bernmurd
2 posts
Feb 26, 2009
7:39 AM
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Bought a new special 20 in G and right out the box the three hole is hideous. blow, draw, it doesn't matter. It makes some nasty squeaky goose sounds. Can you guys provide some good links on harp maintenance and tuning? I figure I can't make it any worse.
thanks,
Bernie
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RyanMortos
86 posts
Feb 26, 2009
8:15 AM
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Check out overblow.com, thats a decent source. I think Adam had a youtube video # 16 or around there showing some basic stuff.
Two non-professional guesses:
I dont know much but my first guess would be that squeky meant incorrectly aligned reeds. Do you have to use a ton of pressure to get any sound? Maybe that means the gap is too close.
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~Ryan
PA
Ryan's Tube - Containing [0] uploads and counting...
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bernmurd
3 posts
Feb 26, 2009
8:57 AM
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the more pressure I use the worse the sound gets. If it's just a whisper of pressure it sounds right, but any normal breathing it is terrible
Bernie
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danielbs
41 posts
Feb 26, 2009
9:10 AM
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Hi bernmurd
I would check this video by Ronnie Shellist:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JedozxAdK9k
He bought himself a few MB's and they were so bad that he posted a video about it.
After a while he posted another video saying that a Hohner representative contacted him and said that one can return and 'crappy-out-of-the-box' harmonica to get it sorted out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JedozxAdK9k
I think that if you spend your good money on NEW harmonicas you should get them in working order !
Try sending yours back before trying to fix it, which can result in a damaged harmonica.
(-:
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http://www.youtube.com/user/Dantheharpman
Last Edited by on Feb 26, 2009 9:54 AM
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harmonicanick
158 posts
Feb 26, 2009
9:51 AM
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Bernie,
The shop/vendor has a duty of care to provide you with a product that works properly.
To me it is out of the question to accept faulty goods!
I always buy in a shop and try the harp BEFORE I leave.
If you have bought over the net then phone and send back the harp with a covering letter and keep a copy of course.
It may take time but persist..all legislation is now on the purchasers side as long as you return the item promptly with good reason.
Nick
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bernmurd
4 posts
Feb 26, 2009
1:03 PM
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yeah, I ordered it over the net, but I'll call and see if they can do anything? It is a bummer that out of the box it sounds so bad. All the other notes sound great too, this is my first G (harp noob) and I really like the deep sounds, except for the 3 hole.
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bluzlvr
128 posts
Feb 26, 2009
1:31 PM
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Seems to me one of the risks of buying factory made harmonicas is getting one with one or more bad reeds.
I've never had a bad harp right out of the box, but I was extremely annoyed when my D Seydel Soloist Pro four hole draw went bad after barely a week of easy woodshedding on it. AAAARGGG!!!!
I understand that you can send them back under warrenty, but who wants to deal with that?
I've got Special 20's and Marine Bands that I've been playing for years. Other's go bad it seems within a couple of months...
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harpwrench
18 posts
Feb 26, 2009
3:15 PM
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Please complain loudly and persistently to Hohner, in writing, every time any of you get a squealing harp. That's the only way something will get done about it. You should also complain about the often horrid tuning.
Hohner changed the reed profiles and material. This was because of piss-poor players who blow their harps out after one gig and swallow a reed. Sorry, but that's just the way it is. It was also an opportunity to make them more responsive without directly correcting the actual inherent issues with playability- air leakage (caused by comb/reedplate fit and/or poor gapping).
The result was harps that do last longer, and are more responsive despite the same air leakage being present. But, the reeds are now on the edge of instability. It's especially apparent on the 2 and 3 draw notes, some keys worse than others. Another side effect is poor intonation of straight notes. Upper blow notes that sometimes go sharp if you play them harder, lower draw &/or blow notes that flatten much worse under pressure than they used to. Octaves can sometimes be absolutely impossible to tune.
My opinion is that the reeds should be more stable. IMO you shouldn't even be able to generate that squealing noise, as opposed to the opinion that you should learn to control it. FWIW, I've recently worked on a Suzuki Fabulous with the same issues of blowing sharp, only worse than the typical Hohner- it was absolutely ridiculous.
Harps from every manufacturer have their issues. But honestly, they are trying to improve. It's costly, and not necessarily easily done. Without articulate consistent feedback from the customer telling them your problems with their products, they will logically have no reason to make changes.
Last Edited by on Feb 26, 2009 3:56 PM
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Tryharp
108 posts
Feb 26, 2009
4:18 PM
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I posted about a Promaster I received recently, that was lovely to play out of the box, and nicely in tune. I didnt mention that at the same time I also got a new SP20 in A, it was not good, particularly the tuning was woeful. It will be great when I tweak it up a bit though.
Tryharp
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