Ask Harp Tech Expert Kinya Pollard

I have a Hering Special 48 B flat that the slide is stuck on. What would the likely issue be, and how would you approach the critter. I have had the same issue with a Hohner 270 and it appeared to be just foreign material, and moisture combination. I also have a Hering Velvet Voice F that has a rattle at times. Any suggestion? I have had good luck replacing reed plates in Lee Oskar diatonics, but have never tackled a chromatic.
I don't want to ruin the Herings since they are not cheap to replace and they are special to me because they were a given to me by Rod Piazza.

Hi Kinya,

Which is the recommended tools package at micro-mark for taking care of your harp? What's the link to your article on this at Harmonica Sessions?

Thanks,

Anne Marie

Hi!!!
Can i change the tune of a harmonica in E to F ?
thanks,

Best Regards
Marko

Hello Harmonicats,
I am in the process of setting up an interview with Bends Harmonica endorsee, Mr. Gary Smith. Are there any particular questions or comments you may have regarding Bends Harmonica that you would like our membership to read about?

“Play the notes that people want to hear” © 2008

Kinya Pollard
The Harpsmith

I have noticed that some of my harps have an odd tin taste/feeling when I place my tongue on them. Like when you were a kid and placed your tongue on a 9volt battery.

Do you know how to get rid of it?

Dear mr. Pollard, recently I bought some manji harmonicas which I like, but I found it impossible to bend them tongue-blocked. I managed to tb-bend on my old marine-band harmonica's which are less airtight. I opened up my old marine-band in g and found out that the gaps were pretty wide. I set up a manji in g with wider gapping and suddenly I could bend the reeds on this. Is it common that it's easier to do this when you have wider gaps? What do you think about gapping in general?Joost Jansen 

Hi!!! :)

It is possible to build homemade winsavers for chromatic harmonica?
if it is possible what can i use for that?

thanks

Best Regards

Marko

Hi Kinya,

I've just picked up a near new Gold CX12 from eBay at a great price. It arrived tonight and I've noticed that on some of the reed slots the previous owner has elevated the windsavers using a thin piece of string. I'm not sure whether this has any purpose and assume it's safe to remove them? They appear to be only on holes 3, 5, 7 and 9 on the top reedplate and holes 6 and 8 on the bottom. I've tried to see if there's any difference in playing as a result and it appears that I can bend the holes 3 and 7 down a semitone. Is this a common customising technique do you know? continue reading...

Hi Kinya,

I've just picked up a near new Gold CX12 from eBay at a great price. It arrived tonight and I've noticed that on some of the reed slots the previous owner has elevated the windsavers using a thin piece of string. I'm not sure whether this has any purpose and assume it's safe to remove them? They appear to be only on holes 3, 5, 7 and 9 on the top reedplate and holes 6 and 8 on the bottom. I've tried to see if there's any difference in playing as a result and it appears that I can bend the holes 3 and 7 down a semitone. Is this a common customising technique do you know? continue reading...

Hello Stomp Pedal fans,
Lately I have been "sitting in" with a local favorite band called Shark Sandwich (aka Daddy-O), which performs regularly at San Jose's Fairmont Hotel. Set up and volume are issues I didn't want to wrestle with, so I decided to play through the PA. Of course it sounded crappy. continue reading...