Re: [Harp-L] Big River reedplate edges

[David Payne <dmatthew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Take the reedplates off, get some fine grit sandpaper and sand. There will be two edges, one on the outside side of the plate, one on the inside. The end result you want is a smooth arc, not a sharp corner. As Cyrus Smith on Mysterious Island would say "nothing could be easier." It really is a very simple procedure. It's simple enough that it could be done even in a factory setting. Even just a few swipes with sandpaper will get rid of that edge. It's one of several things customizers do that people don't necessarily notice.
You need to be very, very careful on the draw plate that you don't catch a reed as you sand. 
Back when I was playing Hohners, I used to get the Big Rivers because they were cheap and put wood combs on them. That was 8 or 9 years ago, so I don't know what's going on today, because I've not bought a Hohner in a long time. Back then, the price difference was artifical. It had the same plates every other MS model had... and the cover had side vents, which was a plus in my book. 


Dave
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www.elkriverharmonicas.com 



----- Original Message ----
From: Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx; harptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, October 3, 2009 10:59:42 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] Big River reedplate edges

At SPAH, Hohner was selling Big Rivers for $5 apiece, and I bought a low Eb.  The sound and response is surprisingly good, plenty good enough for real work, but the reed plates have sharp edges, and I cut one corner of my mouth up playing the thing.

We'll ignore for the moment the question of why any manufacturer in 2009 should make a product that, when used in the recommended manner, injures the user.  (I used to automatically sand down the square holes on Hohner model 260 and 270 mouthpieces, because they always had sharp edges and burrs that cut my lips.  But I've stopped thinking that's the kind of problem I should have to deal with.)  I seem to recall that other people on Harp-L or Harptalk have had this problem and figured out a way to deal with it.  I couldn't seem to find the right posts in the harp-L archives.  Anybody got any advice on how to turn the Big River into a safer instrument?

Thanks and regards, Richard Hunter


author, "Jazz Harp"
latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp
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