Crossover
I rinsed my crossover under the tab to get the gunk out, and now the comb seems swollen. Steve Baker had told me he rinsed his crossovers also underneath the tab and that the bamboo comb wouldn't swell. What did I do wrong? Or was Steve just putting me on?
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I've also used the rinse under tap water several times always, gental water. I think this works better if you have large pan of water to swoosh the harp in, displaceing the water in short movements. Then dry the harp... remove the water by tapping into a towel, soft to hard. When enough is removed draw softly - blow, it should be playable farliy quickly. Tap again then put it somwhere to dry - out. It is a good pratice to allow your harps the oppertunity to dry - out, insted of play- pratice & put away. I really like the bamboo. Hope this helps.
Hey Stink Hippie,
Have you resolved your bamboo comb cleaning/swelling issues? If not, try this:
Almost without exception, I blow out excess moisture using, either a low air volume air brush compressor (with a trigger nozzle) or an electric blower blower, such as "DataVac" (#1140517 available at www.Cyberguys.com). Note: the air volume on this contraption is rather intense, so I recommend plugging it into a lamp dimmer (rheostat) extension cord to regulate the air volume. Good Luck. Let me know how it goes for you.
~Kinya
Even though the claim is that the bamboo is waterproof I would think that running water through your harmonica is not a good practice. specially with natural material. Do not set the harp in the sun or oven to dry the comb out. Let it release the moisture naturally. However you used the word "seems swollen". Do the tines of the comb protrude past the reedplates? That would be your indication the the comb is swollen.