Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

Hello! Not really a customizing question but a question of reeds. I have an older Super 270 I got from my father in law. I was messing around with it and noticed that the 2 blow/draw sounds off. Not as clear or loud as the other notes. The odd thing is, when I push the slide in, the 2 blow/draw still sounds off/muffled. Is this possibly four blown reeds or could it be something else?

Thanks!

Hello Harp Techs,
I finally retired my little Ultrasonic Cleaner and replaced it with the Chicago Electric/Power Tools, 2.5Liter, Non-Medical Ultrasonic Cleaner Model 95563.

Distinctly different from my 'ol unit, this model is large enough to clean a 16 hole chromatic harmonica--with a tank measuring 3"D x 9.75"L x 5.5" W. And for those stubborn cleaning jobs, I found the on demand hot water feature very useful. continue reading...

Hello stick mic players,

If you like the way your harmonica sounds playing through a Shure 545, or SM57 microphone, but not the way it feels in your hands, you may be interested in trying out these microphones:

> AUDIX i5
> Blue en-CORE 100 (I performed with this mic when I was in Japan last month)

Contact Christopher Geissler at Sweetwater 1(800)222-4700 x1297 and tell him Kinya sent you.

Your Harpsmith,
Kinya

Kinya,

I have been trying to dig deeper my thought for two hours (my brain is giving off smoke ;-)).
I saw again the user guide of the Strobosoft tuner by Peterson. If I understand well, the calibration is relating to the correction of the input and it has nothing to do with the fact that I set the concert A for 442,0 Hz. In Strobosoft we don't have the possibility to refer to a specific note but to a specific frequency instead. continue reading...

I recently returned from Japan, and was reminded about the 4 "S". These are excellent guidelines for ensuring that high quality will permeate everything you build. I recommend printing this out and hanging it above your workbench:

SEITON (translation: Arrange Properly)
"A place for everything and everything in it's place"
* Put things in the right order (tidy, ready for use, organize according to frequency of usage).
* Store all materials and information in an orderly fashion at all times.
* Distinguish between those things that are needed and not needed. continue reading...

Hi, Kinya.

I'm really enjoying your videos on tuning and gapping. You make things very clear, leaving only my lack of patience and fine motor control between me and the perfect harp!

I do notice one problem in the videos, though. When you speak of the feeler gauge sizes, you call the .002 size "Two hundred thousandths." But .002 is actually "Two thousandths"
Two "hundred-thousandths" would be .00002.
Two hundred "thousandths" would be .2 (same as two "tenths").

Now I have a headache.

Kinya...Greetings! While browsing through a thrift store i came upon a Vintage 16 hole Hohner 64 Chromonica!!! It seems to be in perfect working order and the exterior is in pristine shape also; a little wear on the cover plates, but, all in all, a nice find!!! $12.53 out the door...Smile included!!!!

So, my question is: How do I go about cleaning the instrument? I have never taken apart my Chromatic and I thought it would be a good idea to ask before I ventured down that road. Being a "Lost and Found" piece, I want to remove any of the previous Owner/(Owners) DNA before playing..... continue reading...

OK!, I've watch the videos several times and here are my questions about this one technique.

When you are doing the scooping my understanding is that you are trying to make wider the tip on the side of the reed that air is entering like a funnel? Does that sound right? (I understand the scooping is an angle leaving the parameter as tight as possible)

Then the next question would be which side do you scoop? would it be different on a draw plate as to a blow plate? continue reading...

Hi Kinya

Since subscribing to blues harmonica I have purchased two Hohner MB Crossover harmonicas one G and one A. I already had Lee Oskar harmonicas. continue reading...

hello Kinya,
In the referred study, you first explained how to set the reed gap followed by the gap near the rivet end and then how to check and correct how the reed enters the slot...... I was wondering... If I were to try reed gapping should the sequence be as follows?
1. Set the Clearance at the Rivet End
2. Set the reed gap
3. Adjust How Reeds Enter the Slot

Is that how I should go about it?

Regards,
LearningTheHarp