Re: [Harp-L] Sluggish 3 blow

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Nov 11, 2004, at 6:55 AM, Leon & Gail Albin wrote:

> Dear New Friends,
>     I  warned you that I would be having lots of questions now that I 
> am a
> member of SPAH.  I introduced myself a few days ago as 'really old
> newcomer'.  I am into my 6th year of learning to play harmonica.  I 
> play a
> chromatic and the 3 blow has always been sluggish until it is warmed 
> up.  I
> actually heat a bottle of water and put it into a thermos and then put 
> my
> harmonica in a plastic bag and into the thermos and wait for 20 or 30
> minutes and it plays great until it cools off again.  If I have to 
> take a
> break and go do something, I make a point to put the harmonica close 
> to my
> body for warmth.  I think what I do goes above and beyond warming up 
> before
> playing.  Thanks in advance for any tips that you send my way.  Thanks 
> for
> previous help.....GA
> _

 Your reed is improperly set. There is obviously a small curvature to 
it and when you warm it up, the metal is expanding just enough to cause 
the curvature to accentuate and thus closes up the tolerance (or 
offset) just barely enough to cut the air at the tip of the reed/end of 
the slot juncture. Since you claim to be new to all this, I would 
suggest you have an experienced player have a look at it.

smokey-joe