Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

...section of the forum as to what is going on with the harp, ie. what the reeds are doing when:

"David, I'm starting to have some success at bending, but when, for instance, I hold the 4 draw bend for a while, sometimes I get a really high pitched metallic screeching like feedback. Am I playing too hard, or maybe bending a little beyond, (lower), than I need to. Or maybe both. Is this what's producing this phenomenon? It sort of hurts my left ear a little."

He then wants me to report back to him

Hello, Kinya. I have a question re proper storage. I keep one Hohner Rocket in my office in its standard issue case and keep the remainder at home in an aftermarket seven-slot case. After playing, I assume the interior of the harps are a bit moist even after vigorous tapping on my thigh. If I store them immediately after use am I risking the possibility of fungus developing, especially if I don't return to the harps for a few days? I live in Miami which means that the weather is always very humid but the harps spend most of their time inside under airconditioning.  continue reading...

Hi Kinya,

I have watched your video's on reed gapping and had some success in improving the bendability of a problematic 3 draw on my new Seydel 1847. However it is still suspiciously more difficult to achieve than any of the bends on any of my Marine Bands, Crossover, Lee Oscars or Special 20. continue reading...

Hi,

Total beginner here, just started on David's lessons and really enjoying them! Except my brand-new Marine Band A seems to have a problem with the 5th hole draw. (Or I have a problem there, I'm not sure!)

Practicing tongue blocking, I can successfully block holes 1, 2, and 3, and blow and draw just hole 4. I can successfully block holes 2, 3, and 4, and blow hole 5. But the DRAW on hole 5 is incredibly weak. It sounds strangled and muted. continue reading...

Hello Harp Techs,

Remember that bone-head move I did back in April--when I left my new Grand Symphony chromatic harmonica on the radiant room heater too long? As a result of the heat exposure, all 60 windsavers angulated (curved upwards) and left me with an unusable harmonica. I finally decided to right my wrong by replacing all the damaged windsavers with new. continue reading...

Hello Harp Techs, this is the time to invest into your collection of speciality tools and materials. It’s MicroMarks Summer Sale with huge savings!

www.micromark.com

1-800-225-1066 continue reading...

I'm sorry Kinya if my question is a little dumb lol but I can't seem to find out anywhere if you're using mm or in for the mesurements in your sample reed calibration pdf you have on the reed gapping page of your lessons.

Hello Kinya,

So, I've played the Marine Band, Suzuki Manji, Special 20 and most recently the Rocket. While I really like the Rocket, I just haven't taken to the larger holes and find that they make tongueblocking a bit more difficult for me. I do, however, like the rounded corners and the more open back. So, I've started thinking about customizing my SP20s. My questions are as follows:

1. Rounding the Corners: How best to round the corners? I've read elsehwere that 300 grit sandpaper will do it. Is this even a good idea or are there downsides? continue reading...

Hiya Kinya,

So I have this situation. I bought a manji a few weeks ago and it had a bad reed so I exchanged it for a crossover and now because I'm hard headed I bought another manji ( yay no bad reeds)  BUT I can't seem to figure out this 3rd reed.

So to put you into perspective I've gone over your tutorials for reed gapping several times but I haven't tried it on any harps yet for fear of 'breaking' them. But when I bought this manji in the key of D I quickly realised it needed some adjustment. continue reading...

Once again your exemplery videos have inspirid me to explore new realms in my harpin' experience. :)

I would like your honest opinion of the Sjoberg tuner. I know there are several models. Which one did you demo and use?

After watching your series of videos my interest and curiosity about the device was piqued. I would be using it primarily on my Hohner Special 20s as well as some Bluesbands (just to practice on). I also have a few Suzuki Manjis but they are not my main stays like the 20s. continue reading...