Cleaning and Reassembling Harmonicas

I think the problem that I have, is that I can't remember where the spring was exactly before. It just sort of fell out when I was intending to leave it in for cleaning. And now I can't get it to stay in so I must be thinking it goes in the wrong way.

I'm still getting over pneumonia though anyway right now, so I can't play yet anyway.

I haven't had any trouble with the slide sticking or anything, but I do actually have slide oil since I used to play the trombone.

I cleaned my harmonica with a toothbrush, but around the reeds I just used water. I actually soaked it first, so everything pretty much cleaned off easily. I know a lot of people say not to soak the harmonica, so we'll see what effect that had on it.

If cleaning the Chrometta 8 went well, maybe I'll try cleaning my 270. It has a few holes that no longer play, and I'm hoping all it needs is a good cleaning (although, I'm somewhat doubtful, but at least maybe once it is apart I'll know what's wrong).

There should be no problem with soaking a harmonica if the block/comb is plastic. This website http://www.harmonicalesso... suggests that soaking is bad for a chromatic harmonica but it doesn't really say why. If it's a wooden block, it IS a different matter because it's liable to warp if soaked.

The reed plates are brass and the reeds are hard brass or bronze, which is not likely to rust with a moderate amount of dampness but they need drying fairly quickly and thoroughly after washing. Perhaps a hair dryer would be best.

If a reed isn't speaking at all, it usually means that it is clogged with dirt but it can mean that the reed is damaged. There's a page on the above site that deals with fixing a stuck reed.

I'm sorry I can't help with the spring! I can't even remember now what it looks like or how it works! The link on the above page goes to a catalogue of books and tools to do with maintaining chromatic harmonicas.

I ought to say that I don't play harmonica well. I certainly never got beyond using it as a diatonic instrument (with the slide used for accidentals)! I have the unfortunate facility of being able to get some kind of music out of most things, whether they were made to be played or not, but never got really good at anything! Larry Adler and Max Geldray were always my idols (and there are, no doubt, many other virtuosi ... they have been playing some tracks of harmonica and harp recently on Classic FM but I haven't caught the name of the player so far!)

Yeah, my 270 has a wooden comb so I'm not going to try soaking that. But the Chrometta 8 has a plastic comb and I figured nothing would rust on a harmonica since it's made to withstand some moisture. I've heard some people say that the windsavers can come off with soaking. But none of mine came off with one soaking so far. I did make sure to dry the harmonica with paper towels right after. It's fairly completely disassembled, so everything dried quickly.

Larry Adler is definitely one of my idols as well. I'm currently reading his autobiography (that he didn't actually write), "Me and My Big Mouth" which is fairly interesting. I love him playing "Rhapsody in Blue" and hope that someday I'll be able to play it even 10% as good (but I'm no where near that good yet at all!).

You're lucky to have a classical station. We had one and it went out. I was so sad. Even though I have tons of classical music on CDs, I still always liked the radio because you had the chance to hear something different. How cool to hear harmonica on the classical radio station.

You should try to learn an instrument. I firmly believe there is something for everyone since there is such a variety.

One of my friends was never really exposed to music because no one thought she'd be able to play anything since she only has one working hand/arm. I've been teaching her the harmonica and she has been learning it. Now she also wants to learn the bowed psaltery.

You should try to learn an instrument sometime. I firmly believe there is something for everyone since there is so much variety out there.

One of my friends that never really learned music before is going to start learning bowed psaltery soon because she only has one working hand/arm. I've also been teaching her harmonica lately and she's progressing with that as well.

Ack! Sorry for the double post. I lost connection and then the post didn't show up, so I reposted and now they both show up. Oops.