[Harp-L] Special 20 reed failure

[b2becom@xxxxxxxxxxx]

I play SP20s pretty much exclusively - why I'm not real sure, but they just feel/sound and usually work right for me. I have a few of most mfgs.  but I keep coming back to SP20s.  I open up the covers and that's about all I usually do out of the box. They're usually tight enough on the low end and I can break them in fast.

Lately though I have had a run of bad luck - specifically with D and E flat keyed SP20s. W/in 30 days after purchasing and with < 10 hours of playing time, a draw reeds go out. Always a draw reed - which makes sense with the bending etc. It's usually the 4, 5or 6 draw reed.  All of a sudden the reed goes half step flat and it's over after that?  or is it?  I'm assuming that a micro crack in the reed has happened and I can't save it. 

Should I send it back to Hohner, open it up and try to tune the offending reed up, or just send it to the boneyard and get over it. 

Other keys - G/A/B flat/C seem to last a lot longer adjusting for equal playing time. Is there something about these higher keyed harps that makes them more susceptible to reed failure?    

--
Ross