Re: Subject: [Harp-L] Help with Chromatic repair

[Rick Dempster <rickdempster33@xxxxxxxxx>]

Re. Elizabeth's comments about the diatonic-heavy-chromatic-light nature of
harp-l:
Just for the record, as a long time lister on harp-l, I play chromatic
(badly) as well as diatonic, and have had to fix the things over the years.
Occasionally (when I could afford it) I'd send them off for repair.
Re-valving, tuning, occasionally replacing a reed were bearable. Trying to
fix a broken comb, then trying to re-attach the plates to the
comb was difficult. I ended up drilling and tapping the plates and using
screws to hold it together.
If you like doing this stuff, great.If you don't, then you have to pay
someone.
A good harp tech is a wonderful thing.

RD

















On 17 January 2014 18:51, <EGS1217@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> In all honesty, Brad--harp-l is probably 90% heavy with diatonic players
> although there are quite a few chromatic players who post and read this
> list
> who  also post on Slidemeister. However that list is the opposite: 90%
> chromatic  players who devote ALL of their time in discussion about the
> attributes,  maintenance and repair of just the instruments you describe.
> If there
> isn't a  current discussion going on, one will be easily found in their
> never
> closed  topics. Check here: _www.slidemeister.com/forums/_
> (http://www.slidemeister.com/forums/)  -
>
>  in fact I just looked and here's one particular page from someone  with a
> similar problem to yours (since you can't do a more direct search without
> signing up):
>
> http://www.slidemeister.com/forums/index.php?topic=9549.0
>
> there's lots more.
> If you DO decide to sign up to Slidemeister, tell AJ (Fedor) that I
> suggested you join.
>
> Elizabeth
>
> PS: Winslow gave you most of the same suggestions I planned to--not to
> totally dismantle the chromatic without using carpenter's glue to fix the
> crack,  then reattaching the one removed plate before taking off the
>  other to
> complete the repair. If BOTH plates are removed  initially, the wood
> expands
> preventing the nails or screws from lining up in the  wood comb again.
> There
> are several YouTube videos demonstrating how to go about  this kind of
> repair as well.
>
>
> PPS: MY simpler solution would be to purchase a relatively inexpensive
> entire chromatic off EBay (first ensuring the comb was intact)and
>  breaking it
> down for parts. You might be surprised by just how inexpensive  they can be
> gotten for.The Seller is required to answer your question honestly.  So ask
> if the wood back has any lines or cracks. If so, it runs through the body
> as Winslow described.
>
>
> PPPS: Betty Romel is still selling (afaik) her late husband Bill's
> self-stick windsavers. Danny G of New Harmonica also sells some.
> Discussion of
> where to get the tubing too for bumpers has been talked about on
>  Slidemeister.
>
>
> "Message: 11
> Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 16:21:46 -0500
> From: harp  <harp@xxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Help with Chromatic repair
> To:  "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Dear Harp-L,
>
> I have  always played the diatonic harp, but have been curious about the
> chromatic. I  recently purchased a couple of older Hohner Chromonicas –
> one is
> a 10-hole, and  the other is a “super” 12 hole. Both have wood combs, and
> both are in need of  maintenance. I regularly work on my diatonics, but I
> have never had a chromatic  before, so I am jumping right into the deep
> end of
> the swimming pool and am  going to do some work on these to see if I can
> make them fully functional. But I  need some help/parts.
>
> I have already cleaned them up some, and I have  opened up the gap on some
> reeds that were choking and have “ironed out” a reed  that had been bent.
> 100% better already, but I still have a long way to go. Here  are the
> issues
> where I could use some advice:
>
> - Both harps have broken  combs. The Super has a vertical crack on the
> 10-hole that is between 1/16” and  1/8” wide. This means that both the
> upper
> and lower reeds of hole 10 play  regardless of where the slide is
> positioned.
> The 10-hole Chromonica also has a  vertical crack in the comb, but it is
> not
> at all as bad, and it does not seem to  leak enough air between the upper
> and lower chambers to affect how it plays.  Does anyone have any
> recommendations on repairing the comb? I can think of  several ways to go
> about it, but
> I thought I would ask the group first.
> - Of  course, the windsavers are shot. Should I just buy the windsavers
> from Hohner  (currently out of stock – anyone have some they would like to
> sell?)
> - Any  suggestions on how to punch rivet holes in the windsavers short of
> buying the  $350 Hohner tool kit?
> - Does anyone have some of the slide buffers (the  little pieces of plastic
> tubing that cover the mouthpiece screws)?
>
> Thank  you very much,
> Brad
>
>
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>
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