[Harp-L] Re: Harp-L Digest, Vol 123, Issue 18

[diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx]

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Message: 2 
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 08:32:29 -0800 (PST) 
From: Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx> 
Subject: Fw: [Harp-L] Polishing reeds 
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Mike -ï 

Any comment on the longevity of Hohner chromatic high reeds since the reed redesign circa 2005? 

Winslow 
ï 

<<Yes, Winslow. The problem occurs with all the X series plates including those prior to 2005. I don't know what Hohner was thinking when they narrowed almost half the reeds on their chromatics. 

Where the older model 270's and CX-12's seem to fatigue most is on holes 6 and 7. The newer reeds fail most on holes 6 to 12. The Tenor models seem to be the worse. They constantly fail for my customers on holes 9 to 12. 

I don't think it is the reed material because when it comes time to replace the narrow reeds I have to trim either newer reeds I've purchased from Hohner or use the NOS reeds I have. AFAIK HohnerUSA doesn't sell the narrow reeds. 
The reeds I trim fail just as fast as the ones Hohner installs. 

I do think that while narrowing the reeds may make them respond with a little less effort the trade off are expensive repair bills over the life of the harmonica. I really wish they wouldn't have tried to fix something that wasn't broken. I strongly believe they should go back to the wider reeds>> 



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From: "diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx" <diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx> 


I don't think or try to do anything special to the reed other then install it correctly and they generally last many years. The exception being on the upper narrower reeds on Hohner chromatics. 

Mike 
www.harmonicarepair.com 

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