Re: [Harp-L] Re: Hohner CX-12 Chromatic 'Sticks'

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Snaruhn@xxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2004 4:10 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Hohner CX-12 Chromatic 'Sticks'


> And, BTW, to warm up a harp for better function is superflous and
> ineffective.It´s superfluous in case of blow reeds because the breath
> is warm enough and ineffective in case of draw reeds because the
> inhaled cold air immediately balances the warming.

This is true for the steady-state conditions that exist after the harp has 
been played for a while. While warming is not sufficient to avoid all 
sticking/popping, it does prevent the condensation that occurs against a 
plate that starts at much lower than breath temperature. Inside valves on 
draw reeds rarely stick/pop because the air passing through the draw slots 
is dry room air and not your moisture-saturated breath.

I recommend a three-remedy belt-and-suspenders solution.  It is my 
experience that warming combined with engraving and waxing the plate surface 
around the blow-reed slots eliminates sticking/popping. I have described 
engraving and waxing in previous posts.

Vern