| Pat Missing tip for improving reed response. I apply the varnish to all the reeds - it's almost as easy to do 20 reeds as it is to do half a dozen. I find that the treatment also improves the bends, especially the upper range blow bends on hgher key harps. I'm sure this is all in the archives, but here goes: Apply the varnish (I'm pretty sure paint and many other substances would do the trick, too. I use bright purple nail varnish, as it is easier to see where it is going.) using the head of a pin (or something similar) - a tiny dab will do the trick. Apply it right in the corner where the playing surface of the reed widens out to form the heel (the bit of the reed that is rivetted to the plate). Try to get it right into that corner, so that it covers a little of the plate, the edge of the reed and just goes into the slot beside the reed. Do the same on the other corner. Don't overdo it. Leave it to dry and then check it. If there is still that dreaded ringing noise, do it again! This does not make the reed easier to overblow - for this you need to adjust the reed gap... |
Created on ... gennaio 12, 2002