Broken reed?
Hi
I have a problem with my A Marine Band crossover. I was finding that when drawing through the lower holes there was a bit of resistance to smooth air flow. I opened it up and removed some gunk from the reed plate. I then found that I couldn't play through the 2 draw hole. When I plinked the reed it didn't have the "springy vibration" any more. It was dead. I could see that was still a gap when I held it up to the light. It was sounding OK before it was just that it seemed to require more effort than I would expect. I was quite gentle with my cleaning efforts. So it would seem obvious that the reed is broken. Is there anything else that could cause the problem?.
I haven't found anywhere in Australia that sells reeds. I have 1 or 2 old Marine band so I will see if I could retrieve a suitable reed from one of these. I seem to remember that some time in the past I became aware of a table which showed which reeds from other keyed harmonicas that could be used. Do you know of this table and where it can be found?
I have some small tap and dies and drills amongst my model railway tools, but they are metric. If I can approximate the sizes you mention in one of your forum replies i.e. #55 and 0-80 i would expect these would suitable for 1.4mm screws.
Best wishes
Check out our friend Andy Just lay down his kick-butt solo with Australia's awesome Simon-Kinny Lewis
https://harpsmith.com/media (scroll down six tracks)
Your HARPSMITH, Kinya
Thanks Kinya
After sending my query I did some "fine tuning" and I was able get the reed to be more central and I got the "plinking vibration' to reurn. Altough not evident when I first had a look, I did notice that when pushing down on the reed it did get stuck. I was able to get it unstuck by manipulating the reed with a reed wrench. At that point i.e. it wasn't catching and when plinking it sounded like other reeds. However, although I could get some sound it still required a lot of effort and it sounded terrible. I will do the things you have suggested perhaps with more precision this time
I found that I had a broken A key Hohner Marine Band crossover. It had a bad 5 draw reed which reed easily broke off. Any way the 2 draw reed was ok which I have removed with a deriveting tool and it is ready to go. So if your suggestions don't work I have the replacement at hand. I will just have to look up your method of replacing rivet with screw.
Best wishes
Graham
Hello Graham, check out my YouTube video, "How to Replace Spot Welded Harmonica Reeds"
https://youtu.be/7FWEvUhLU2U?si=TT16P7oKTscp0e_u
I realize you are working on HOHNER reeds with standard rivets, but there are useful tips & techniques.
Also on this website:
https://www.bluesharmonica.com/harpsmith_bench (9A ~ 9F)
Your HARPSMITH, Kinya
Hello Mate, this is why you need to move here to the States, or I move to the Down Under ;o)
[Q1] Is there anything else that could cause the problem?
[A1.1] Yes, it sounds to me your reed was accidentally pushed "off-axis" and is hitting the upper part of the reed plate slot. To verfiy this, place your reed plate onto a light box or the screen of your mobile device, and wear good magnification. On my bench my eyewear enlarges my harmonica parts six times (x6). Then see if the reed is off-centered.
[A1.2] If so, use a Reed Wrench on the rivet pad to nudge the reed back to center within the reed slot. If you do not have a reed wrench, use a .001" ~ .002" shim stock (feeler guage), inserted into the side gap--and like a crow bar--leverage the reed to center.
[A1.3] If the reed is centered and not hitting any part of the reed plate slot, then with your shim, slide it under the free end of the reed, lift about 1/8" 3mm--then quickly release. Repeat this Plinking process at least 12 times. If the reed is damaged, with each plink the reed will drop lower into the slot, then fracture (about 1/16" 2mm) from the rivet pad. Replace this faulty Reed {E} with your donor reed. This exact {E} reed can also be found on your your #2 BLOW of your C HOHNER harmonica. This includes all Marine Band models, 1896, Crossover, and Thunderbird. Also found in the Progressive models, including: Special 20, Rocket, Amp and Golden Melody.
[Q2] I haven't found anywhere in Australia that sells reeds. I have 1 or 2 old Marine band so I will see if I could retrieve a suitable reed from one of these. I seem to remember that some time in the past I became aware of a table which showed which reeds from other keyed harmonicas that could be used. Do you know of this table and where it can be found?
[A2] This chart can be found on my website:
https://harpsmith.com/benchcraft
Scroll down to Richard Sleigh's HOHNER Reed Locator. Help yourself
[Q3] I have some small tap and dies and drills amongst my model railway tools, but they are metric. If I can approximate the sizes you mention in one of your forum replies i.e. #55 and 0-80 i would expect these would suitable for 1.4mm screws.
[A3] M1.4 fasteners (machine screws) require a #56 (1mm) PILOT drill bit and M1.4 x .30 Plug 3 Flute TAP. I have found the hole left behind by the rivet is a near perfect match for the M1.4 x .30 TAP. Yeah--some good news!
Keep us posted of your findings.
Your HARPSMITH, Kinya