Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

3'' whole step bend on F harp, i cant play it at low volume, the aloud note is ok but if I decrease the air flow it stops playing.

Any suggestion ?

i been working on one of the harmonicas that am trying to restore. and i got all the over blows working on holes 1,4,5,6. the zero point on the draw reed on hole 5 wont set. i put the draw plate in a vice and tried setting the reed. The 5th hole draw reed zero point would not set. Then I tried setting the individual reed with richard sleighs reed shaping tool using the knife edge. And it still wont set. and it causing my over blow on hole 5 sound week and harder to play. Any suggestions.

Hey there kinya,

i'm looking in hohner's website and as the headline says i'm trying to understand Hohner's tuning chart. can you perhaps explain? or direct me to an explanation of their own cause I can't find it on their website :) 

thanks.

http://s15.postimg.org/4sotaxbbf/hohner.jpg

Hi there,

On my suzuki harpmaster, happens in the last days that the 3 draw is so sensitive,

bend is became difficult becausecause It goes very easily from half step to one and half, making

almost impossible to bend only one step. Is there any setup action i can do for that ?

Thanks

Luciano.

Hey Kinya,

I got a low tuned C harmonica and I opened it up and saw that the reed plates don't look new. I ordered it from ebay straight from Japan.. is there anyway to know for sure I was not tricked? Is it common to receive reeds in this condition? 

http://s14.postimg.org/43e471cun/20150422_001243.jpg

http://s14.postimg.org/g7tdo0pqn/20150422_001300.jpg

  continue reading...

Hi Kinya continue reading...

hi Kinya

i just stumbled upon your little 7 hole harp on a website.

is this something that you sell?

ps love your tutorials. 

Cheers

Richard 

Hey there,I am playing mostly with suzuki manji and I would like to know if the harmonica remained in the same pitches as it should be out of the factory, but I can not find the specific tunings the Manjis supposed to have, can you please help me so I can make sure i'm well tuned?:) thanks 

Kinya:

I had been considering buying an ultrasonic cleaner. After watching your great videos on harmonica care I finally went and ordered one. It should show up next week. I had two questions.
1. I have no qualms placing my stainless steel reed Seydels in the cleaner, however I was concerned about my brass reed Hohners and LOs. Are there any issues with rusting on the brass? continue reading...

This is more of a comment then a question.....a thank you.

I watched your segment on  harp repair and invested in the hohner repair kit, along with the

magnifaction glasses.  I spray my harps out with MI ty mist after each use and clean

them once a week in the ultrasound  bath.  The other day.. my 4 blow on my special 20 G harp  was

not working.  Tried several breaths..no avail.  removed the cover plate and reed and found the tiniest continue reading...