[Harp-L] Breaking reeds

[bon@xxxxxxxxxx]

There is no way that playing a bend on a reed will break it. The bend actually
slows the reed down, the most stress on the reed comes from high volume without
a bend since the reed is at its widest amplitude plus its fastest vibration.

If you are breaking these reeds it`s because they were all cut with the same
imperfection during manufacturing.  All reeds of the same pitch will be cut
using the same grinder across the reed before they are punched out.  If the
grinder leaves a deep cut in the reed, then that place will be the first to
metal fatigue on every reed in that batch.

Sanding the top of the reed smooth and retuning may help.  As I have always
said, how a harmonica plays depends on its reeds.  Assuming airtight, all
harmonicas with gapped, well-cut, centered reeds, with well cut slots should
perform at the maximum until metal fatigue.

If you think it`s easy to break these reeds, just try bending one off on an old
set of plates.  Any reed that goes down in pitch or breaks was already broken or
weak.

Harmonically yours,

Robert Bonfiglio




----------------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.