[Harp-L] XB-40

[Rick Epping]

Hi Robert,

If both blow 2 and blow 3 won't bend at all but all other holes are fine,
it could be a coincidental problem with either their valves or their
complementary reeds.  If they will bend down a little but not a whole step,
I would check the seal between the comb and mouthpiece. Any air leakage
from there can seriously compromise bending.  A document I put together
describing the procedure I follow to service XB-40s can be accessed here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B56Y28n7JwtSeGxCMFh1WERvZVk/view?usp=sharing

Best regards,
Rick

From: Robert Hale <robert at xxxxx>
> To: "harp-l at xxxxx" <harp-l at xxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] XB-40
> Message-ID:
>         <CAMLFfH4AMFwier42KhMP5=iztWqyHDcwdUyPLop5VFkG4xfKXA at xxxxx
> gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> When blow 2 and blow 3 won't bend down a whole step (but all others do)
> does that mean it's silent complementary reed is not low enough in pitch?
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2017 8:20:18 -0400
> From: <flyingv8 at xxxxx>
> To: Michael Rubin <michaelrubinharmonica at xxxxx>,    Robert Hale
>         <robert at xxxxx>
> Cc: "harp-l at xxxxx" <harp-l at xxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] XB-40
> Message-ID: <20170926122018.CRIQ4.94909.root at xxxxx>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> I only checked the 3 hole draw X reed and it was tuned two whole steps
> down dead nuts. This is on a low D XB-40. I will spend some time over the
> next week with it checking all the X reeds. I don't have any trouble blow
> bending a whole step on any notes, The problem is with 2 draw whole step
> bend and 3 draw whole and half.
> Dee
> ---- Robert Hale <robert at xxxxx> wrote:
> > Michael and Dee,
> >
> > so the X- reed is right beside the playing reed on the reverse side of
> the
> > same plate?
> > Mine are all 3 semitones down, rather than 4, two whole steps.
> > Hmm...?
> >
> > Robert
> >
> > On Mon, Sep 25, 2017 at 7:39 AM, Michael Rubin <
> > michaelrubinharmonica at xxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > > I have only one XB-40 in the key of Ab.  My holes 2 and 3 blow bend a
> > > whole step.  There seems to be a actual problem with both yours and
> Dee's
> > > harp.
> > > Michael Rubin
> > > michaelrubinharmonica.com
> > >
> > > On Mon, Sep 25, 2017 at 8:37 AM, <flyingv8 at xxxxx> wrote:
> > >
> > >> Robert, that is what I thought when I was having trouble with the
> draw 3
> > >> bending a step and a half. I checked the sympathetic reed tuning and
> it was
> > >> exactly what it was supposed to be (2 whole steps down). I haven't
> found a
> > >> solution yet.
> > >> Dee
>