Re: [Harp-L] harp-tech, where to start

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Eric - 

All good questions.

The first filter I used in Harmonica For Dummies was, "How easy is it to physically accomplish?" 

For example, flat-sanding a reedplate can deliver great benefits, but is not something a beginning harmonica player (or beginning harp tech) might feel comfortable tackling. 

So I start with easy stuff like taking a screwed-together harmonica 
apart and reassembling it for improved air-tightness, using nothing but a
 screwdriver and your finger, using specific techniques and procedures.

Basic
 gapping is something most players can take on. Not the ultra-precise 
work of gapping for overbends, necessarily, but to ensure consistency 
and maybe tighten up the response of an out-of-the-box harp.

Tuning
 is an art that you can plumb in great depth, but just knowing the 
basics in order to correct obvious deficiencies is worth learning.

I do get into slot embossing and rounding off sharp corners, but not into things like opening the back so f covers, flat sanding, sealing wood combs, or converting nails to screws - all things I do myself, but I couldn't fit all that stuff into the 20 pages allotted for the chapter.

The second filter is urgency. Correcting defects and problems is the first thing a player is likely to need. For instance, learning how to clear reed obstructions is an essential technique, as a 
reed may be misaligned, suffer from metal burrs due to manufacturing 
errors, or may simply get some gunk stuck in it - fibers, dried, saliva,
 etc.

I provide a table of symptoms, likely causes, and corrective actions for the most basic problems a player is likely to encounter.

For more check out the table of contents: 

http://www.amazon.com/Harmonica-For-Dummies-Winslow-Yerxa/dp/047033729X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357763678&sr=8-1&keywords=harmonica+for+dummies#reader_047033729X

Winslow

 
Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
            Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
            Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance


________________________________
 From: Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 6:02 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] harp-tech, where to start
 
I have your book winslow (an earlier ed.) I'll check to see if it has that
chapter.

I guess what might be helpful is a short list of "important topics".  As a
beginner, we don't really know what tasks are super important, and which
ones are just "icing on the cake".  I don't know if gapping is critical
and/or flat sanding reed plates is trivial (or vice versa), half valving,
reed embossing, etc etc.

Like for guitar players I would say "the main four things  you need to know
to adjust your guitar are
-how to tune it,
-how to adjust the action
- how to adjust the intonation
- and how adjust the truss rod

If you can do those four things, the other stuff is small potatoes.  Don't
worry about dressing frets, graphite saddles, or locking tuners...that
stuff is details compared to those four things.

what are "the big four" (or two or 11) for the harmonica (and what
techniques should be steered clear of due to complexity or lack of real
benefit)


On Tue, Jan 8, 2013 at 8:08 PM, Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:

> My book, Harmonica For Dummies, has a chapter on basic repair and
> customization, geared toward the novice at taking a harmonica apart and
> doing things to it.
>
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Harmonica-For-Dummies-Winslow-Yerxa/dp/047033729X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y
>
> Harp tech Richard Sleigh sells a set of harmonica tools and a book on
> tuning, with some basic advice on gapping:
>
> http://rsleigh.com/turbocharge-your-harmonica/
>
>
>
> Winslow Yerxa
> Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
>             Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
>             Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
> Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
> Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance
>
>
> ________________________________
>  From: Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 12:38 PM
> Subject: [Harp-L] harp-tech, where to start
>
> For someone who wants to educate themselves on the requisite harp tech
> concepts/skills, where is a good place (website/book/etc) to start?
>
> I don't want to become an expert or customizer, right now I'm focusing on
> practicing and developing my playing/repertoire.  That said, I'd  like to
> be able to maintain my own instruments, and tweak them as needed.  For
> example, I can get consistent overblows on the 7 and 8, but the 9 and 10
> are elusive...I'm thinking there's something I can do to make those holes
> bend to my will a bit more.
>
> It's becoming apparent to me with all the jargon (half-valving, ebossing,
> etc.) that gets thrown around in casual harp conversation, that learning
> these things isn't really an option....so I might as well start learnin'.
>