Harmonica Reedwork - Voicing, Valving & Tuning

[@gregpeterson1272]

I want to thank you so much for taking the time to give such an in-depth teaching. Thanks from Greg in northern Minnesota.

[@garlindmullin5954]

This is so fantastic. Thank you Rick for sharing your expert knowledge and wisdom with all of us. I am so grateful. I started to get into this only recently and not even intentionally. I worked on one chromatic that was a very low octave Horner CX12. It mostly needed valve work. Now I am working on a higher octave CX12 for him and it looks like it will be mostly reed work. I personally have played 10 hole diatonic for about 50 yrs. (Just blues mostly) I never learned how to repair or customize. I just kept buying new harmonicas. God bless you for sharing your gift with the rest of us.

[@stimmrad]

Hi Garlind, Glad to be of some help and glad to hear you’re working on the instrument. You know you can order individual reeds from Hohner (I’m not sure what their sales policy is for customers outside the EU): www.hohner-cshop.de/en/Downloads/ Best regards, Rick

[@garlindmullin5954]

@@stimmrad Thanks Rick, I am in Ontario Canada. There is a dealer near Toronto Ontario that sells only harmonicas and accordions and possibly pianos. He does repairs and sells wind-savers and can order in any Hohner products. So we are all good here. Thanks again for sharing the wisdom and knowledge.

[@stimmrad]

Great to hear you’re sorted. Would that be Jeff Wilson? If so, say hello next time you’re speaking to him.

[@garlindmullin5954]

@@stimmrad Yes it is Jeff Wilson. I’ll say hi for you

[@harmonicalittlewill]

The best video! Thanks for sharing! From Brazil!!

[@stevendebruyn6515]

Thank you for these great well explained insights Rick. Good greetings from Ghent.

[@ResonantHarp]

Thank you for this masterclass. It is much appreciated.

[@Raglafart101]

Thanks so much Rick, you've put a couple of things into a much clearer perspective. Many many thanks for sharing this wealth of knowledge, I also enjoyed your previous masterclass. Great thank you.

[@intothefoxhole7985]

Outstanding video!

[@Redshift313]

Great tips and techniques... thanks mate !!!

[@MattWatsonHarmonica]

I had to replace a valve for the G below middle C today and I tried your tension method. Lying nice and flat!

[@ashishd88]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Rick. This is great!

[@samuelsooklaltoo3599]

very good

[@jameshand8034]

Thank you

[@TechTins_Projects]

This is a great video. Thanks Rick. What is name of that tuner that shows the harmonic intervals.

[@stimmrad]

Hi there, The tuner app is iStroboSoft by Peterson, with the Harmonic Tuning in-app purchase. At one time, Harmonic Tuning was only available for iOS.

[@MattWatsonHarmonica]

Happy New! Hope all is well. I’ve a 270 G tuned to diminished with a Hering Combe attached with screws. May I send it to you? I’d like you to take a look to see if it can be more air tight.

[@stimmrad]

Hi Matt, Likewise, Happy New Year! I'm afraid I've a bit too much going on at the moment to take on the job, but thanks anyway for asking. All the best, Rick

[@detharp]

why not industrially lowering the reedfoot by making a "hole" of bout 0,2-03 mm in the surface of the plate?Would cause a realy parallel sit of the reed to the plate.

[@stimmrad]

Some folks have tried it. Might be good except for the likely increase in production cost. Not sure whether stamping the depression mightn’t deform the lower surface of the reedplate or the width of the reed slot. Milling the depression would likely result in a significant increase in production cost. I once tried a very rough attempt at it, with inconclusive results, as I recall.

[@jameshand8034]

@@stimmrad ++

[@yuriythebest]

thanks for the video, and I have a very naive question: if there is a brass reed that breaks, why is it not possible to solder it?

[@stimmrad]

By the time a reed breaks, there’ll be fatigue throughout the reed. Even if the solder were to hold, the tone would be weak and dull. You might be able to find strips of brass or bronze from which to cut reeds but it would be difficult work and the material might not be of the proper hardness. If you’re playing Hohner harmonicas you may be able to order individual reeds from them: www.hohner-cshop.de/en/Downloads/

[@yuriythebest]

@@stimmrad thanks for your detailed reply!

[@ricardocortezsr2651]

Awesome video ! is this glue good for accordion reed valve replacement ?

[@stimmrad]

It might be good for plastic some valves but test it first to make sure it doesn’t react with and warp the valve. Shellac is the traditional cement for leather valves.

[@ricardocortezsr2651]

@@stimmrad Thank you.

[@norfolknwhey4787]

Is the overall change in responsiveness of bringing the reedfoot down into the slot worth the effort? It seems like a ton of work for little benefit…

[@stimmrad]

Yes, it’s worth the effort. Bear in mind though, the responsiveness can end up worse than before if the depth of the reedfoot and the overall reed curvature are off. With practice, the operation goes fairly quickly. At the factory, I’ve seen workers push down the reedfoot with a fingernail during the pre-tuning adjustment. Done in nearly the blink of an eye.

[@MattWatsonHarmonica]

Thank you! Very interested in the valve adjustment tool to lay the valve flat. Suggestion on how I can make my own? Or may I purchase one from you?

[@stimmrad]

Hi Matt, Suppliers where you can find the tool are included in the comment section of this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5bJe5msiamkfsU Best regards, Rick

[@MattWatsonHarmonica]

@@stimmrad Thank you! I've just ordered. Usually I replace them when they curl up.

[@ResonantHarp]

What do you think of embossing the non reed side of the slot?

[@stimmrad]

There would be no benefit in doing so. Ideally, the slot should have a close tolerance on the top side and taper out to be a little wider on the non-reed side.

