[Harp-L] Working on Harps, Learning How To

[Matthew Smart <matthewsmart@xxxxxxxxx>]

I saw a post on here about to be certified/learn how to repair harps. I 
accidentally deleted the original post. Here is what helped me:

1) Get a smokin custom harp from a well known customizer. Not to reverse 
engineer, but to see what is possible performance wise. When you work on 
your harps, you can play theirs and use it as a measuring stick. 
Example, I thought I built nice low harps and then I got a double plated 
Low A from Richard Sleigh. It blew my mind and still does. I never knew 
that was possible until I had one. Most often it is pretty hard to see 
what is going on in there anyway unless you know what to look for.

2) Find a machinist or someone that knows how to work metals. This is 
the essential for working reeds, the most important part. I got lucky, 
Scott Hetrick (my business partner) is a machinist. When I want to 
accomplish something or get a certain affect, I ask him and he pulls out 
some tool I have never heard of and shows me. Example: he taught me how 
to oil files properly and how to use diamond whetstones. Also, I once 
read that Joe Filisko's former trade was as a machinist.

3) Pay Richard Sleigh for some instruction (if he still offers it). He 
is not going to reveal the Filisko method, but I spent about 90 minutes 
with him in a hotel on embossing and replacing reeds. It was worth every 
penny. He also offers a book, "Turbocharge your harmonica." I also got 
some useful tuning schemes from Steve Baker's book. I forget the name. 
Doug Tate's book is also good for chromatic repairs. I think it is still 
on Amazon.

4) There are youtube videos out there, but nothing beats Rupert Oyslers 
2 DVD set on the subject. It is the most complete video series out 
there. Get it from me or Rockin Rons Music.

5) Tools Tools Tools. I have seen people use harbor freight tools and 
toothpicks, etc. for working on harps. I don't recommend unless its an 
emergency! If you have well-designed tools it will save you time and 
prevent mistakes. Its not cheap to build them all up, but well made 
tools last forever and are always expensive in any trade. Auto mechanics 
can spend thousands of dollars to build up the tools for their trade. 
You can spend a couple hundred for a complete toolset in harmonica.  I 
use Richard Sleigh's draw scraper (for tuning) and tools that Scott 
Hetrick developed for me when I kept whining to him. Most everything you 
need is here www.harptools.com. including links to getting a mini drill 
press for drilling out harps and a reed replacement tool still offered 
by Bill Romel's widow. She is a very nice lady and needs the money.

I hope this helps

Matthew
www.hetrickharmonica.com