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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Tuning
Tuning
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rustywater
29 posts
Nov 22, 2008
1:24 PM
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I have been looking at various resources which discuss and demonstrate how easy it is to tune the harp, but I am interested in the experience of other forum users as to the reality of doing the job.
I am aware that out of the box instruments are not always in tune (this p-ss-s me off major big time considering the cost of the instrument) and I do not want the added expense of sending the buggers away to be tuned properly. On the other hand I am not overly confident in doing it myself.
I know there are tool kits available and I am quite happy to buy one, but what are you all using to tune it against, I have a guitar tuner, is that good enough.
Any comments will be extremely welcome.
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MrVerylongusername
34 posts
Nov 22, 2008
2:31 PM
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A guitar tuner is OK, but I'd try and get hold of something that can measure more accurately in cents if you really want to do it properly. A piano tuner's strobe tuner is what the pros use - like the Peterson ones. There are computer programs that can measure as accurately and are considerably cheaper, if not free.
As for kits - I have the Lee oskar kit, which is great, but you can't use the reed wrench on other brands. You don't actually need a whole load of fancy tools. I started with just a couple of modelling files. A set of motor feeler gauges is handy as a shim to support the reed as you work on it. Some guys use cheap model-maker's sanding wands instead of files. A cocktail stick is useful for gapping and plinking reeds. You don't have to spend a fortune.
BTW are you sure your harps are out of tune? I haven't ever noticed a big recurrent problem with quality brand names. Yes, the notes are not exactly in-tune against a tuner, but that is deliberate. If you are really going to get into tuning seriously and you aren't already familiar with the theory, I'd spend a little time getting your head around the Pythagorean comma, just-intonation, equal temperament and the various compromise tuning schemes.
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rustywater
30 posts
Nov 23, 2008
12:08 PM
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Thank you mrverylongusername, plenty of food for thought there, and I will look at the theory as well.
Its an interesting question as to whether the harps are out of tune, the answer is I don't know for sure one way or another.
I was given a Meisterklasse in A as a gift, when I first started to play it the sound was awful.It sounded really out of tune and it was hard to bend especially 2 draw. As I began to use it more it seems to have settled down and sounds much better and is easier to bend now.
I've read a lot about instruments being out of tune when new,even Adam I think touched on it, so I assumed it was that but now I don't know. As it sounds OK I'll just leave it.
I do have a couple of older harps which need tuning I'm sure but I'll try and get my head around some of the theory first.
Thanks again for your comments
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Miles Dewar
82 posts
Nov 24, 2008
6:17 PM
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I use my buddy's Guitar tuner, its digital and uses a diagram sort of like a speedometer to tell you how close you are to the pitch. it's easy, works well and is pretty cheap.
---Be Positive---
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