Re: [Harp-L] Help with Chromatic repair

[Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Brad, my main man. There are a lot of things one can use. First of all, forget the pen refill tubes. They are too hard and make a 'clacking' noise. Especially if you 'punch' the slide. Like I do. The best thing I have found are the smaller diameter clear plastic tubes for nasal oxygen supply tubes. They are built like the letter Y and have a single larger central tube which splits into two perfectly sized smaller tubes that lead up to the nose piece. My mother used these. I would cut and wash the smaller tubes. 

Btw, I didn't mean for you to actually buy electrical wire to get the insulation tubes. I was an electrician and had that stuff lying around free. As for wind savers, I have tried just about everything. Recording tape with the coated side DOWN seems to work if doubled up. One piece is just a hair longer than the reed slot and then a shorter layer is placed on top of that. The top layer can be thicker mylar. Like those used as notebook sheet protectors. The coating on the tape seems to counteract the tendency of wind savers to stick to the plates from breath moisture.

Lately I have been using Scotch Guarded and pressed micro fibre drapery material. I spray it and clamp it in a vise between two pieces of steel. It will still retain a little flexibility. Just enough to work. Why the Scotch Guard? Because otherwise, if you set the harp down (especially chromatics) on their sides, the wind savers will droop away from the 'under' slots, and you just lost any benefit you may have had. And chromatics don't sit too well on their mouthpiece edges.   

And never NEVER play a chromatic cold. Ok for diatonics..but not chromatics. I'm In Fla. so it's no problem here. But in Pittsburgh, sticking wind savers were driving me crazy. 

jo-zeppie 
 
On Jan 18, 2014, at 5:24 PM, harp wrote:

> Dear Joseph,
> 
> I wanted to thank you so much for the simple pointer to the 14 gauge wire for the slide buffers.  I got some yesterday and it works perfectly!  Now I just need to find a source for windsavers.
> 
> Great tip!
> 
> Sincerely,
> Brad
> 
> From: Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Thursday, January 16, 2014 at 5:11 PM
> To: harp <harp@xxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Help with Chromatic repair
> 
> 
> On Jan 16, 2014, at 4:21 PM, harp wrote:
>> 
>> -  Any suggestions on how to punch rivet holes in the windsavers short of buying the $350 Hohner tool kit?
> 
> You don't need a punch. Just dent the windsaver. Use a blunted/rounded finish nail onto a block of wood. . 
> 
>> -  Does anyone have some of the slide buffers (the little pieces of plastic tubing that cover the mouthpiece screws)?
> 
> The plastic covering on #14 ga. electrical wire works fine. 
>> 
>> Thank you very much,
>> Brad
>