I have purchased a number of Big River and Special 20 harps and I am having trouble with the 2 and 3 hole draw notes going flat. I barely get a sound out of them. I have cleaned them without taking them apart, I have cleaned them with taking them apart, I have tried to adjust the reed gap distance and nothing seems to correct the problem. I slabber a lot and since 2 and 3 draw is a lot of what I play it it possible those reeds just go bad as a result?
On one of my harps there is a slight but annoying airy whistling sound when I bend draw reed 2 down a whole step. It's hard to describe but it's a slight whistling or buzzing sound. I have another harp in the same key without this problem.
Could this be caused by the reed brushing against the reed plate slightly? Maybe the blow reed since it only happens on a deep bend? How do I fix it?
Posted Fri, 05/25/2012 - 10:58 by Anthony Giarratano
Hi Kinya,
I have gone thru 3 Hohner Crossovers in the key of A in the last 3 months. The 5 draw reed keeps failing and it fractures. I have tried tuning but it does not hold. I am bending the 5 draw on lesson songs. Can you share any insights or advice?
This is getting expensive. Also Hohner is very slow in warranty replacements.
Thanks for the charts I can see how that will speed thing along. As usual I'm confused about the 1 chart that has the numbers already entered, are these starting points, I watched all the videos I must have missed were you referenced it. Thought it be easier to ask rather than watch them again, Thanks!
I only experience this problem on my D harp, on the low end (ie 3 draw bend) I get a buzzing, screeching noise especially on bends. I thought it would be how the reed was aligned in the slot but when I looked it appears fine, is that likely the problem and I'm just not seeing it or would you suggest something else?
Hey, Kinya enjoying the harp tech lessons, very informative and complete. Looking forward to the next series.
I have a question which you may or may not have touched on so forgive me if you have. Does it matter which order I tune my harp in? For example if I followed your lessons I would tune the reeds before I gapped them, is that the idea or does it matter?