Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

Hi. Is there a trick or method to 'prove' a harmonica reed is working as it should? As a new player I have no idea if I have a faulty harp or if it is me. I bought a Lee Oscar in A and the 2 draw wouldn't sound at all no matter how gently or strongly I drew air through it.  I then decided to be brave and adjust the gap by opening it about the width of the reed tip, and then gently closing the gap and trying it at each variation. continue reading...

Hello Harp Techs,

For those of you on the fence regarding attending my two workshops next month at the 20th Anniversary of the Harmonica Masterclass Workshop in San Jose, CA, please consider the financial benefits you will be missing out on. continue reading...

Hi.  I generally have no problem with bending the 2 hole, but on my D (Crossover) harmonica, it often fails to bend, and I get a whistling sound.  Or when it does bend down, the sound is pretty awful.  I'm wondering whether reed gapping would help and, if so, in which direction? 

Thank you

Kinya,

I've watched your entire reed replacement video series on this site, and it's excellent.  I'm a newbie to this and have begun collecting the necessary tools you show in the videos.  I was trying to avoid spending $60 on a kit, but now I may be regretting that decision.  continue reading...

Hello there Kinya, thank you for you involvment with this site.

I have 2 Chromatic harmonicas, ad Hohner Super Chromonica 270 Deluxe and a Hohner CX12.

I cannot get a sounc out of the Eb on the 1st hole of the Super Chrominca. I can easily with the CX12.

I have done light cleaning and Mighty Misting of both harps and I am aware of how you should handle cleaning with

the Chromatic versus the Diatonic.

I can play all of the notes on the 1st hold, but the Eb, when you have to push the slider in. No sound at all. continue reading...

Kinya,

I'm 47 years old now and playing seriously after not playing for more than 20 years.  I have about 25 old harps from back then that are that old.  I notice when I try to play these they don't play well at all.  They're not responsive and take a lot of air to get started.  They're difficult to bend also.

Do they deteriorate with time?  Can I re-gap these and essentially have new instruments?  Should I keep them for donor reeds, or are the reeds shot at this point?

Thank you.

Kinya,

Playing about a one-year old Marine Band Crossover in the key of A last night and the 5 draw was choking on me.  I noticed it was flat as well.  On the Cleartune app on my Droid, it was reading less than half way between C# and D.  I attempted to tune it, based on what I learned from your videos on this site, scratching metal away from the free end of the 5 draw read.  It actually seems to be getting flatter though.

Is that far out just too much to tune?  Is this reed on its way out?

My education is in engineering, and I've never been able to figure out a couple things.  First, why don't both reeds produce a sound when blowing and drawing?  And second, I'm kind of confused on the blow and draw reeds.  The blow and draw reeds sit closer to the higher pressure.  ie, the blow reeds sit below the reed plate, and the draw reeds sit above the reed plate.  When blowing, wouldn't the air just take the path of least resistance, and just move the draw reed slightly and leek out from there? continue reading...

Hi Kinya,

Please confirm if I have correctly interpreted the following:

               Harpsmith  =  Cleartune App (Android)

                     12 TET =  Equal Temperament 

       Compromised Just =  Amost Equal (under Well-Tempered)

           Just Intonation  =  Standard Just (under Pythagorean/Just)

Cheers Julian

Hello Kinya,

Would it be possible to know what sizes of the polishing superstones you are using?

I am looking at this website and I am not sure what would be the best size to get. I’m guessing .4 to .6?

http://www.gesswein.com/p-3129-new-superstone-ceramic-stones.aspx?cpagen...

I should be receiving my masterharp tuner very soon :)

Cheers!

Sath