[@ResonantHarp]

@@stimmrad Ok. Thank you very much for responding. Cheers.

[@MattWatsonHarmonica]

I’ve a 64x gold mouthpiece version and it plays clunky. Meaning the slide is not a smooth action. So much so I wasn’t using it. Turns out the slide hole that the spring uses had worn. No longer round. I reached out to Hohner and had to order a new slide. It’s on back order. In the meantime I ordered the slide for the 280. Needed to replace that as well. Anyway, I put it on my 64x and it improved a bit but it still plays poorly. The reed plates were tuned to diminished by Pat Missin. So I don’t want to send it to Hohner because the may want to replace it with the new model. Would you be willing to take a look?

[@stimmrad]

Hi Matt, Thanks for your message. How much playing have the reedplates had and how’s their tuning? Did they play well when you first got them? Have you had them off the comb and what shape are the windsaver valves in?

[@MattWatsonHarmonica]

@@stimmrad It’s in nice condition. In tune, responds well. Windsavers good. I haven’t played it much due to the slide issues.

[@stimmrad]

@@MattWatsonHarmonica you might want to check the slide channel in the mouthpiece to see if it looks overly worn. Also, the mouthpiece should have a slight bow, with the ends a little higher than the middle. This way, an even pressure is applied along the mouthpiece when the screws are tightened. Are the rubber bumpers that go over the mouthpiece screws in place and in good condition? When tightening the mouthpiece screws, I go back and forth tightening the screws, until the slide begins to bind, then I back them off a little. You can also lubricate the slide. I think Hohner sells slide lubricant, or you can use trombone slide oil. But be very sparing with lubricants as too much can gum up the works.

[@MattWatsonHarmonica]

@@stimmrad Everything else is fine but I haven’t checked the slide channel. I’m not optimistic though. I hear you regarding lubricating the slide. I don’t like to. Attracts dust etc. This harmonica has never been used much. Even when it had the standard tuning.

[@norfolknwhey4787]

Do you sell your burnishing and valve tools?

[@stimmrad]

Thanks for asking. I don’t sell any tools, but my valve tool has been available from one of the following: Hot Rod Harmonicas hotrodharmonicas.myshopify.co... J.A. Harmonicas jaharmonicas.com/webshop.html...

[@uzichloeharrington1783]

Please help me how to tune a harmonica i just buy in for a really cheap price and it arrived put of tune and now It's been sitting in my closet for a month and I wanna play but I remember it's not tuned, Please someone help me

[@stimmrad]

My videos provide some information on basic tuning techniques but there is plenty more online. Just search "how to tune a harmonica". The good thing about buying a cheap harmonica is that it gives one the opportunity to learn and practice tuning without the risk and expense of damaging an expensive instrument in doing so. Even expensive harmonicas may need tuning from time to time so it's good to start on the cheap ones. Best regards, Rick

[@vincentmepstead6690]

Hi Rick I have recently purchased a second hand hohner 280c64 chromatic and when I blow into one of the holes, I get a pulsating sound of the note.on inspection one of the windsavers is curled up. Could this be why the note pulses.

[@stimmrad]

Hi Vincent, yes, a good chance that’s causing the problem. If the valve is badly curled up it’s probably best to replace it. You can buy Hohner valves here: www.hohner-cshop.de/en/Harmonica/Chromatic-Models/Chromonica-Series/Chromonica-280-64/ Best regards, Rick

[@jasperblues1231]

Sir, would you be willing to share the tunings that you used on this track: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2HGdYFpYtlsmrM . . . I love the way that the harmonica supports the drone and the rhythm with chugging chords and double stops and then wailing melody breakouts. This really resonates with me. Such a bluesy way to play Irish/Atlantic folk. . . First one's a standard tuning G, right? With just intonation, no valves, is that right? And then change harps? I also love the dark tone on the 2nd harp that you use. THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge and music

[@stimmrad]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the track. Yes, the first harp is a standard tuned G, Just (or nearly Just) Intonation, with no valves. The second harp is a low D XB-40 with the 2- and 3-draw notes each tuned down a whole tone (sometimes called “Easy Thirds” tuning. Best regards, Rick

[@jasperblues1231]

@@stimmrad Ah yes of course! Thank you! I had a couple of XB-40s once but they got lost in a house move. I'mma order another one and try it out for tunes. Once again I love the way you interpret the harmonica's part in an Irish group - both as a melody singer (with fiddle-like double stops) and as a rhythm player with the chugging chords. I know some players lean more on the melody part (and that's awesome) but how you did it is the way I'd do it - I like to hear all those notes come out together :)

[@jasperblues1231]

ps: For years it was very hard for me to find information about harmonica enhancement/repair/maintenance, especially living in the eastern hemisphere. But now I see folks like yourself and others sharing online. I learned a lot! (Previously would tune harps, sometimes doing a bad job and ruining the harp. Didn't know about slot embossing, reed shaping, etc). I feel it will open a lot of possibilities for me. #Random comments: a) About Organ Pipes: In the old days every town had their own standard pitch The ends of the organ pipe would get frayed over time, requiring a trim, and that's how the pitch gradually raised from A=~415Hz to A=440Hz. b) Near our house in Las Piñas, Philippines, there's a baroque organ with bamboo pipes c) A square wave has some interesting mathematical properties. It is the fundamental and all odd harmonics, where each partial is 2/3 the amplitude of the previous (going to infinity). Thus we can use square waves to test an amplifier's distortion.

[@tombankes-jones964]

I am finding you difficult to hear clearly!

[@stimmrad]

I’m sorry for the problem, I’ll try to bring the volume up on the next video.

[@akiten4649]

Your recording is to low