A Mel Bay Publications, Inc. Webzine
February 2009 · Bimonthly
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In this issue: Building a Foundation | Microphone Choices: Wiring for a Happy Ending! II - Farther Down the Line | The Harmonica Bail Out - Part 2: Monster Harmonica Workbench | Blues Chromatic, Part 5: Key of D |
Print this Article (PDF) Email Article to a Friend  The Harmonica Bail Out - Part 2Monster Harmonica Workbenchby Kinya Pollard Motivated by an unprecedented economic environment, I decided to create a series of articles that will help our readers keep costs down by instructing them on proven techniques of harmonica restoration. Last issue, I demonstrated the process of sanitization and freshening up the appearance of your harmonicas. Installment two of the “Harmonica Bail Out” series will focus on reed replacements.
Tool List
Symptoms It should not be difficult to determine which reed is failing. A faulty reed will be significantly out of tune (flat), usually more than a semitone (half step). Use a tuner for verification. A fractured (broken) reed will stall in the close position, rendering that hole unplayable. Double check to make certain debris has not lodged in between the reed and reed plate, before you condemn the reed. Process Remove the faulty reed by knocking out the rivet with the “Reed Removal Tool” and toss it into the garbage (Again, I can’t tell you how many times I have heard stories of people who had accidently re-installed a faulty reed back onto the reed plate).
For the replacement reed, dip into your shoebox collection of used harmonicas. This will serve as your repository of harmonica donor parts, particularly reeds. Select a harmonica of similar model and make to the harmonica you wish to restore: Hohner, Sydel, Hering, etc. Many manufactures will use the same reed sets across product lines, for example, Hohner Marine Band, Golden Melody and Special 20 all share the same reed sets. Also keep in mind, that if you cannot locate the exact Key harmonica, you could find a suitable donor reed of the same size (slot number) and pitch from a harmonica of a different pitch (and Model). For example, if your goal is to replace a faulty 4 blow reed [C] on a C Marine Band harmonica, you’ll be able to use a 4 draw reed [C] from a Special 20 B-flat harmonica. Reference the Mel Bay Harmonica Wall Chart (#20291) to help you select the proper reed. Drill a tap hole into the hole vacated by the old reed rivet. Thread a 0-80 hole into the reed plate.
Notice the flaring at the opening of the hole caused by the thread tapping process.
It is essential to have the reed plate surface flat to the reed, not doing so will compromise performance of the harmonica. Polishing the reed plate with flex pad sander will ensure a trouble free operation.
Notice the imperfections on the rivet end of the reed plate. I am constantly searching for useful tools. So it was bitter sweet for me to discover that this Hand Vise for Special Shapes has been discontinued from Micro-Mark. Possibly our readers can locate this marvelous “reed holding tool” from another source and share with all of us.
An alternative strategy would be to use a precision reamer. Be mindful not to oversize the hole. This will cause your reed to shift around the bolt, making centering within the slot a frustrating process.
Here is a close up view of a reed with the proper size clearance hole. In the event your reed becomes distorted during the drilling process, lightly tap the reed flat on a Precision Ground Anvil using a Tool Maker’s Brass Mallet.
Slip the washer over the 0-80 brass bolt and lock onto the screw starter.
Here is a view of the installed reed, tightened and centered within the slot.
Celebrity Hands
M-M part numbers refer to Micro-Mark, a supplier of small tools and materials. You can find them at www.micromark.com In the next installment of the “Harmonica Bail Out” tuning strategies will be explored. “Play the notes people want to hear”© Kinya Pollard [ top ]
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