RE: [Harp-L] re: Whiners;SP-20

[Steve Shaw <moorcot@xxxxxxx>]

> > OK, um what's the point of soaking a plastic combeb harp?
> 
> The water fills in any small gaps between the reed plate, comb, etc.
> and decreases leakiness ... plays with same sound volume but with less
> air ... more notes / playing time per breath ... bends more easily ...
> 
> Also if warm water, brings harp up to body temp quickly which improves
> tone, etc as mentioned by those chromatic players that preheat with a
> heating pad ...
> 
> My experience ... think true for others ...
> 
> Comments?


You heat chromatic harps in order to prevent condensation compromising the performance of the valves.  This clearly does not apply to unvalved diatonics such as SP20s.  An SP20 should not have all those little gaps that leak air if properly assembled, and water in whatever gaps there are will not help. In any case, condensation water from playing would very rapidly have the same effect as you predict would happen from washing, if it happens at all.  I've been playing SP20s and Lee Oskar harps, both plastic-bodied, for 20 years or so, and I do wash them under the tap, but, whilst this gets rid of grot, it does nothing at all to reduce any perceived leakiness. The beauty of unvalved plastic-bodied harps is that you whip them out of the bag and they play perfectly every time. Setting them up properly in the first place is the thing... 

 

Steve Shaw
 		 	   		  
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