Bige610
6 posts
Feb 03, 2010
2:23 PM
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so my harmonica is way out of tune. it must have happened when i cleaned it the other night. any suggestions on were to get the tools to fix this baby up. I would rather spend the money on the tools so i dont have to keep buying the same harps over and over again. thanks
e
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pharpo
132 posts
Feb 03, 2010
2:25 PM
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you can get small jewelers files at home depot
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Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
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nacoran
1006 posts
Feb 03, 2010
2:41 PM
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Several sites sell complete sets. I don't know which is best-
Seydel
Lee Oskar
Richard Sleigh
Last Edited by on Feb 03, 2010 2:55 PM
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MrVerylongusername
884 posts
Feb 03, 2010
2:54 PM
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check your html on the link - probably didn't close a tag properly
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nacoran
1008 posts
Feb 03, 2010
2:59 PM
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I wish we could get little links across the top of posts for posting links. Fark.com has them in the comment threads. If you want to post a link, you hit the link button and it puts the html into the field for you. I can never remember the html. I'm always going to the forum help to look it up.
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harmonicanick
588 posts
Feb 03, 2010
3:06 PM
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why did you mess with it?
most out of the box harps are fine..
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oldwailer
1053 posts
Feb 03, 2010
3:35 PM
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How much out of tune is it? If it's like really a lot--you must have cracked a reed when you cleaned it--tuning won't help that problem.
I think Buddha sells tool kits, along with the instructions on using them--I have the Richard Sleigh kit that I like a lot--also with good instructions--ElkriverHarps guy Dave sells kits. . .
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RyanMortos
603 posts
Feb 03, 2010
3:55 PM
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I second (third, fourth, whatever) Richard Sleigh's kit and book. But you could probably get away with a razor blade for reed support, a jeweler's file (as previously mentioned), and a chromatic tuner to succeed in tuning a harmonica.
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~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
Contact:
My youtube account
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oldwailer
1056 posts
Feb 03, 2010
3:59 PM
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Right--or just a Jewelers file and a ATM receipt--the way Adam Teaches. . .
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saregapadanisa
116 posts
Feb 03, 2010
4:05 PM
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There's a guy on Ebay (UK) regularly selling a "harmonica-man tuning tool kit".
Link : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/harmonica-man-tuning-tool-kit_W0QQitemZ200435055692QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Harmonicas_RL?hash=item2eaadc3c4c
Maybe easier to search Ebay directly though ;-)
I have no idea of what it's worth in terms of efficiency, but it's cheap : 9,99 Pounds. I suppose that, if you include shipping, it will go for around 30 US$.
Here it goes (quote) :
1 x pliers great for aligning reeds, gripping square nuts, etc.
1 x feeler great for guage gapping and supporting the reed in the plate during fine tuning.
1 x angled pic tool great for lifting reeds while tuning on the comb and of course a perfect plinking tool.
4 x precision headed screw driver with bits for cross headed and straight slot cover plate screws.
1 x reed file with chisel tip for reed tuning.
Last Edited by on Feb 03, 2010 4:13 PM
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GermanHarpist
1088 posts
Feb 03, 2010
4:09 PM
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I just bought this little tool...
http://www.pollin.de/shop/dt/MjcxODMxOTk-/Fundgrube/Freizeitartikel/Gravierwerkzeug.html
Didn't check it out yet... on the german forum they said that it's pretty useful, though. And hey 4€.. I just spent double buying beer for the evening...
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germanharpist on YT. =;-) - Resonance is KEY!
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rpoe
68 posts
Feb 03, 2010
4:17 PM
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@GH: First thought that came to mind for me....
"Is it safe?" :-)
reference "Marathon Man" starring Dustin Hoffman for the young pups out there.
Tuning is my next big test. My harps are well over due. I'm skeered.
rob
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oldwailer
1057 posts
Feb 03, 2010
4:34 PM
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@Rpoe--sometimes I have found that a good, Jason Ricci video type cleaning cures my out-of-tune harps--at least, that's where I start.
Of course, this thread was started by somebody who's problems with tuning started with cleaning--go figure. . .
