Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

Hello Kinya.  I compared two different tunings on Marine Band Crossover Harps, Key of A, using iStroboSoft.  One was Modern Marine Band MMB (Compromised) and he other was OMB (Old Marine Band) Just Intonaion).  I recorded various songs on Garage Band from melodic to blusey.  I found it difficult to make a major distinction between the two tunings however I lean toward Compromised (The Rick Epping and Harpsmith recipe) which is the MMB.  I recorded on a MacBook Pro with the internal mics so nothing fancy.  A few things came to light. continue reading...

Hello Harp Techs, a couple of decades ago, I ordered from Brendan Powers a CX10 Richter tuned harmonica. This is not a spelling error. Brendan surgically removed two holes from the stock HOHNER CX12 harmonica! The KOCH reed plates he installed onto the shortened body would enable me to play--with the button out--an A harmonica and with the push of a button (slider), I would magically be playing a half step higher (1 semitone) on a Bb harmonica. It was more of a novelty for me, and therefore; the CX10 sat on my shelf for all those years. continue reading...

Hello Harp Techs,

Check out Episode 4 of HARPSMITH Bench. Here I will teach you how to convert your harmonica to authentic Just Intonation Temperament. Your old time Blues chugging, chording and train imitations will sound closer to the original recordings of the 1930s 40s and 1950s

https://www.bluesharmonica.com/harpsmith_bench

Your Harpsmith, Kinya

Hello Harp Techs, see if you can guess where this reed came from? It was my weirdest case to date.

continue reading...

Hello Kinya.  Great presentation as always.  I purchased the app and have a question.  For a general tuning of any harp. I will use a Spec 20 Key of C as an example, which is the best Temperament used for 12 bar blues?  i went to Settings, it brought me to Temperament Root Note (C), then I hit Temperaments which broughtt me to a list.  I assume I should choose Just Majar Inttonation for general blues?  Is Just minor Intonation only used with minor playing?  I don't want to start scraping reeds until I have a better understanding of this concept. continue reading...

Hello Harp Techs, this new episode of HARPSMITH Bench is chocked full of information--so buckle up and take copious notes!

Episode 3, Reed Mechanics & Tuning Best Practices

https://www.bluesharmonica.com/harpsmith_bench

Your Harpsmith, Kinya

Hello Harp Techs,

Check out the new episode 3 of HARPSMITH Bench!

https://www.bluesharmonica.com/harpsmith_bench

Your Harpsmith, Kinya

Greetings Kinya,

I've been trying to search the forums in case this topic has already come up. Do you provide any sort of certification for harmonica technicians? I've built up a relatively stable side business here in Canada, but eventually, I'd love to graduate into the realm of "approved" or "certified" repair technicians.

Could you share your thoughts or recommendations on this process?

Thanks,

-Rob

Kinya:

With apologies if you have a post somewhere here with all of this info, but your mention in the thread about swapping Hohner cover plates re being sure to use a 262/PZ 1x60 Pozidriv screwdriver for Crossover cover plate screws raises this question. Do you have a chart available for the best screwdriver size for various cover plate screws?  From my own collection I'm most curioue about:

Marine Band Deluxe (flat blade)

Special 20 (also flat blade)

Suzuki Olive

Seydel Session/Session Steel, and even: continue reading...

Hi Kinya

I've been watching your tuning videos recently and find them very interesting and easy to follow. I wanted to ask you if you know of any way that I could make the cover plates of my Hohner Crossover harmonica more comfortable to hold? I find the top left hand corner of the lip digs into my hand. Would the Rocket plates fit do you know? Would have to drill a couple of extra holes.

Thanks

Joel