from comb
- Set your "reference tones" by tuning reeds: C5 (Hole 5+), D5 (Hole 5), E5 (Hole 6+), F5 (Hole 6), G5 (Hole 7+), A5 (Hole 7), B5 (Hole 8), to Equal Temperament @ 0 cents. Don't forget to "plink" a few times (settle) your reeds after tuning, then re-check. This painful process will require reassembly/disassembly of the reed plates.
- Re-attach the cover plates
- Confirm your set of reference reeds against a tone engine. This could be any device that will enable you to calibrate @ 442Hz and emit a pitch (note). I use my Wittner Metronome MT-60
- One at a time, play each of the (7) reeds--that you had tuned--against the tone engine. Note which reeds "beat" (occilate), if any. This will indicate the tuning will be OFF zero by +/- cents. We know the tone engine is accurate, so either your tuning technique requires more practice, or your embouchure requires more practice ;o)
- Once your tuning agrees with your tone engine, then you can (a) tune the lower and higher octaves by wide mouth octaves or (b) set your tone engine to the correct octave, then tune the remaining reeds to match.
- Be warned, tuning chromatics will upset the wind savers! So be prepared to remove/replace a few windsavers. I recommend the Seydel wind savers (P.T. Gazell co-developed) and a pinhead size spot of Scotch brand Super Glue.
Don't be in a hurry ... if you get frustrated--STOP and take a break. Please report back to us!
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Hello JF, I agree with you regarding the Dremel--a fine rotary tool, but a little beasty for reed tuning.
Did you thoroughly "plink" the reeds after servicing them? If the reeds dropped:
Your Harpsmith, Kinya