Re: [Harp-L] Sinuses and Chromatics

[Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

No need to go to slidemeister. Wizard Winslow has answered this query. Valveless chromos are a waste of time. Use peroxide. 

smo-joe 

On Nov 24, 2015, at 2:06 PM, Winslow Yerxa wrote:

> I'm a lifelong sinus sufferer and have played chromatic since I was a teenager but have never needed to clean them so rigorously.
> 
> Remember that most germs die pretty quickly once their fluid medium dries up. You're more likely to get sick by transferring germs from public surfaces from your hands to your mouth via the harmonica than from anything left in your harmonica from a previous playing session. Washing your hands before playing is an easy, effective preventative.
> 
> Unvalved chromatics are too leaky to bother with. Plenty of good quality plastic-combed, valved chromatics are available.
> 
> If you really feel the need to clean your chromatics, I'd avoid alcohol, which can dissolve valve glue, and use hydrogen peroxide instead.
> 
> You might also make inquiries on the forum at slidemeister.com. which is a chromatic-only group. I'm sure other players have come up with valve-safe cleaning methods.
> 
> Winslow Yerxa
> Producer, the Harmonica Collective
> 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 Expert, bluesharmonica.com
> Instructor, Jazzschool Community Music School
> President emeritus, SPAH, the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: Emily Keene <esalisburykeene@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
> Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2015 11:43 AM
> Subject: [Harp-L] Sinuses and Chromatics
> 
> 
> Message: 10
> Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2015 08:56:57 -0600
> From: "Bruce Ritter" <britterk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Chromatic playing
> To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Message-ID: <001601d12536$08ce8930$1a6b9b90$@windstream.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="us-ascii"
> 
> I'm a little frustrated.  Here's my problem.  I've been fighting a sinus
> infection for about 4 years.  I try to keep my harps sterilized.  My
> cleaning process is an ultrasound cleaner with a few drops of dish soap,
> followed by a couple minutes in 180 proof grain alcohol, followed by an
> ozone treatment once they are dry.  That means I only play plastic combed
> harps, which I am fine with.  I'd like to try chromatics, but the Hohner
> educator ten, which has no valves takes too much air for me with the
> breathing/sinus issues.  My understanding is there are three, maybe four
> ways to play chromatic.  My "feeling" is that any harp with valves will
> suffer from my cleaning regimen, which rules out most chromatics and any
> half valved harps.  Becoming a bending master like Howard Levy seems too
> optimistic for my current intermediate skill set and the amount of spare
> time in my life, which seems to leave special tunings maybe?  Or just
> forgetting it till I get the health issues whipped?  Anyone have any
> suggestions of something I'm missing?
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> "Quotes from the internet are not always accurate"
> 
> 
> 
> Abraham Lincoln
> 
> Firstly, regarding sinuses; if your insurance covers it, make sure you get
> a good MRI. I suffered for fifteen years with recurrent sinus problems and
> a sharp-eyed doctor finally picked up where one of the entrances to one of
> my sinuses had a little flap of skin that had sealed more of it than it
> should have. One fairly minor surgery and I've thrown away my decongestants
> and netti pot.  Secondly, regarding valves; Seydel seems to actually
> ENCOURAGE users to work on their own harmonicas, and between the fabulous
> Rockin' Ron and the truly helpful Seydel rep Rupert Oysler, replacement
> valves for Seydel harps are not only available but cheap and easy to
> replace if they fall off. Rick Epping's Youtube video shows how to do it,
> but basically you leave some shellac out in the open for a few days until
> it gets tacky and then dab some on with a toothpick and some tweezers, let
> it dry for a day,  and Bob's your uncle. Thirdly, the ready availability of
> alternate tunings is one of the true miracles of the modern age.
> I've gotten to where I only play with circular tuning (and a variant I made
> up that is even more circular), so I say, why not take advantage of
> possibilities our forebears only dreamed of? Cheers, emily