Bluebird
44 posts
Jun 28, 2024
12:40 PM
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I have a customized harmonica (my favorite!) that is set up for overblows.
I love it, and it has worked well for the last year or so. I am really able to play chromatically with it, with effortless overblows (including substantial bending and vibrato).
Lately, without my opening the covers and doing anything, the 6 blow is starting to stick or choke, so it won't play even when playing very quietly. Does playing a lot of overblows on a hole cause this? Is it just a matter of going in and trying to widen the gap a tiny bit?
I am not much of a tinkerer.
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Gnarly
Alternatetuning
3154 posts
Jun 29, 2024
4:03 AM
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OB 6 is created by choking the blow reed. The gap is probably set pretty tight on that reed.
So it’s possible that something is making that reed choke when you don’t want it to.
I would say, take the plates off the comb and plink the reed. That might be enough to clear the slot.
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harpwrench
1128 posts
Jun 30, 2024
7:01 PM
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You should send it back to the customizer and have it serviced/adjusted.
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www.spiersharmonicas.com
High Performance Harmonicas
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Roy Ale
4 posts
Jul 08, 2024
2:53 PM
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Blue Bird i am not a customizer or an expert on service , that said i am not afraid of adjusting reed gap on my own harps . To over blow the gap at the end of the reed to the reed plate is very close . it is just about level with the reed plate . i have same key harps gapped for overflow and same key harps with more gap for some songs i do , so the reed will not stall . I use an engine feeler gauge , slide the end of the feeler gauge along to see if it will slide under the reed, or stop when it touches the end of the reed . Blue Bird you say the harp in question has worked well for a year , maybe its just me my reeds do not stay where i put them , they will need redone . my adjustments will not last a full year . So do you have an engine feeler gauge to know what gap you have now ?
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Bluebird
45 posts
Jul 09, 2024
11:33 AM
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Hi Roy,
No, I don't have a feeler gauge. Maybe I will look at getting one. I think I will probably take Harpwrench's advice, though. I have two left feet for hands.
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Gnarly
Alternatetuning
3157 posts
Jul 09, 2024
3:51 PM
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Having made attempts at servicing custom harps with mixed results, I am of the opinion that the best repair person would be the person who did the customization.
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