Subject: Re: [Harp-L] $10 for a Chromatic?..now ebay harps

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Michael Easton writes about pre-owned harmonicas:
 
to which I now have to reply... even if Jimmy Gordon gets annoyed at me all  
over again (G)...(speaking of whom...I'm still trying to find the time to 
listen  to your and Keith Dunn's CDs and write my reviews for CD Baby...VBG)
 
I have bought many harps from EBay, both diatonics (pre-war) and  chromatics. 
 The particular one beginning this thread I found (as did  Winslow) not to be 
as advertised.  It actually ended up going for  $15.  I've bought 64 
Chromatics for a bit more than that, but the buttons  were intact, the photos showed 
less grunge...I asked detailed questions of the  Seller before I placed my bids 
and they were in excellent condition.  One  can usually acquire one for the 
mid- $20 range. 
 
 I've developed my own techniques of cleaning any and all harps over  the 
past year.  Jimmy took exception to the use of certain strong chemicals  ("if you 
can't put it in your mouth, you shouldn't be using it on your harps")  ....he 
has a point.  However... I then go above and beyond for my personal  
"sanitization" of these pre-owned harmonicas for my personal use in taking them  apart 
and general cleaning.   I probably run a close second to our  self-proclaimed 
"OCD Sexy Rocker JR" in his cleaning ritual.  Ash-tray  harp-case 
notwithstanding, lol, I can attest to just how clean are his  harmonicas.
 
I won't even touch a newly acquired pre-owned harp with my bare hands until  
I've first given it a good overall light scrubbing (holding it through a  
paper towel) with a soft toothbrush dipped in alcohol.  I switched to the  purer 
version based on Jason's advice.  I rub over the top, bottom plates,  and into 
the mouthpiece, redipping the brush into the alcohol as needed.   The short 
bristles of the brush prevent any damage to the reeds at this  point.   Then a 
rub down of the whole harp with a clean cloth (I use  disposable "cloths" I buy 
in a box of 200 - Scotts "Rags".  They are  softer than paper towels, can 
still shred though, so one has to be  careful when using around the reeds).  
 
 Since most of my EBay purchases are wood-combed, I don't soak  them.  Use of 
the brush dipped in alcohol has so far prevented any  wood swelling, while 
doing a good sanitizing job...then I use orange sticks or  sturdy toothpicks 
(also constantly dipped into the alcohol) to get  into all the nooks and 
crannies.  THEN it's time to dismantle the  harps.  With Chromatics, this is when one 
finds out whether or not the  valves are in good condition or not.  I set 
aside the cover plates,  screws, mouthpieces, spacers -- all laid out in the order 
they came off the  harp.  Then...and I'm only explaining this for those who 
are  willing  to put as much time in and do this as meticulously as I  do....I 
use my MAAS metal polishing creme ...the tiniest amount --just  a smidgen at a 
time from the end of the tube on a cloth on either the tip  of a finger or 
cloth covered orange stick and work it over the entire brass  surfaces.  Then 
polish the creme off the same way...I don't touch the reeds  themselves.  Rarely 
some of the paste might touch a reed or intrude on a  slot....then it takes a 
lot of care to remove every  trace....this IS time-consuming and a lot of 
work.  I then  use the toothbrush again dipped in the alcohol to go over the 
surface again  and as has been already said here...only in the direction of the 
reed.....to  remove the traces of the polishing creme.  Then work the 
cloth/paper  towel around the reeds to polish/buff the brass until it shines like gold.  
 This removes any of that green corrosion/darkened moisture marks on the  
brass.  I use the same polishing creme on all the metal surfaces,  inside and 
outside the cover plates, all the mouthpiece layers on the chroms  and all the 
screws and pins, cleaning afterwards with the alcohol  again and buffing until 
gleaming.  I've found that the use of this  particular polish on the underside 
of all cover plates helps prevent any  further moisture damage from normal 
playing, so I rarely need to go though this  again.  There is a point where I'm 
finally comfortable with the  "cleanliness" of the harmonica.  Only then do I 
test it for  playability.  This might seem backwards, but it's the only way I 
will trust  buying and playing an old, used harp with who knows what it's been  
exposed to.  
 
I'm slowly learning how to gap.....I have bought the files to emboss/tune  
(well, Froggy talked my husband into buying a set for me actually) but haven't  
yet gotten up the courage to attempt it, even on a "practice" harp.   My 
prized oldest harp is a pre-war Marine Band in E that I bought on  EBay and cleaned 
for my use long before I realized just how precious an item it  was.  It's in 
remarkable condition with amazing sound.  It quite  impressed Nicolas.
 
As far as "knowing" what one is bidding on?  ....caveat  emptor.  I asked all 
the correct questions of one seller...the photos were  there of the several 
270 chromatics she was selling in various keys (which I  wanted)...I bid and 
won 3.  Paid via PayPal.  Every one came in  with cracks through the wooden 
backs (not there in the photos).  Were  obviously water exposed (rusted 
slides/buttons), just as Michael has  described.  At first the Seller was more than 
willing to return my  money as long as I gave no negative feedback.  We agreed on  
everything.  Then dead silence.  PayPal finally got involved  (there is some 
backup insurance there, supposedly)...but the upshot was I lost  $75.00 so far 
unrecoverable since this Seller withdrew any funds in  her PayPal account and 
as long as she does not continue to use PayPal, they  have no way of 
penalizing her, yet had told me to return the harps in  order to recoup my money.  
Catch-22.  She got back the  harps AND all the money.  I got back a big $29. out 
of  $104.  No justice.  Don't assume that even when you have won your  case 
with PayPal, that you will recoup.  For the most part though, I've  gotten such 
remarkable deals on both chromatics and vintage harps I'm more than  satisfied 
with the overall experience, though the thought did strike me  too, that 
there will be a flood of water-damaged harmonicas hitting the market  over the 
next year or so.  Better to walk away from the deal than have a  completely 
damaged, useless instrument. 
 
One last point...I've salvaged the button off a very poor condition  
chromatic (bought cheaply for parts) to switch to a good one missing its  button...and 
Gorilla Glue proved perfect.  It works for metal-to-metal  contact (as well 
as everything else)...no solder required.  Has held up for  months now, with no 
sign of loosening.  Didn't need a vise, just sandwiched  the harp with some 
pressure on the button (the harp sitting flat) between  heavy books as it dried.
 
Elizabeth