Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

Hello Harp Techs,

A mantra drummed into my head throughout my childhood, “Be true to your teeth and they won’t be false to you”.

The same could be said about your harmonica mouthpiece. Preventing debris from being sucked into reeds could help mitigate reeds from “locking up”. An event that occurs when particles lodges itself in between the reed and reed plate slot. continue reading...

I know this is not really a harp tech question, but I have to ask you. I am learning from your harp tech videos the basic maintanance of harmonica. I got interested and saw your series on tuning and gapping as well. But while learning gapping, I heard the little song you play in its introduction video. I loved it. Then I heard it again in the introduction of reed replacement series! Now I have to ask, what are you playing? And what key of harmonica is it? It sounds very catchy. I'd love to play it!

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Hello Harp Techs

Friend, and internationally recognized harmonica player and fabricator, Brendon Powers strongly endorsed the Chinese made Easttop T12-48 brass comb chromatic harmonica on his web site. He gave high marks for craftsmanship, playability and a tone unique to brass comb harmonicas--all at an affordable price! I was intrigued.

I recently received my Easttop T12-48 chromatic harmonica. It is an excellent value. continue reading...

Hello Kinya,

I have a new hohner crossover in the key of G(out of the box).  I am working an a solo study that has a fast passage on the low end and requires a lot of bending.  I was wondering if I make the gaps on the lower end a little tighter woud that make the response time faster and less effort to acheive the bends? if so what amount of gap should I use?  

Thank you 

Kinya,

Does such thing exist?

I am thinking:

Symptom  |  Cause  |  Resolution

Reed is late to respond -> Gap is too big -> Decrease the gap

Reed stalls -> Gap is too small -> Increase the gap

Bending is too hard -> Gap mismatch between blow and draw reeds (?) -> Balance the gap (?)

Tone is flat more than half-step -> Reed is cracked -> Replace the reed

Metallic rattle -> Reed is off-centre, or touching the cover -> Center the reed or bend the cover continue reading...

Hello Harp Techs, I’m “back”!

Recently, I purchased a NOS (new old stock) Hering Professional 40 Chromatic from ebay. The delivery was rapid and my enthusiasm was high.

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I wanted to personally thank master Harp Tech Richard Sleigh for covering for us during my recovery from spine surgery. We hope that you will continue to visit us here at bluesharmonica.com!

Kinya

I would like to let you know that I got some key sticker sheets printed and pre-cut for labeling harmonicas.

The stickers are small enough to fit on the short side of a Marine Band harmonica between the reed plates. I've tried other stickers that overlapped the reed plates and altough they are larger, they are tricky to deal with when you take the harmonica apart to work on it.

There are 96 black stickers with white type, a varied selection for all 12 keys (12 in the key of A, for example) They also fit on the side tab of a cover plate. continue reading...

I have a harp with a lot of rust on the rivets.  Is there anything that can be done?  It still plays fairly well.

Thanks

 I would greatly appreciate being able to fix my own harmonics. I do simple mantenance, cleaning etc, but I never had to change any blade, until now. Question: As we get the vanes directly from the manufacturer, with the right specifications, do we need to tune them after setting or do they come to us ready to use?