Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

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.

Hi Kinya, The  blow 3 (G) and blow 4 (C) on my CX!2 have been sticking. I have soaked the harmonica and changed the wind savers over those hole various times and I cannot fixe it. In Spain I can not find anyone who works on harmonicas. Since the CX12 seems fairly air tight I just took those wind savers off.. and it plays pretty well. Could I just take all the wind savers off or would the instrument not play? Any ideas would be great. Thanks

Kinya, I’m curious...

From time to time I entertain the idea of dressing up my harps with some of the cool-looking combs out there like the acrylics from Blue Moon. I really like the sound of my Seydels, though, with the maple combs, and my Crossovers with bamboo, and Special 20s with plastic. I hear people all the time claiming that comb material has a distinct impact on sound, with some saying the Marine Band has a warmer sound due to its pear wood comb, and the Special 20s being darker due to the plastic comb. 

Is it really as simple as that? continue reading...

Hello Kinya,

Could you explain the differences between: Major, Natural Minor and Harmonic Minor harmonica please.

Thank you. continue reading...

Hi Kinya! I've been away a while, but my son is taking lessons now, so I reactivated my account here. Hope you've been well.

Here is something that's been driving me crazy for a while now:

I've pretty much settled on the Seydel 1847 Classic as my go-to harp. I love the darker sound, the size, and the hole spacing. I use the Seydel in all keys except one -- D. For anything in the key of A, I now automatically reach for my Crossover D harp. continue reading...

Hi Kinya,

I've cleaned my Hohner Rocket in A a couple of days ago, dissassmbled it, cleaned it and put it togeather again. After that I've notice the 2 draw is not as airtight as it was. Other holes are OK. What could I have done wrong and how could I fix it?

Thank you very much,

Marek

I also posted this, (sans the postscript at the bottom), where you asked Winsow about optimum embouchure for chromatic. He's the expert, I'm just a neophyte. But anyway;

  continue reading...