[Harp-L] metal tipped leather valves

[JOSEPH LEONE]

When Rick talks, I take it directly to the bank. In my opinion he is the be all, end all, eye of India when it comes to harmonicas. 
smo-joe 

> On 08/06/2025 4:25 PM EDT Rick Epping <rickepping at xxxxx> wrote:
> 
>  
> If you want to try installing the leather valves, I’d suggest having a look at my video on the subject (link below). One technique I don’t mention in the video is what to do when a valve, usually an old used valve, is too stiff after tensioning. After curling it nap side in as demonstrated, if it’s too stiff when testing it by giving it a flick while holding it by its side to be glued, curl it nap side out and then nap side in again. If it’s still too stiff, repeat the process until the desired stiffness is achieved. The valve only needs to have enough tension, to be stiff enough, that it returns to lying flat on the reedplate after being played. Too stiff and it will restrict the airflow, causing the reed to sound muffled and play flat. Naturally, the metal covered bit should not be curled!
> 
> An old instruction guide Hohner included with its leather valved harmonicas said to store the harmonica sitting mouthpiece side up. This let the valves hang straight down while drying after playing, thereby reducing the amount of curling that might occur. Of course, the old wood-body chromatics had all the reeds facing the same way. But even with modern reedplates it will be better to store them right side up (or right side down) rather than on their side. 
> 
> <https://youtu.be/NFrUKEeQ1UU?si=sCtB5BBtM4xukcTY>
> 
> 
> 
> > ----------------------------------------------
> > 
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2025 11:30:40 +1000
> > From: Rick Dempster <rickdempster33 at xxxxx>
> > To: JOSEPH LEONE <3n037 at xxxxx>
> > Cc: Slim Heilpern <slim at xxxxx>, Walter Scanlon
> >    <scanlon at xxxxx>,    harp-l <harp-l at xxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Low Maintenance Harp
> > Message-ID:
> >    <CALH_260s3Vi3w9C5mVaXvc205XRH+yQHdXM=b6g+A=G84ddGwQ at xxxxx>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
> > 
> > I have a box of metal-tipped (ie weighted) leather valves. Owner of a music
> > shop gave them to me. Never actually tried them. Anyone have any experience
> > with them? Maybe you, Joe.
> >