Re: [Harp-L] ERIFAHS whiskey test preliminary results released to public

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Jun 25, 2009, at 2:46 PM, David Payne wrote:

> A while back, I said The Elk River Institute for Advanced Harmonica  
> Studies  would test the historical feasibility of soaking a  
> harmonica in whiskey, as the old timers did, just to see how good  
> an option it was back in the day.
>
> Well, I soaked one, left a control, pre 2006 unsealed nailed Seydel  
> Solist, in some Early Times for 15 minutes. After sitting on a  
> shelf for a couple months, the control is OK. The whiskey soaked  
> reedplates are loose on the comb, the comb swelled enough that it  
> pushed the nails out and it leaks.
>
> So round 1 goes to not soaking in whiskey. We'll see what happens  
> when I get time to drive the nails in and see what we have. The  
> Institute has additional nailed Solists to use to in further  
> experiments, such as playing regularly after soaking, etc.
> This is important stuff we're doing and junk.
> Dave
>
> www.elkriverharmonicas.com
15 minutes is too long. I used to dip my wooden diatonics in vodka.  
Ice cold water works good too.
smo-joe