[Harp-L] bent reed

[ca...@candlefishband.com]

while attempting to unstick a sticky reed I bent it (yes, I am new to
this) .. is there any way to fix that?

(fortunately, on second try on a different harp I just swabbed on alcohol
and stayed away from the reed with the screwdriver and that harp is
playing fine)

Tom Casey

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[Vern Smith]

----- Original Message -----
From: <ca...@candlefishband.com>
To: <har...@harp-l.org>
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 1:49 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] bent reed

> while attempting to unstick a sticky reed I bent it (yes, I am new to
> this) .. is there any way to fix that?

You can try to bend it back to its original shape. Look at the reeds on
either side to see the shape that you are aiming for. You probably snagged
the tip on something and pulled it up so restoring it will involve pushing
the tip down through the slot. IF you also pulled it to the side, chances of
success are slim. However, console yourself that there isn't anything to be
lost. The worst that you can do is start and end with a bad reed.

There are two fundamental rules for making a reed play:

1. It is called a "free" reed for a reason. The reed must not touch the
sides of its slot or anything else as it vibrates. Hold it up to a bright
background such as a light bulb and view it with one eye closed. If it is
free, you will see the same amount of light on both sides.

2. It must have the proper shape and gap. Acceptable shape is parallel to
the plate at the rivet and sweeping up in a gentle arc to the tip which has
the proper height / gap above the reedplate. Look at the gaps of the reed's
neighbors. Its gap should be larger than its higher neighbor and smaller
than its lower neighbor.

I assume that replacing the reed is a technical challenge for which you are
not yet ready.

You can possibly purchase and install a new reedplate. That is just a matter
of screws or nails.

Unless it is an expensive chromatic, has been customized, has historic
value, or you are otherwise fond of it...it will probably be less expensive
to get a new harp than to have it fixed.

> (fortunately, on second try on a different harp I just swabbed on alcohol
> and stayed away from the reed with the screwdriver and that harp is
> playing fine)

If alcohol works, you are lucky. Take care that cotton fibers do not remain
in the slot. If alcohol doesn't work, pass a thin (.001") strip of metal
from an anti-theft tag gently along the sides of the stuck reed to remove
obstructions. A piece of fried chicken in the clearance along the side of
the reed violates the rule that the reed must be free.

Vern
Visit my harmonica website www.Hands-Free-Chromatic.7p.com

[john]

It may help you to know that the reed will be stiffest and most resistant to further bending right at the crease, because the metal's crystal structure will have been changed there by the first bend.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Best regards.
john
jjth...@flash.net
2008-07-28

[Rick Dempster]

One of my XB40s has a dirty great kink in it's draw 3 reed. Still plays fine. This didn't happen during maintenance, so I assume it's happened simply through playing. Anyone seen that kind of thing before?
RD

>>> "john" <jjth...@flash.net> 29/07/2008 11:33 >>>

[David Payne]

I should have mentioned about the bending back the reed, when you "massage" as Rupert says, the reed with the dull, blunt instrument, you can do that from both sides. In fact, it works better if you do if from both sides. On the reed side, you just put a shim behind the reed. When coming through the slot side, lay the reedplate on something flat, like a table, reedside down. Then, come through the slot with that rubbing pressure. You'd be amazed what you can work out. If it is on the top half of the reed, you are OK. If it is bent on the bottom (rivet end of reed) 25 percent, you are probably screwed.
If the bend is on the top (free)  half of the reed, it will probably have no affect on longevity whatsoever. When that reed fails, it will fail from a fracture at the bottom, just like every other reed.  

No, RIck, never heard of that.
Dave
______________________________
Dave Payne Sr.
Elk River Harmonicas
www.elkriverharmonicas.com