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Forums :: Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

Sharp???

1 reply [Last post]
Fri, 03/17/2017 - 09:40
curciopaul@gmail.com
curciopaul@gmail.com's picture
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Joined: 06/09/2013

Kinya,

Have you ever experienced harps going sharp over time?  This seems counterintuitive to me, but I have noticed that harps I use often, are reading about 5 to 7 cents sharp on the 4 blow and 4 draw for example.  It is perceptable to my ear.  I hear recordings of myself and they sound unpleasant.  This is compounded by the fact that my 5 draw is consistently running a few cents flat (on it's way to being blown out by me overplaying), so the contrast is noticeable.

Is the sharpness a sign that that these reeds are on their way out or should I just tune the damn thing and get on with my life?

 

Thanks,

Paul

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Fri, 03/17/2017 - 20:11
#1
Harp Tech Kinya...
Harp Tech Kinya Pollard's picture
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Joined: 02/07/2010
Hi Paul, you are not alone.

Hi Paul, you are not alone. Tunings will creep sharper over time--darn spring metal (reeds).

Did you get an opportunity to read my blog regarding building/using a low cost vacuum table for "break in" and settling of the reeds after tuning? I found this, plus recalibrating the chromatic tuner down from 442hz to 441hz to be a workable solution.

Your Harpsmith, Kinya

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