Buzzing on hole 1 draw
Helllo Kinya and other harp friends,
A wee problem came up ane I'm hoping you may be able to help fix it.
My SP20 in A recently developed a buzzing on hole 1 draw. Loosening the cover plates seems to help fix the problem, but doesn't seem like a great fix. I've checked the alignment with the comb and it seems reasonable. This hasn't happened on any other harp of mine.
Could you offer any advice on fixi the issue?
Thanks muchly,
Mike
Hi Mike,
I'm just checking in with you regarding the noise issue you were experiencing on the lower reeds. Did you get an opportunity to try out my technique demonstrated on, "Raise the Ceiling, Stop the Noise!"?
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Actually, I never found it. I did solve the problem with the age old tech solution for anything with moving parts, clean it. I found a nice chunk of harmonicaucus on the comb. I've also started gapping the reeds, got up to hole 7 done.
I look forward to your other video though, seems interesting.
Mike
Hi Mike
"Raise the Ceiling, Stop the Noise" was posted by me on February 2nd in this Forum section. You'll see close up shots of the tool and techniques.
Will we see you in April for the 20th Anniversary Harmonica Masterclass Workshop?
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
I'm very sorry to say no. I'd love to go, I'm currently saving up for a bicycle trip to Germany. I hope to hit up Klingenthal and Trossingen to see the big German harp makers. I also hope to meet a few European harp people anod learn new things in a slightly less formal way.
If germany falls through a trip to the USA could be fun though.
mike
Hello Mike, Good to hear from you.
This is a common issue with the lower tuned harmonicas (G, LC, LD, LEb, LF), and relatively easy to remedy. I will take photos of my favorite strategies and try to post them by this weekend.
As a temporary solution: identify the point that the tip of the reed swings down and hits the inside of your cover plate. Do this for both blow and draw cover plates (remember the 1 blow reed engages with a half step draw bend). Adhere a small pee size piece of electrical tape over those two points. This will help dampen the annoying clicking/buzzing sound that metal-to-metal makes.
Another approach is to lower the gaps of both reeds (.001">.002") and back off on your air pressure.
Your Harpsmith, Kinya