Archive for January, 2010
Why does my 4 hole draw on my harp/harmonica keep going out of tune?
It took months for it to go out the first time around. I just got a new reed for the harmonica because I screwed up trying to tune it and now a week later the 4 hole draw on the new reed is off again. What’s going on? Playing too hard on the 4 or what?
First thing I’d do is check the comb to make sure there isn’t some kind of flaw that is interfering with the reed plate and flattening the reed. If that checks out, I suspect you are playing really hard. Many people don’t realize that reeds need to be broken in gently before you play them hard. They last much longer that way. Blow/draw over and over again gently.
Gradual increase the force of the blow/draw. I spend about an hour doing this on all my new harps. What you are doing is fatiguing the metal so that it will give on a hard blow/draw without staying flat permanently. I’m not a fan of customized harps myself. I personally feel they’re a gear head ego stroke. Little Walter seemed to do fine with stock harps. But for players who play really hard, it may be a viable alternative. Customs generally have much less leakage, requiring much less force to get the same volume. Something you may want to consider.
5 commentsCan you replace the reeds on this harmonica and if so, how do you do it?
Hohner-1896-20-Marine-Band-Harmonica-100320479-i1133674.gc
I got it for my birthday, and I’ve always wanted one but I don’t really know anything about this instrument. Any advice or tips will be useful. Thanks!
I doubt it but you could contact Hohner. If the Harmonica is beyond use. I am pretty sure you can pry off the covers and look at the reed setup. If they are individually mounted, you might be able to install new ones if you can find them. The covers can then be pressed back in place using the small brads or nails that held the covers in place. However for the price of the instrument it isn’t practical.
I think I need a new harmonica reed?
I have a Hohner Blues Harp (and it says MS on the box so??) and my third hole sounds not right whatsoever. I believe I need a new reed (the instructions show how to replace the reed so I am assuming it is replaceable). It’s a diatonic harp. I looked on the Hohner website, but I’m not very good at navigation and I couldn’t find any reeds. Where can I find reeds for harmonicas? I would like a website results or any place around Ann Arbor, MI.
Do a search for: MS Replacement Reed Plates and you will find lots of places you can buy replacements for your model – replacement reed plates replace all of the blow reeds and/or draw reeds if you decide to replace both plates at once (might as well since you can’t buy blow or draw reed plates separately) This is by-far your best option other than just buying another harmonica, because replacment of single reeds is fairly technical and requires a lot of practice to do it correctly.
