Re: [Harp-L] Chrom fragility-sturdiness

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

What do you mean by a loose reed? Do you man that it fails to play and rattles around? On visual inspection, is it no longer held flat to the reed plate and swinging freely on its rivet? Is it out of alignment with its slot and hitting the slot edge instead of vibrating freely? 

Or are you hearing annoying buzzing and flapping noises along with the note when you play the reed in question? If the latter, it's just faulty valves, which are easily replaced. Should they come that way from the factory? No, and maybe you have the basis for a warranty claim with the manufacturer (not the seller).

Breaking in, in my opinion and that of many other knowledgeable players, is pure myth.

True, playing with excessive force will fatigue reeds and they will eventually break.

True, when you pick up an unfamiliar harmonica it's a good idea to play it mildly while you get acquainted with its response and sound. Beyond that, you can preserve the life of a harmonica by getting to know it character, adjusting it where necessary, and by playing it with good technique and within reasonable bounds of volume.

However, I do not believe that playing a harmonica gently for several days will do anything at all to extend the life of the reeds.

Reeds are amazingly robust in my experience and not delicate at all. I have accidentally crumpled reeds into wild, multi-folded shapes accidentally when a tuning file caught the reed the wrong way. When this happens, after an initial moment of panic, I flatten the reed out, set the action, tun it up. After that the reed usually plays trouble free for years.

I do not recommend throwing a harmonica against a wall, however. The force of impact can break or bend vital parts. Chances are it wouldn't damage the reeds, though it might knock them out of alignment with their slots.

Winslow

Winslow Yerxa

Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5

Resident expert at bluesharmonica.com

Harmonica instructor, jazzschool.com

Columnist, harmonicasessions.com

--- On Mon, 4/19/10, simple chug <simplechug@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

From: simple chug <simplechug@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Chrom fragility-sturdiness
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Monday, April 19, 2010, 11:47 AM

Bought a chrom from Harmonicastore.  It came with a loose reed or two.  It had been packed really poorly (on the bottom of the box with no cushioning so ever time it hit the weight of the packing on top slammed it).  Complained...got a phone call from the boss, He sears it could not be the packing because over thirty five years he has thrown harmonicas agains the wall etc with not damage.  This does not jibe with the careful breaking-in and warming routines i have been instructed to use to protect the delicate reeds.  So?  do i have to pamper my chrom or was harmonicastore telling the truth?