Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

Happy New Year Harp Techs, a solid fitting reed plate is essential to making an airtight harmonica. Specifically, air directed for the sole purpose of vibrating the reeds rather than sneak out of unnecessary nooks and crannies, will make for a good playing harmonica. continue reading...

Hello Harp Techs, on chromatic harmonicas, a sticking windsaver will prevent the reed from working properly. This occurance happens when a layer of saliva/protein "glues" the windsaver to the reed plate. Rarely does it happen at a convenient time--like just before a performance ;o) 

Try this trick for quick relief: continue reading...

It has been suggested that to freshen and clean the playing surfaces of the harmonica we can use a mouth piece spray such as the Roach Thomas "Mighty Mist" which contains propanol.  Is it safe to use this spray on the Hohner Crossover bamboo comb or anything else that contains alcohol?

Hello Harp Techs, present to me a good solo and I will show you clever improvisation. If you don’t have a Richard Sleigh reed removal tool, or Seydel reed removal pliers, why not improvise?

continue reading...

Hello Kinya,

Do you have any recommendations for a basic and economical kit for tuning?

John

Gobble Gobble Gobble Harp Techs!

Many of us will have free time all to ourselves this holiday week. For me I can't think of a better way to use our time wisely than to binge on all seven Harp Tech Studies: continue reading...

Hi Kinya,

Loving the content, it's shed so much light on my harmonica!

A question: I have a big river harp and a marine band deluxe in front of me with the same key and close to similar treatment with gapping etc. If they have the same reeds, why is it easier to bend the more expensive deluxe? Is it the plate itself, how air tight it is etc. etc.? I'm just curious and interested in why there's such a noticeable difference!

Thanks!

Hello Harp Techs,

The weak link for all types of harmonicas is the reed. Vibrating a zillion times over a lifetime of creating music, especially those reeds with excessive play, will experience metal fatigue. A hairline fracture will develop near the base, and that reed will lose its structural integrity and become unplayable (break). continue reading...

Hi Kinya

When using a light source and moving the reed toward the reed plate I always see a fine sliver of light at the reed pad side of the reed even after the light disappears on the half or three quarters of the reed length away from the pad.  It seems to me this would be inevitable if the bottom of the reed is .002" proud of the reed plate at the zeropoint.  If this is true then my question is how far this light should extend away from the reed pad?  Or am I way off track here?

Thank you dear Kinya for your excelent lesson on tuning the harp. I have never done that except on single stubborn reeds here and there and without much enthusiasm.

Now I know better, much better, and what was fun, is that your lessons did not only bring me the knowledge I needed, but were also very, very entertaining! It was a loong lesson and no wonder you were tired at the end, but it was worth the time invested.

Not only did I find there the skills I needed, but found much information, many answers to questions I have never asked myself. The summit of learning for me! continue reading...