Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

Hello Kinya,

I have a few harmonicas, and in a few of them, in hold 2, 3 6, 7  (some blowing, some drawing) I only get sound when I blow hard...

Let's say I make a normal blow, nothing happens... but if I keep adding air preassure, theres a momet that the reed starts vibrating normally, in good tunning... right the way, I blow again and it seems to be normal... But soon, the same thing happens again...

I can't find anything blocking the reeds...

It just feels like the reed is tired...

What am I missing?

Thank you!

Hi Kinya, 

Hope you’ve been having a good holiday season. 

I have a bit of an unusual problem: Awhile ago I bought a leather harp case that was tanned/treated improperly and the chemicals used to treat the leather leached into 6 or 7 of my harps.  The effect this had was that I couldn’t play the harps at all without my tongue and lips immediately experiencing a pretty severe burning sensation. Obviously No Bueno. I tried multiple times clean the harps using a variety of methods, to no avail.  continue reading...

Hello Harp Techs,

Readers know I am a fan of swapping vented cover plates (think Hohner Marine Band) with non-vented cover plates (think Hohner Special 20, or Rocket Amp) to alter the playing experience for the player.

With exception of the Hohner Silver Concerto, I found no other vented (i.e. vents or holes) chromatic harmonica cover plates. continue reading...

Hello Harp Techs,

To update my earlier posting featuring the 50 bendable note harmonica, https://www.bluesharmonica.com/imagine_having_access_50_bendable_notes, I just received this update from from our friend and Chief Nutty Professor, Brendan Power: continue reading...

Hi Kinya;

 I have yet to purchase my first chromatic, but I have found some interesting websites. You are probably aware of them but here goes:

jonkip.com  ("Jon Kip -chromatic harmonica owner")

This one has a links page to HarpOn, a really good site. This is the only way I found to get to HarpOn, as there was no specific harpon URL.

He also has a link to slidemeister.org which I'm sure your familiar with, as well as to Winslow's website. continue reading...

The 5 draw on my Hohner Special 20 went very flat overnight.  i played it one day and it was fine, picked it up the next day and the 5 draw was so flat it is matching the 5 blow.

I took the covers and reed plates off but did not see anythng obvious.

What do think?

Thanks

I had two Special 20's with rattling/catching reeds.

I checked the reeds center-ness, and slot size, but could not find anything obvious.

Fixed both harmonicas by loosening the bolts a little - 1/16 turns out.

Strange, huh?

Hello Harp Techs,

For many first time chromatic harmonica players, navigating around “too many” holes, and negotiating a slider button, can be downright scary. Which note goes where?!

My advice is to simplify. Just like many musicians, when learning to play a favorite lick off a recording,  use apps such as Amazing Slow Down--to slow down a particular lick (without altering the song key), we can temporarily reduce the number of holes on the chromatic harmonica. continue reading...

Hello Harp Techs, continue reading...

I have the Hohner Special 20 harmonicas. I am now running into my second harmonica where I have lost the sound from a given note. My A harmonica will not give me my draw notes at position 3. Its not saliva that has caused this. What would you recommend I do to try to fix this, short of buying a new harmonica.