Blogs

(video) Harmonica repair mistakes #7 - When do you stop?

A Facebook friend asked about Tuning-Embossing-Shaping. "Knowing when I'm getting tired and/or impatient and knowing when it's time to get up & walk away."

Would you like me to make a video about your "best" mistake? Contact me and let me know your ideas!

https://harp.andrewzajac.ca/

(video) Harmonica repair mistakes #6 - Wrong reed, wrong direction!

A Facebook friend asked about working late into the evening and tuning the wrong reed, or tuning it in the wrong direction - how do you avoid this?

Would you like me to make a video about your "best" mistake? Contact me and let me know your ideas!

https://harp.andrewzajac.ca/

(video) Harmonica repair mistakes! #5 - Heavy handed

If you feel like a bull in a China shop, here are some easy tricks to help you to work with a light touch.

Would you like me to make a video about your "best" mistake? Contact me and let me know your ideas!
https://harp.andrewzajac.ca/

(video) Correcting imperfections in just TWO TINES using the Comb Tool™

A Facebook friend posed a question about a wooden comb. Here's my suggestion.

This is a great job for the Comb Tool™.

One of my CNC mills in action!

I design and cut my combs using a CNC mill. This is just a few seconds of one of my CNC mills in action. Here I am cutting a single test comb.

My Dark combs™ are made from a material that is very dense. I need to spray water onto the endmill to keep things cool.

Once cut, I finish, flatten and check each comb by hand myself to ensure it is up to spec so as to provide best performance and outstanding tone. I do not tolerate any air leak. I fix it before it leaves my workbench.

Embossing tool improvement

I have improved my embossing tool to provide more flexibility (and safety) at the rivet end. With it, you can emboss with a wide range of angles all along the length of the slot.

Here is an illustration of what the different angles of embossing look like if you zoom in really close to a cross-section of the slot.

This is embossing at a 45 degree angle:

This is embossing with a smaller angle:

Why is the angle important?

I visualize each slot as a tiny swimming pool. In my model, when the reed hits the water it creates a splash and the angle of the embossed edge can change the direction of the splash.

Here is the reed just before it hits the imaginary water:

A sharp angle would make the water "splash" further away.

Here the angle of the embossed edge is a lot smaller. A smaller angle would make the water "splash" higher

Different angles can offer different results as far as tone and response. You can use different angles on different portions of the slot. I encourage you to discover what is the best pattern for you.

(video) Harmonica repair mistakes! #4 - Which reedplate plays the bend?

Did I just ruin my harmonica? In this series I want to cover the most common mistakes and turn them into learning opportunities.

Today I talk about making bends easier. What reed should you adjust to make bends easier?

Both reeds simultaneously participate in draw bends on holes 1-6 and blow bends on holes 7-10.

Would you like me to make a video about your "best" mistake? Contact me and let me know your ideas!

https://harp.andrewzajac.ca/

(video) Harmonica repair mistakes! #3 - Tuning by numbers

Did I just ruin my harmonica? In this series I want to cover the most common mistakes and turn them into learning opportunities.

Today I talk about trying to tune a harmonica using the numbers from a tuner.

Would you like me to make a video about your "best" mistake? Contact me and let me know your ideas!

https://harp.andrewzajac.ca/

(video) Harmonica repair mistakes! #2 - Embossing therapy

Did I just ruin my harmonica? In this series I want to cover the most common mistakes and turn them into learning opportunities.

Today I talk about the common misconception that embossing fixes problems like air leaks or makes the reeds play better.

Would you like me to make a video about your "best" mistake? Contact me and let me know your ideas!

https://harp.andrewzajac.ca/

(video) Harmonica repair mistakes! #1 - We got a man down!

Did I just ruin my harmonica? In this series I want to cover the most common mistakes and turn them into learning opportunities.

Today I talk about bending a reed too far.

Would you like me to make a video about your "best" mistake? Contact me and let me know your ideas!

https://harp.andrewzajac.ca/

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