Gustav Mahler
Guest
Nov 12, 2008
9:13 PM
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Hey guys, I recently bought a Hohner Marine Band harp in the key of A and the 1 draw reed has a terrible buzz. I tried bringing the reed out more and pushing it in more, but I can't rid of the buzz. My 7 and 8 draws also get a weird sound if I pull them too hard. How should I go about fixing my harp up?
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Beethoven
Guest
Nov 13, 2008
1:23 AM
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Give up the harp & go back to writing symphonies which you are very good at. Seriously though you need to do some adjustment to those reeds which is not easy on a Marine Band ie all those horrible nails. Most other reputable brands of harp perform better out of the box.
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Gustav Mahler
Guest
Nov 13, 2008
9:32 PM
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Thats pretty funny, Ludwig. By the way, my 9th is better than yours.
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Aussiesucker
65 posts
Nov 13, 2008
10:00 PM
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Check out amongst Adams youtube videos ie I think lesson 18 (it is lesson 18 on Adams DVD) where Adam talks about gear & tweaks & shows how to take apart a Marine Band & adjust the reeds. I would think that if you are getting a buzzing sound then there could be a burr on the side of the reed or the reed might be slightly off centre. I have a similar prob with a G Harpmaster that buzzes sometimes. It only seems to happen after it warms up and is annoying if I hit the note on a slide ie it works ok if I hit it square on. Have had the Harpmaster apart but am unable to see the cause.
I like Beethovens 9th but then again I am not that familiar with your 9th. Ode to Joy works well on my harps ie isnt that from Ludwigs 9th?
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oldwailer
323 posts
Nov 14, 2008
6:09 PM
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Gustav--
Try putting a little teeny square of micropore tape about half way down the reed--a little smaller in size than the width of the reed. Make sure it doesn't touch the edges of the slot.
Before you do this--just realize that it might be a waste of time and I am only guessing at the problem. I would try Aussie's ideas first--I had a Delta Frost that would make a bad noise only while doing a slow bend down on the 2 draw. This cured it.
I think the term for the problem--if this works, is tortional vibration--the reed, instead of vibrating in and out--starts a twisting vibration--usually only a problem when you try to overblow certain brands of harps--my theory is that even an MB could have a weakness in the reed that could cause this--which is why I tried it. . .
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Anonymous
Guest
Nov 15, 2008
3:32 AM
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Make sure the reed is centered in its slot!!
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Genesis
Guest
Nov 15, 2008
3:35 AM
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Are you sure it's not the reed hitting the coverplate?
Will be pretty hard to see though with stock covers.
The reed could be swinging at an angle through the slot
clipping the bottom of the slot on one side. This is
usually due to bad rivet job or a deep file mark at an angle. Reeds almost always swing at an angle when the file mark is deep. If you disassemble and hold it up to light
press the reed in it's slot at the base. A 10 power jewlers
loupe will allow you to see whats going on instantly.
If it's clipping you can create more clearance with a security tag. Those magnetic stickers they put on C.D.'s.
Get one and cut it open. Notice which side has the curve in it and use that side to remove metal. It helps to cut the end of the shim at a steep angle.
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Schoenberg
Guest
Nov 18, 2008
5:27 AM
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Hey Gustav, now that you're back have you finished up the 10th? If not it might be better. I don't really know if Das Lied von der Erde could be topped.
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