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Reed Gaping

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Tue, 08/04/2020 - 15:17
James Micarelli
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Hello Kinya.  I had great success with reed gaping my Special 20, Key of A.  when i worked on my Crossover Marine band Key of A, it sounded great with the side clips holding the plates on.  When reassembled it did not sound as good.  After several times of playing with gap with same results the problem seemed to be with the screws on the reed plate screwed too tight.  I loosened them to barely finger tight and it now plays well.  Should all the reed plate screws be barely finger tight?    

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Tue, 08/04/2020 - 16:26
#1
Harp Tech Kinya...
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Hello James, good to hear

Hello James, good to hear from you. Most of the time, the answer is no, however;

This is a common phenomenom after:

  1. Sizing the reed plate slots. If the tolerance surrounding the sides and front of the reeds are significantly close, tightening of the reed plates (and cover plates) fasteners will bow the reed plate slots inward enough to make contact with the vibrating reed.
  2. Sometimes during the gapping process, we inadvertenly turn the reeds on the rivet axis (usually reeds 1+ and/or 2+) also causing the vibrating reed to hit the reed plate.

Tip:

  • Disassemble your Crossover harmonica again (sorry about that)
  • If you don't have a light box, hold up each reed plate to a light source--so that you can see the sliver of light surrounding each reed. The sliver of light should be even. If any part of the reed(s) are touching the reed plate slot, use your reed wrench or shim stock to "right the ship"
  • Plink, Plink, Plink the reed to make absolutely certain you were sucessful in clearing the path for the vibrating reed.
  • Re-assemble the harmonica, start by installing-loosly-the middle fastener, then work outward. Align everything to the mouthpiece edge by placing the harmonica on a flat surface
  • Now, you can gently torque with the reed plate fasteners with a Pozi philps screwdriver.
  • Repeat for the cover plate fasteners

Did it work? Let us know

Your Harpsmith, Kinya

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Wed, 08/05/2020 - 11:34
#2
James Micarelli
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Reed Gaping

Good Morning Kinya.  The three and four draw had to be adjusted. It was successful.   I do not have many tools yet so I used the shim technique to adust the reed and a lamp with a white lamp shade for my light box.  Also, for the end spring clamps I used a small pair of positive /negative spring clamps used for a car battery.  I wil be building a small light box soon and will order some of the basic tools to continue adjusting my harmonicas.  Thank you for your quick responses and insight.  Mic   

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Wed, 08/05/2020 - 16:52
#3
Harp Tech Kinya...
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Brilliant! Good work Mic Your

Brilliant! Good work Mic

Your Harpsmith, Kinya

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