I rinse it off if it's too dirty and I wonna show it off or something (but that's mostly the coverplates) and I scrape off the gunk when I tinker, but that's it.
I cleaned mine a few weeks ago because there was a build up of gunk in some of them, I also thought they were starting to sound a little dull. Jason Rici has a YT video showing how to lean using a toothbrush but I couldn't find the video or remember what he used to clean them with so I ended up using toothpaste. I gave the plastic combs got a good hard scrubbing and rinse off and used my finger tips to gently rub in the toothpaste into the reed plates, a light scrubbing with the tooth brush and a good rinse under the tap. the cover plates cleaned up nicely too and they all sounded a bit brighter when finished. tasted minty too. I was a bit surprised that it worked so well to be honest ---------- My granddad gave me some sound advice on his deathbed. "It's worth spending money on good speakers," he told me.
I use an ultra sonic cleaner, which I got quite recently. I do not strip the harps down but put them 3 at a time in the bath chamber with warm water, a drop or two of washing up liquid and then put through three cycles. It goes against the grain to put them in water but the results are good. Dry thoroughly, of course, and they are fresh and sparkling. I use Golden Melody by the way, do NOT do this with a MB with wooden comb. Happy New Year to all
'how often do you strip down and clean your harps?'
when the build up of gunk starts making music impossible. one can certailnly push that time frame by cleanliness of mouth, maybe length of facial hair (ouch).....clean mouth before playing. then only fluid calories! - weeks may go by.
Last Edited by on Dec 28, 2009 4:58 AM
With my plastic-combed harps, before I knew anything of customization, gapping reeds, etc. I would soak them in water with a touch of Dr. Tichenor's or mouthwash to disinfect and make them taste minty-fresh. I'd remove them from the water, gently tap out on a towel, then play to make sure everything was a 'go'. This generally works to remove the crust and crud from the combs, along and inside the coverplates or stuck to reeds. I'd do this one every couple of weeks, or before a gig, occasionally removing the reed plates from the comb for a more thorough crud removal. Now that I'm friends with a local guy who is a customizer and overall harp 'nerd'(aren't we all, though?)he's taught me more about cleaning the actual reed plates. Notice on a harp you've played a while that the reeds and plates get dark discoloration? I used to disregard that, but it's just as gnarly as comb crud, and can even send your reeds out of tune noticeably. I use Barkeeper's Friend and an old toothbrush, and gently scrub them to make them shiny and clean. Rinse afterwards, though-you don't wanna taste the BF. ---------- ~Todd L. Greene, Devout Pedestrian
"listen to what you like for inspiration, but find your own voice"
I clean them a bit every time I play--just enough to get the chunks out--I use Mi-T-Mist (get it at guitar Center or musician's friend) for this routine cleaning--along with a denture brush that I use to brush out the chunks.
Whenever a harp starts to clog a lot or sound out of tune, I use the Jason Ricci method first--and I only tune them if this doesn't work--usually, cleaning a harp like this will make it sound brand new--and it will miraculously tune it. I still follow this procedure with a spray or two of Mi-T-Mist--just to make them taste fresh and minty. . .
i clean them when the beer makes them unplayable. lol sometimes they're unplayable from beer, and sometimes i just cant play them (but thats usually from scotch) ;-)
@ Zhin...nice catch. I too clean mine in the buff. Makes it easier to find the nuts. You know, the hex ones... ---------- ~Todd L. Greene, Devout Pedestrian
"listen to what you like for inspiration, but find your own voice"
