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wfosborn
Member since Sep-17-05
12 posts
Oct-02-05, 05:07 PM (PDT)
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"Breaking in a new harmonica"
 
   I'm curious about breaking in a new harmonica. The instructions that came with my harmonica say to play it gently for a week or so, but what exactly does this accomplish? I notice that I'm almost always on the sharp side when I look at my tuner, will the reeds start to flatten out after break-in? Are new reeds harder to bend on than an older, well used set? Will they last longer with a proper break-in?

And what exactly is considered playing gently? Do they just mean moderate volume straight blows and draws? Is trying to learn to bend on them being gentle?

Thanks for any input.

--Will


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webmasteradmin
Member since Jan-20-03
1548 posts
Oct-02-05, 07:14 PM (PDT)
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1. "RE: Breaking in a new harmonica"
In response to message #0
 
Will,

1. "...but what exactly does this accomplish"
Nothing I have found in almost 30 years of playing.

2. "I notice that I'm almost always on the sharp side when I look at my tuner"
Virtually all diatonics are tuned slightly sharp to begin with because so many beginners unintentionally bend the notes and make them flat (out-of-tune). Standard tuning is considered A440hz, but most diatonics come at about 442 or 443hz. (Also see answer number 5 below).

3. "Are new reeds harder to bend on than an older, well used set?"
Yes, slightly, but with good bending technique and a good quality non-leaking diatonic to begin with, it is a minimal difference.

4. "Will they last longer with a proper break-in?"
No. I do not know a single working pro that breaks in their diatonics. As far as I'm concerned, diatonic harmonicas will never better than when they are brand new (although the first thing I do to a new harmonica is tune it to where I like it and increase the gapping where needed).
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/repairs_gap.php

5. "And what exactly is considered playing gently?"
That is a silly notion that is still being printed up with new Hohner harmonicas (mostly because the harmonica companies get so many harmonicas sent back due to poor beginner playing technique -- hole 2 draw is the number one complaint, and it is almost never the harmonica).
It does apply somewhat to chromatics when being played by beginners, but for the most part, one needs to learn to breathe correctly in order to do the least amount of damage over time to the harmonica. The correct angle of airflow will either mean bending or not bending. Constantly playing with a slight angle of airflow will make your playing consistently slightly out-of-tune (flat) and doomed to a shorter harmonica life span.
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/breathng.php

6. "Is trying to learn to bend on them being gentle?"
Don't worry about it. As you improve your harmonicas will last longer than the first ones you got. You've got to break a few eggs when making an omelette.

A lot of the junk out there you hear about harmonicas and harmonica playing technique is based on 50 or 60 year old information that keeps getting passed along. Much of the older Hohner literature is guilty of this as well as many of the cheaper instruction books and materials available.

Play on,
Dave Gage


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wfosborn
Member since Sep-17-05
12 posts
Oct-02-05, 11:26 PM (PDT)
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2. "RE: Breaking in a new harmonica"
In response to message #1
 
   Wow, thanks for the great and detailed answer. You even answered a few of them that I hadn't asked yet.

I'm in a pretty remote area where there isn't really anyone who can help me learn to play so I really appreciate your great site where I can get help from someone with so much experience. Thanks for taking the time to help out.

--Will


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webmasteradmin
Member since Jan-20-03
1548 posts
Oct-03-05, 07:06 PM (PDT)
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3. "RE: Breaking in a new harmonica"
In response to message #2
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-03-05 AT 07:06 PM (PST)
 
Will,

Not a problem. I figure if one person has a question, then it's likely more people have it or soon will. Nice to have you aboard.

Play on,
Dave Gage


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dwuethrick
Member since Dec-12-06
19 posts
Feb-19-08, 03:17 AM (PDT)
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4. "RE: Breaking in a new harmonica"
In response to message #3
 
Dave,

Again, I am responding to an older post, but my question is about gapping the reeds of a new harp. I saw a guy on utube that says he increases the gapping on 1d, 2d, 3d, 7d, 8d, and 9d on all new harps. He increases it a very slight amount. Is this what you are talking about when you say, "although the first thing I do to a new harmonica is tune it to where I like it and increase the gapping where needed?" I read the maintenance section of the site, but I am just curious if this is something you do for every new harp.

Thanks!
Don


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webmasteradmin
Member since Jan-20-03
1548 posts
Feb-19-08, 10:31 AM (PDT)
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5. "RE: Breaking in a new harmonica"
In response to message #4
 
Don,

(It doesn't really matter, but you can always start a new post and add a link to the older post in it).

I, personally, have a very fast percussive attack when I play which comes from the incorporation of Tonguing (Articulation) in my playing. Because of my attack, I do gap every new diatonic and chromatic I get before I play it.

Most players, pro and causal, don't use as much Tonguing attack when they play, so there would be no reason to gap new harmonicas. The only time I'd recommend to you or anyone else to gap is when a note seems to be sticking (i.e. "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"}. Don't gap your harmonicas because I and a guy on utube do it, gap them if it's necessary. And, over-gapping will likely make your reeds play worse.

Tonguing-
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/tonguing.php

Gapping-
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/repairs_gap.php

--
Play on,
Dave Gage

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Nathane
Member since Oct-13-08
1 posts
Oct-13-08, 04:58 PM (PDT)
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6. "RE: Breaking in a new harmonica"
In response to message #1
 
   I had a golden melody customized. The craftsman did mention to play the harmonica more gently for the first week. Perhaps more experienced players don't force bent notes, but many of us do.

In that regard breaking in the reeds the first week makes sense to me. Maybe coincidence over knowledge but I find breaking in a harp to be beneficial. If for nothing else, sometimes anxious to see how the harmonica will play, I'll try harder if the reeds don't respond.

If I do not intend on bending notes I wouldn't have the same concern. What's more, I don't think the question would arise, nor would there be 'recommended harmonicas over rejects' section on these pages if there weren't colossal problems with factory made harmonicas.


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