Re: [Harp-L] I dropped my SP 20 and SF Blues clubs

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "billannette" <mojoworkin@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 12:28 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] I dropped my SP 20 and SF Blues clubs


Hi all-

> I dropped my special 20, and now the 3 draw won't play right. I took the 
> cover off and looked inside, but did not see anything obviously out of 
> whack-Any suggestions for someone who has never worked on the inside of a 
> harp before (me)? Or should I just get another one?

If you are considering getting another harp, then you have nothing to lose 
by trying to fix it yourself!  Even if you try and fail, you may not have 
harmed it and a technician can still fix it.

There is no way of telling for sure without examining the harp.  However, I 
would guess that the fall (specifically the sudden stop at the end of the 
fall   :o)   )  has made the "bad" reed twist about its rivet so that it 
touches one side of the slot. This is a common problem that all harp 
technicians encounter.

Diagnosis:  Remove the reedplate and view the reed against a very bright 
light such as a fluorescent tube.  Close one eye and look at the little 
slivers of light along the sides of the reeds.  They should be of equal 
width and brightness.  If one is wider and brighter than the other, the reed 
is out of alignment.

Treatment: The best tool to use is a "reed wrench" that comes with the Oscar 
and Farrell toolkits.  However a small longnose pliers or a pair of 
square-nosed tweezers can work OK in a pinch.  Carefully grasp the square 
pad at the end of the reed and rotate the reed to center it in the slot. 
Bear in mind that the angle is tiny so hardly any rotation is needed. 
Recheck the alignment as above and play the reed by holding the plate on the 
comb with your fingers before you replace the screws.

Let us know if this fixes the problem.

Vern