 |
|
|
|
Repairs & Maintenance
[Stuck Reeds] |
 |
|
Many times when harmonicas seem broken, they are not. There may be a "stuck reed" which has a little piece of gunk lodged in it that keeps it from vibrating. If the blow or draw note you attempt to play makes absolutely no sound whatsoever, you have what is called a "stuck reed". This is usually easy to fix with a minimal amount of tools.
Stuck Reeds
- The causes of a "Stuck Reed"- Dried saliva or a dried syrupy liquid (like a soft drink) around a reed will keep it from vibrating and making sound. Any small foreign object like an eye lash hair or particle of food that gets lodged between the reed and it's slot will cause a "stuck reed".
- The hole 2 draw seems to "stick" and not play properly- Beginners and some intermediate players may have a tough time getting holes 2, 3, 7, 8, and 9 draw to make a sound. These are not stuck reeds. This is caused by incorrect breathing technique (i.e. sucking the air in from your lips). The solution is improving the player's technique and not harmonica adjustments.
- Un-sticking a reed without taking the harmonica apart (plastic comb only)- This won't always work, but if you get lucky, you can do a quick "un-sticking" by rapping the harmonica firmly (mouthpiece side down) against your leg or palm attempting to dislodge the foreign particle. If that doesn't work, you can do a quick "un-sticking" by running luke warm water through it and then rapping it firmly (mouthpiece side down) against your leg or palm to knock out the excess water. Repeat 2 or 3 times being careful to knock out all the water. Lightly playing big full mouth chords (4 or 5 notes) throughout the harmonica will also help clear out the excess moisture. This should not be done with wood or metal comb diatonics or with chromatic harmonicas.
- For a really "stuck" reed, disassemble cover plates (maybe reed plates and comb)- Use the appropriate screw driver for your brand of harmonica (flat head or philips). Find a safe place to temporarily store the little screws and nuts that you will get from your disassembly (if they fall to the floor or in carpet they may disappear forever). With the cover plates off, see if you can locate the little piece of debris and remove it before taking the reed plates off of the comb, this will save you a few minutes if successful.
Disassembled cover plates, reed plates, and comb.
- Search the reed plates for the foreign object- Visibly inspect the reed plates for a foreign particle. The longest reed on the reed plate will be hole 1, the shortest reed is hole 10. With the long reeds on the left, the top reed plate of the harmonica will be the blow reeds and the bottom plate will be the draw reeds (notes). This should help you hunt down the correct reed based on the note you found that wouldn't play.
Look carefully on both sides of "stuck" reed for foreign object. The
longest reed on the reed plate will be hole 1. The top reed plate is
for the blow reeds, the bottom is for the draw reeds.
- Use a pin or needle to dislodge the object- Most likely all you will need to dislodge the foreign object is a common pin or needle. Be gentle in this process so as not to disturb the alignment of the reed within the reed slot or to accidently change the gapping of the reed if it is set correctly. If you would like to use tools specifically designed for this type of chore, pick up the Lee Oskar Repair and Maintenance Kit.
- Try the "pinging" test- If you feel you've been successful in removing the object, use your pin to slide underneath the reed and gently pull it up a very small distance and release to verify that the reed can vibrate freely. You should hear a "pinging" sound when you release the reed.
- Temporary re-assembly- If you feel you've been successful in removing the object, you can place both reed plates on the comb, place the cover plates on top of these and hold all pieces together with your fingers. Blow or draw on the offending note to see if it plays properly now after removing the offending foreign object.
Re-assembling Your Harmonica
- Re-attaching the reed plates back on the comb- Use your thumb and forefinger to squeze and slide the plates and comb around until the plates feel "seated" properly within the comb. While securely holding the "seated" reed plates in place, replace the reed plate screws. Do not over-tighten these screws, it doesn't help. Over-tightening tends to cause a warping in the screw areas and increase air leakage. Loose is better than tight. Remember, these plates will also be held securely in place with the final cover plate screws.
- Replace the cover plates, not too tight or loose- As with the reed plate screws, do not over-tighten the cover plate screws. Be sure to check that the cover plates are aligned correctly on top of the reed plates before final tightening.
- Should one cover plate screw be tighter than the other?- Not necessarily, but you may find that the screw located on the "high end" can cause the harmonica to feel slightly more airtight if it is a bit tighter than the "low end" screw. Sometimes this helps, sometimes not.
|
|
|
|
|
