[Harp-L] Sticking reeds

[Richard Hunter]

Hi all,

I read with interest the posts this week about Session Steels with sticking reeds.  I'm experiencing this phenomenon frequently these days with a range of harmonica makes and models--Manjis, 1847s, Steels, you name it.  I'm doing the overdubs for my record "The Lucky One" this week, and I am having plenty of trouble getting through my takes without a reed jamming here and there.  Grrrr.

My guess is that this is a result of two things in particular:
1) Harmonicas are better made, to more exacting tolerances, than they used to be.  That means the gaps between reeds and plates have been reduced, so a piece of junk that would've just fallen away in previous generations of harmonicas now gets caught between reed and plate. 
2) Manufacturers are in general gapping their reeds more tightly than they used to in order to facilitate overblowing. Again, that means stuff that used to be insignificant is now enough to block vibrations.

The solution to the second problem is obviously to gap the reeds higher, which was suggested by several people on the list.  The problem with that is that overblowing is much easier when reeds are set close to the plate. 

The solution to the first problem is--what?  Brush your teeth more frequently?  Cultivate a dry mouth?

I suppose that simply playing more quietly might help, but I'm not a quiet player.  Comments and suggestions on the above welcome.

Thanks, Richard Hunter


21st century rock harmonica record project "The Lucky One" at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/richard-hunter-s-the-lucky-one/x/5259889#/
author, "Jazz Harp" (Oak Publications, NYC)
Latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://hunterharp.com
Vids at http://www.youtube.com/user/lightninrick
Twitter: lightninrick