harmonicas

[dobro]

Yeah, I know this is the guitar forum, but we don't have a harmonica forum, right? I figured somebody in here would know something about harps.

I bought a Hohner Marine Band a few days ago. The second hole didn't blow a clean note, plus it drew offkey, so I took it back and they replaced it. I got the second one home, and it had the same problem. WTF? I took it back and they replaced it. The new one, the third, isn't as bad as the first two, but the problem's still there. I've never bought a diatonic harp before - is this a common problem?

Okay, so I thought maybe that music store had been flogged a batch of substandard harmonicas all part of the same bad run in the factory. So I bought another Hohner - a Blues Harp - in a different key. Better than all the Marine Bands, but still that second hole blows less clean and less in tune than the rest. Plus the Blues Harp smells funny and tastes like shit.

I feel like I'm in some kinda movie that's a cross between The Twilight Zone and the Simpsons.

Are harps always this problematic?

 

[AJ_Cantos]

I had the same problem...

Dear friend, I don't know what the fuck happens with that Harmonicas but I had the same problem when I bought my Hönner "Chromonica". I can't remember if it was the second hole or the number 26 but it happend to me. I was really dissapointed when trying to make it sound clean and it didn't want to. I don't know why but with the time it dissapiared. I mean, that hole began to sound ok, as other began to show the same problem. With more use, at the end it becomes a good harmonica, that's for sure, 'cause now it sounds perfect on every hole.
With all these I mean that more use transform the sound (to better) of your harmonica. They are like beisbol caps, at the beginning fit bad, but with time, they become like a ring for your finger.
Only one thing else: Clean it everytime you use it, and from time to time (I ussually do it each two mounths approx) catch a screwdriver and clean it piece by piece. Wood don't like water so use that sticks for earcleaning, and try to not wet it.
If you want anything else search for me.

 

[60's guy]

For what it's worth:

http://www.leeoskar.com/harpframe.html

A little more costly, but you get what you pay for.

 

[Outlaws]

Re: I had the same problem...

They are like beisbol caps, at the beginning fit bad, but with time, they become like a ring for your finger.

?


You mean BASEBALL?

 

[AJ_Cantos]

Sorry, in Spanish is that way...

Of course I meant that, but I didn't remember that in English is BaseBall, and not Beisbol as adapted for spanish people as I am.

 

[faderbug]

a lot of cheap harmonicas have these problems.
a harmonica produces sound with tiny metal lips (?). when you remove the covers you can see all these lips each above it's own rectangular hole. there's an extra piece of plastic foil functioning as one way valve mounted above the lips. what you have to do is use a pointed plastic pen or something and slightly push each lip to feel if it can move freely in the rectangular hole. sometimes they are not properly alligned. when it isn't moving freely you can easily move it a bit to one side untill it is.

 

[dobro]

60's guy - thanks for the link. I pay about $14 for a Marine Band or Blues Harp here in Singapore. What do they go for where you are? How about the Lee Oskars?

wetteke - hey, thanks for the idea - I'll take the lid off it and take a look. If I break it, it's only cheap and it doesn't really work anyway. Cheers.

Sr Cantos - I think you're right about the beisbol cap idea - my beisbol cap smells funny and tastes like shit as well...

 

[60's guy]

dobro,

I'm not sure about the Marine Band cost here, but the Lee
Oskars are in the range of $20 - $25 US.

60's

 

[glynb]

Clean it?

So how do you clean a harp then?

Is it important just for health reasons or just to preserve the instrument a hwile longer?

Come to think of it, how long should one last anyways?

I'm sure i read that the life of one isn't that long before you need to replace?