Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

A thank you to Kinya for all his passion that he shows in his own work and in responses to all of our questions.

Invaluable !!!!

Today I completed changing out the comb in my Rocket to a Blue Moon Brass Comb and worked a little more at setting it up. And again with Kinya's lessons as a constant tutorial, I am getting better at my own harp tech. continue reading...

Hi Kinya

I came across an older G Special 20 for $5 at an antique sale. All reeds are playing fine but it must be cleaned thoroughly  

After removing the cover plates , I don't think it has ever been disassembled. Ichy and a bit of surface rust. Thanks to your other posts I just received simichrome in the mail.

My question is....I am surprised by pins holding the reeds to the comb. Have you seen this and what do you suggest I do?

John

late addition

ps... here are some pics of the project and I removed the pins !!!!!

  continue reading...

Hi Kinya,

Several of my harps need tuning, but I haven't done it before and I'm a little nervous of doing damage while trying to get the hang of it. What tools would you recommend for a first-time tuner? I've read some suggestions for emory boards or detailing sandpaper from a craft store. What are your thoughts?

Well David did warn us not to destroy our harps when practicing the 4/5 draw bend in Garys Blues. Well I have just done that with my new Special 20, five days old. I use SP 20 for practice and keep the Manji M20 as playing harps. So off to the music shop to replace my SP20 G harp. Happened to bump into the Hohner rep who was not sypathetic at all. I was able to order a new set of plates delivered from Germany cheaper than what he offered in Australia. Like the A that I blew (5) the reed had very clear makings from factory tuning, almost identical. Who said hand/manual tuning was best. continue reading...

First released in 1992, the Hohner CX12 chromatic harmonica won numerous engineering design awards in Germany and quickly became the “workingman’s” chromatic harmonica. The innovative quick release torsion spring and tool-less slider assembly became an important and useful feature for harmonica players requiring quick maintenance access. The charcoal black “Darth Vader” model, available in numerous keys (plus Tenor C), and shown here--the Gold version, with chrome plated reed plates (only available in C): continue reading...

What if any type of metal polish paste would one recommend to buff out and polish up some cover plates?  I just acquired a harp that has some scratches on the cover plates and would love to see if I can polish them out.

Hey Kinya,

I've been trying to retune a harmonica from 12TET to 19limit JI. I've got a tuning app (instuner) for iOS and it lets me create my own temperaments, which I've done. continue reading...

Hi Kenya, The reed on my 1896 marine band harp stopped on me. I dismantled and cleaned it; but the reed still didn't free up, so I had to fairly forcfully push it to get it moving again. I thought this was the end of the problem. It was playing well for a couple of days. Then it decided to do it to me again. I resolved this issue by getting a hair clip and pushed the reed free again. However I dont want this problem occuring again. What do you think is wrong, and what can I do about it?

Hi Kinya !!!!

A friend picked up an old Hohner Echo for me at an antique sale. 

Although it's a bit rough with obvious dirt and rust on the cover plates which are slightly up on both ends I find it very intriguing and will apply some of my learned harp tech skills to it. 

My question is , what do I have?

key of G Echo Hohner, with a half moon type shape at the whole side.

there are four embossed enscriptions. 

Grand Prix Geneva 1927

Grand Prix Philad. 1926

Grand Prix Paris 1937

Grand Prix Chicago (date worn off) continue reading...

Hello ,I recently got a Hohner Blues Harp in the key of D and have been practicing my bends

The issue which arises is i am not sure if its my lack in technique or a harp issue which needs some setting up 

but whenever i bend the 6 hole draw ,the bend fully bends and i can see on the tuner that it hits the bend note 

but along with it also comes this screeching sound ,very sharp sound along with the bent note, espcially when i hold bent note 

Would appriciate any guidance please 

Thanks