Re: [Harp-L] 3rd World War (REEDS)

[G <gigs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 18:59:16 -0500
From: "Frank Franze" <Franze52@xxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] 3rd World War (REEDS)
To: "harp-l" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

>Mr. Bonfiglio Said....
>>"This brings me to another issue which I tried to change at Hohner 25 
>>years ago.  I said why do grind the reeds across the reed instead of 
>>down the reed.  This would eliminate a great deal of metal fatigue.  
>>also why not test the reed lenght and weight and size for optimum 
>>response at that pitch,  On the chromatic the high B and C# have always 
>>been stiff, yet if you tune a set of plates down a half step those same 
>>pitches play fine on different size reeds.
>>
8<
>>" End of Quote....

>My question is this, would anybody out there be willing to enlist in this
fight
>to get this war started, and just for some fun, I'm couriuos of what kind of
>protest signs could be made up for protesting out side the factory...I'm
>thinkin I'll make one that sez {We harmonica players are definitely a
gullible
>group of humanity spendin our hard earned money on product That as Robert
>pointed out can be totally improved upon}
>
>Frank

Hi Robert & Frank,
  I agree that the method of cutting across reeds for fine tuning is a bad
move, part of me wonders why they continue to do that, and I would prefer
they didn't. However it generates more business for me, so swings and round
abouts.

  Regards the top reeds not playing properly unless tuned down, there is
another fix that I've voiced loudly a number of times on popular harmonica
email groups more han a few times:   Instead of tuning the top reeds of key
of C 12 holers down to get better response - reduce the chamber size as
much as practically possible - suddenly the top B, C, C# & D all sing out
beautifully, it also improves hole 11 reed performance if people experience
difficulty there.   
  I was asked to do this with many of the brand new Hohner 12 holers (270
in C, Mellow Tone, Larry Adler 12) that were imported into New Zealand over
the last few years.
  The problem initially began when Hohner changed the 270 combs from the
original Hohner chromatic comb chamber design - and with that change, they
made the top four chambers the same length, front to back.   There are
still "pre-war" 16 hole 280s floating around that have that same chamber
design - every chamber is a different size, matched very closely to the
reeds/valves it houses.  The problem was made even worse a few years ago
when Hohner phased out the 270 combs with shorter chambers intended only
for key C 12 holers, and used the same combs used with long slot 270s.
There is very good news:  Last year I had a very pleasant surprise when a
brand new Hohner key of C 270 arrived on my bench for evaluation before
sending off to a particularly descerning customer - Hohner have changed the
top chambers of their combs and now the top reeds sing sweetly out of the
box.   Over the following months I got calls from players I know, and
customers who were equally pleasantly surprised.   At the time I made it
known on Harp On! email group how impressed I was with Hohner for making
this change.
  So Robert, they listened, and they've finally fixed the problem with the
top reeds by changing the size of the top chambers, and it works!  

   My point being, there's hope yet, the powers that be at Hohner, may
decide one day to put down the chisels and start using sanding sticks
instead, or at least fine ratstail files down the length of the reed. 
Cheers,
-- G.