Re: [Harp-L] First try at tuning (higher).. Advice?

["Juke Geezer \(aka Steve Hayes\)" <bigbandrhythm@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Here's the follow-up to my query.

Thanks everyone who responded. You have saved me hours of frustration and
ultimate failure.

The summary is:
. Use tools better than an emery board. Real files or hand-held rotary
grinders are not scarce or expensive.
. Don't expect to tune tiny reeds up more than a whole step, if that.
. For my project, start with a higher bottom plate and use silver solder or
BLUE TAK  to tune some of the reeds down and reduce the requirement to tune
tiny reeds so much higher.

My ultimate takeaway is this:
I can buy some Manji plates in the key of G for about $33, then take my
chances on mangling a perfectly good pre-Fukushima LoF Manji; spending time
I could otherwise be playing... or, apply the $33 towards a purchase of a
harp that comes out of the box like I wanted in the first place.

So.. --> Play, don't tinker, unless that is what you really like doing. I
will buy a harp that is already like this configured from Seydel, or in this
case, maybe an SBS in low F from Hohner.

Thanks everyone.

-----Original Message----- 
From: gnarlyheman@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, July 04, 2013 8:24 PM
To: Juke Geezer (aka Steve Hayes)
Cc: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] First try at tuning (higher).. Advice?

I think you're going to have to replace some of those reeds. There are too
tiny to raise by so large an amount.

Gary

On Jul 4, 2013, at 4:27 PM, "Juke Geezer \(aka Steve Hayes\)"
<bigbandrhythm@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Resending.. I had some email issues here..
> =========
> Iâm going to try my first effort to retune a harp sometime in the next few
> days.
>
> Iâll be using a piece of paper or manila folder to support the reed and a
> cut-down emery board as a file to do this to a Low F Manji:
>
> Tune change in half-steps:
> Blow: 0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0
> Hole: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
> Draw: 0  0  0  0 +2 +2 +3 +3 +4 +2
>
> The intended result is a Steve Baker Special holes 1-10.
>
> I guess Iâll start with the 9 draw. Take a little brass at a time off the
> free end of the reed and keep checking pitch. It is a low harp and it
> looks like there is extra material for weight a the tip of every draw reed
> except 10.
>
> I suspect raising the 9 draw a third might be tricky. Also, because the 10
> reed has no extra material to remove, I wonder if a scraper might be a
> better tool for that.
>
> There is a Harbor Freight store in town as well as the usual complement of
> hardware and building supply stores.
>
> Any advice?
> Tools?
> Technique?
> Mantra?
> Dietary supplements?
>
>
> /Steve