Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

Submitting photos of your harmonica components is a terrific visual aid for me to trouble shoot problems, and useful for all readers to see how we learn together to rectify breakdowns.  

Here are the processes:

First, place your photos in an easy to locate location, such as your DESKTOP, then select the TREE icon (located to the left of the HTML initials) continue reading...

If you have two harps the same key and say one has a bad 4 hole and one has a bad 2 hole is there a preference for which one dies and donates parts, and which one gets to live to play another day?

Hi, Kinya:

What's the cheapest harmonica worth customizing? If I were an expert harpsmith, on the level of a Kinya Pollard or a Jon Harl, could I take one of the cheapie harmonicas and make it play as good as a fully customized SP20 or Thunderbird?

When I write "cheap harp", I mean one of the many harmonicas that you can buy for under $10, or any of the harmonicas that might come with an instructional book as a bonus. Like a Hohner Blues Band.

What is it-- the reed material, the comb material-- that sets the upper level harps apart from the enthusiast models?

Hi, Kinya:

I recently received my repair toolkit from Richard Sleigh (he says hi!) and I wanted to try it out before the workshop in February. I was tuning a SP20 harmonica, about 3 years old and well used. The six blow was very out of tune (about 30 cents sharp). When I popped the reed up to begin working on it, it popped very far up-- maybe at a 30 degree angle from the reedplate-- and it didn't spring back. I was able to put it back in place, but the reed no longer played. continue reading...

Kinya

In your opinion how important are the materials of construction used in the manufacture of a harmonica compared to the way it is adjusted for optimum performance. For example, could an expert take a cheaper model, such as a Hohner Blues Harp and adjust it to respond like a Crossover?

Hi Kinya, My 3 draw basically won't sound, at what sound it does make sounds like a dying cow. i've moved it in and out of the slot and that seems to be fine, i've also plinked it a bunch of times and that seems to be fine, but when I actually play the note it sounds like there might be something stuck on the reed but I don't see any thing when looking at the reed plate. Any help would be greatly appreciate.

Thanks

Grant

Hi, Kinya:

I'll be attending your upcoming workshop at the School of the Blues next year. What materials should I have for this workshop? Should I purchase a set of harmonica tools? I know you generally say that someone should get the toolkit made by the harmonica company, but I have harmonicas from several different companies. Should I get a toolkit from someone like Richard Sleigh or Andrew Zajac?

http://rsleigh.com/harmonica-tools/

http://harp.andrewzajac.ca/Tools

Thank you.

Dear Kinya,

I've only been playing harmonica since August--though I'm completely addicted and play pretty much every day--and am having trouble with the 2 draw on my Hohner Special 20. I know what they say about new players and the 2 draw, except that it used to be fine, and I have no problem with the 2 draw on my Marine Band or Suzuki Bluesmaster. continue reading...

I have 2 harps with blown reeds ( one with 3 and one with 5 reed) . The question I have is should I buy reed plates and screws and repair these (I was thinking of cost ) or is it about the same just to buy new? . I have replaced reeds in lee oscars  but the marines look like they could take some time and effort. Can you buy the screws in your local hardwre stores? 

I was looking through the archives and saw mention of a video series to customise a Marine Band.  Did you ever film it? I can't find it in the equipment section.

Thanks.