Replacing reeds
Hello Kinya (wow, the first time I spelled your name correctly). I ordered 6 blow reeds for Key of G for a crossover I am working on. The warehouse mixed up their inventory and sent 4 blow reeds, three times. Customer service was excellent and we finally got 6 blow reeds and a nifty Hohner T shirt for my troubles. I relaced the reed and checked out the tunung. Wow. It was a C# showing 50 cents to the right. My logic was to keep fllattening it (remove from the free end) until I tuned it to a D. Is it normal for a new reed to be a 1/2 step off? Mic
Hello Kinya. I sanded the area after removing the bad reed. I was able to plink the reed after adjustment and I don't think it is binding. Yes, I raised the pitch from C# to D by removing metal from the free end. When I tightened the bolt to secure the reed to the reed plate, I wonder if I could have twisted the reed and possibly changed the axis of the reed, however, it did plink. Always learning at the school of "Hard Knocks" . Thanks for the info. I am going to observe the reed under a 30 power dissecting mic to possibly detect any twisting or other abnormalities.. I keep you informed. Mic
Copy that Mic.
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Hey Mic, When a new, NOS (new old stock) or donor reed is installed a tad off axis it will lower the pitch, because the reed is binding on the reed slot.
Another possibility is that the newly installed reed pad is not absolutely flat (no divots) and secure onto the landing spot of the reed plate. Did you flatten/sand the landing spot of the reed plate surface to ensure the reed plate has not been distorted when removing the old reed?
If these installation baboos are not found in your recent proceedure, then raising (you inadvertenly wrote flatten) the pitch from C# to D is the best and only strategy.
Let us know how it tuned out for you.
Your Harpsmith, Kinya