Last Edited by on Feb 03, 2010 4:35 PM
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Bige610
7 posts
Feb 03, 2010
5:56 PM
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i think it may have been cracked. i tried to tune it but when i went to pluck it it snapped. i used very little pressure. It wouldnt plink either like the other ones. my guess is that it had a small crack on the side i couldnt see very well. i filed the crap out of it and it would change pitch. it was really out of tune as well. live and learn right. i look into richard sleighs tool. i used a small file from hope depot. damit they dont sell reed plates for the seyedel solist either. guess i have to buy a new harp.
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lumpy wafflesquirt
160 posts
Feb 04, 2010
1:11 AM
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@GH - what is that? 'fraid I can't read german.
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Bluefinger
43 posts
Feb 04, 2010
2:11 AM
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"@GH - what is that? 'fraid I can't read german. "
it's an engraving tool.
@Bige610: I'd recommend getting a Solist PRO next time. They are really nice (still my favorite harps) and replacement reeds or complete reedplates are available.
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If it ain't broke you just haven't fixed it enough ...
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Pimpinella
68 posts
Feb 04, 2010
4:25 AM
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Besides the fact, that i don't like the Solist Pro very much (just a personal statement) it must be said, that Seydel sells replacement reeds ONLY as sets of all 20 reeds for one key for a price thats only slightly below the price for a fully assembled set of reedplates. Not a good deal IMHO, especially considering, that Seydel brass reeds are not known for longevity :(
Then they do not sell replacement reeds for their very good 1847 series harps which is especially annoying considering the high price.
I see that Seydel does a great job when it comes to special tunings. What they provide in terms of maintainance-friedliness has never really reached what they once promised.
Last Edited by on Feb 04, 2010 4:37 AM
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Kingley
799 posts
Feb 04, 2010
4:32 AM
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I would avoid buying a harmonica tool kit from Ebay as you have no idea of the quality of the tools.
If you are going to buy one then all the tailor made toolkits listed so far are all fit for the purpose (Sleigh, Seydel, Hohner, Lee Oskar). Although I have to say if I was buying one today it would be the Richard Sleigh tool kit, as I feel it's probably the best of the bunch.
Personally I would suggest assembling your own tool kit by getting some good quality screwdrivers, good quality jewelers files, a large paper clip (to make a reed lifting tool) and a very thin feeler gauge (shim).
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Bluefinger
46 posts
Feb 04, 2010
4:34 AM
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That's true. I have blown out quite a few high blow reeds on the Solists and especially the 1847s. That's a reason why I switched to Solist Pro reedplates completely. I like the sound of brass better anyway. I think that the tighter the tolerances, the more stress is present on the reeds. They are set up VERY nicely from the factory but that comes at the expense of longevity. But they state themselfes that the set up their harps for optimum tone and playability rather than for maximum lifespan.
It's a thing that unnerves me a bit but I love them so much, I guess I have to live with it.
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If it ain't broke you just haven't fixed it enough ...
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barbequebob
432 posts
Feb 04, 2010
10:38 AM
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LO, Seydel, Hering, Hohner, Suzuki, and Richard Sleigh all have tool kits, but the two best in terms of professional grade quality tools alone are the Richard Sleigh and Seydel tool kits. Seydel's tools are made by a German company named Wiha, and they're the equivalent of something like a SnapOn, Matco, or Sears Craftsma n in terms of quality.
The reed wrenches are awesome in all of the kits, but the weak points of most of the others are the wuality of the screwdrivers and files.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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isaacullah
679 posts
Feb 04, 2010
10:49 AM
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Actually, I now would recommend just using an ordinary nail file over a jewler's file. Get a nail file that has a coating like an emery board (you know, one that looks like it has kind of a sand papery finish) instead of one that has a pattern engraved (like on a normal jewlers file). This is lighter on the reeds and leaves a nicer finish (no striations), which is a very good thing for your reed's longevity. Plus, most nail files can be bent a little at the end, which makes it infinitely easier to get the filing surface at the proper filing angle against the reed's surface. Don't bend the file too much, or it will break (the metal they are made of is fairly brittle). I've been using a file like this for tuning for several months now, and I would NEVER go back to using a jewlers file.
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------------------
The magnificent YouTube channel of the internet user known as "isaacullah"
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barbequebob
434 posts
Feb 04, 2010
1:26 PM
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Charlie Musselwhite has actually used emery boards for tuning rather than a file, some have used Exacto #1's.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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toddlgreene
726 posts
Feb 04, 2010
1:36 PM
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My friend uses these.
sanding wands
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Last Edited by on Feb 04, 2010 1:38 PM
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