Gapping for overblow and bending and something else
Hello Kinya,
First of all let me thank you for all the instructional videos in here. I coulnd't see the whole library yet, but thanks to your videos I learnt and managed how to gap, chamfer and emboss my harp! Maybe it's not perfect at all, i'm still struggling with some things and as a beginner I'm not experienced enough to understand well if there's something missing or it's just poor tecnique... But I'm know able to play fully chromatic and i can also bend up to 1 or 2 half tone overbends on hole 4 5 6 and 7!
My post may sound weird and I've some question , but maybe i should put It in a context. I started studying harmonica early this year but I've been playing and gigging around with guitar for half of my life. So even though I'm yet on level 3 on this program I'm working a lot on making this instrument fully chromatic. Both working on bends, overbends with TB and Lip pursing and tinkering the instrument. So here some question:
1) When you set up and instrument Is there any relationship between good setup for bending and good setup for overblow? I mean, blow hole 2 and 3 should be able to be overblowable (Is It a word?) to be bendable effortlessly? What about draw reed? Should the tolerance be very low as per the blow reed? Do you also suggest to chamfer and emboss It? I don't think you talk about It specifically (or surely I missed it). Once I've set up my C harmonica i think my 3 draw Is too airy, but I don't know if it's me or of Blow or draw reed! If I try to start bent with very low volume there Is a lot of air leakage and the Reed(a) do not play till I start pushing. It doesn't happen with hole 1 and 2
2) are lower reed harder to set up and are higher easier? I started out tinkering with an E harp which ended up being to tight, and eventually refined and now well playable BUT I cannot manage on how to set up Blow 4 on my A Crossover. I always ear a big "krkrkrkkkk" (which Is the Reed not being choked) when I overblow and If I try to close the gap more It doesn't play at all.
3) Is brass susceptible to temperature? 1 week ago, 1 or 2 days after the surgery, a reed started flikering and overall respinse of the harmonica changed drastically. It was a very hot day at 12 o clock in my car, 35/38° circa, while usually i play at home with 20/25°
4) what's, your opinion on kongsheng Bender harps/ Amazing 20/ ting harp? I know these aren't the top series, but i found a few for very very low price and I can use these to improve tech skills
Thank you PS: i can provied photo or video in a few days. Feeler gauge soon on my bench
Q1) When you set up and instrument is there any relationship between good setup for bending and good setup for overblow?
(A1) It is one of the same--first and foremost, I always set up a harmonica to be an amazing bending machine
(Q2) are lower reed harder to set up and are higher easier?
(A2) in principal--Yes. The lower octave reeds have more mass to deal with. Again it is the same for setting up any terrific playing harmonica
(Q3) Is brass susceptible to temperature?
(A3) Yes. Almost all materials are susceptible to temperature and humidity. Brass, Phosphor Bronze and Stainless Steel are not immune to this phenomenon
(Q4) what's, your opinion on kongsheng Bender harps/ Amazing 20/ ting harp?
(A4) Speaking as a Harp Tech/Customizer, I have not found any other manufacture that can consistently produce world class harmonicas. I absolutely love working with the HOHNER reed plates and reeds. Can't beat it.
To sum up, setting up a Diatonic Richter Tuned Harmonica for OverBlow/OverDraw to play consistently well--one that will not let you down in the studio and/or bandstand, requires many hours of doing good Benchcraft. This is why top customizers charge upwards to $500 per harmonica to set up properly.
Most of my customers are interested in playing music rather than Benchcraft. For those who dig the Overblow/Overdraw vibe, I strongly recommend the Brendan Power Overblow Booster components installed onto either the HOHNER Special 20, HOHNER Marine Band DeLuxe, or HOHNER Crossover. For harmonica players already proficient with their fundamental bending skills, the Overblow Booster will enable players to call upon 7 new notes.
Check it out:
- https://www.brendan-power.com/OverblowBooster.php
- harpsmith.com
I dig your enthusiasm. "Play the notes people want to hear"!
Your HARPSMITH, Kinya
Thank for your answer. I really understand how valuable Is the work of a customizer, infact I'm already in touch with the other customizer suggested by Brendan Power here in Europe (I don't want to mess with customs, sorry), even though I'm not sure if would be better an OB booster or a "regular" ob/od customization.
I'd probably chose the second one in order to really understand how a custom harp Is, because yes, i'm tinkering with mine, but It doesn't mean that the work Is truly well done and that the harp Is good!
On the other side I'm scared that with a full customized I would skip an entire process of learning that maybe, as a beginner, I should do. And as a beginner.. do I deserve a super pro instrument yet?
But I digress.
Do you think there Is a way to address the leaky 3 draw bend problem? I red more here on the forum and again It suggest It could be the gap. I should get feeler gauge in 1/2 days and I'll check. Is there anything else I can look for?
"Play the notes people want to hear" That's the best advice and reminder can be done!
Hello M.Marcos,
COMPARISON
when comparing a novice OB set-up harmonica, to a similar HOHNER Special 20 or Marine Band Deluxe harmonica with installed Overblow/Overdraw components, you will be amazed at how quickly you will be able to apply the new overblow notes to your playing!
BOTTOM LINE
if you have the time, experimenting with your Benchcraft skills can be fulfilling. However, if you are gigging and need to get back on the bandstand, go with the Overblow/Overdraw Booster
Your HARPSMITH, Kinya
Good to hear from you M.Marco, yikes--that's alot to unpack, but give me some time and I will respond shortly.
Your HARPSMITH, Kinya