Cleaning a Harmonica

Subject: RE: Cleaning a Harmonica
From: Joe Richman
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 10:23 PM

I did once completely mess up and put some WD40 into a harmonica. Tasted terrible, so I threw the thing into a glass full of peppermint schnapps (the cheapest stuff the market had).   Now it still tastes terrible, but more like the schnapps than the penetrating lubricant. And that is after the passage of a few years!!

Joe

Subject: RE: Cleaning a Harmonica
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 08:49 PM

G'day John P,

I think your friend may have used an "ultrasonic cleaner" - container with water (with or without extra solvents) and a motorised high frequency vibration. It's a good way to clean jewellery - or technical pens - but it does tend to vibrate off bits ... like your valves! If you had leather valves, the Hohner Chromatics were, presumably, fairly old ... I think plastic valves have been standard for several decades, now.

I think any washing on an old wooden-bodied (and, maybe, leather-valved) harmonica has to be kept to a minimum ... and followed by quick removal of all loose water and then a steady drying out. One hopes that should dilute the Old Spice aroma to a more tolerable level.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Cleaning a Harmonica
From: GUEST,thurg
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 12:13 PM

"I hate Old Spice, though. I don't know why anyone would voluntarily smell like that."

(To the tune of "Gimme That Ol' Time Religion"): It was good for my father,/It was good for my mother,/And it's good enough for me!

Subject: RE: Cleaning a Harmonica
From: GUEST,John P
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 11:03 AM

I had two hohner chromatics cleaned by a friend of mine once. I believe he put them in water and put some sort of a charge through the tank which then vibrated the gunge out. Wonderful sound resulted but the leather flaps on the reeds were knackered. The system might work ok on an old echo like yours though

Subject: RE: Cleaning a Harmonica
From: GUEST,JimP
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 09:30 AM

Thanks to all for the advice. I've since figured out that the person who had the harp before me also must have at least taken the covers off (although they look pristine), since the side that says "A" now plays in D, and vice-versa.

Bob: No, this isn't the curved-plate Echo, this is the straight longish one that (I believe) is currently in production. I think retail is around $80, so I don't want to give up on this just yet. Most importantly, it may stink, but it sounds great.

Finally, if there is a legal age requirement for shaving, I passed it long ago. I hate Old Spice, though. I don't know why anyone would voluntarily smell like that.

Subject: RE: Cleaning a Harmonica
From: Scrump
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 09:21 AM

Assuming you're of legal shaving age, maybe you should slap on an extra-heavy dose of the ol' Old Spice in the morning, then you might not notice the fragrance of your harp.

What us the legal shaving age? Is it different in the US from the UK?

Subject: RE: Cleaning a Harmonica
From: Hamish
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 09:01 AM

Re Tootler's "In fact I believe some of the old blues players used to soak their Marine bands in water before playing as they said it made them play better. I think that the soaking made the wooden body swell and sealed the reed plate properly so there was less air leakage."

I often give my wooden bodied Blues Harps and Marine Bands a quick splosh in water before playing. It does, indeed, make them sound "better" - not only fuller toned but also more fluid (no pun intended!) I can't believe it's anything to do with making the wood swell since the quick splosh is so quick (in my case).

--
Hamish

Subject: RE: Cleaning a Harmonica
From: GUEST,thurg
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 08:56 AM

Assuming you're of legal shaving age, maybe you should slap on an extra-heavy dose of the ol' Old Spice in the morning, then you might not notice the fragrance of your harp.

Subject: RE: Cleaning a Harmonica
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 07:12 AM

G'day Tootler,

The reeds may need cleaning, as you describe - especially if the mouthorgan has been played soon after eating ... or left exposed in dusty (&c) areas. Washing, per se won't hurt the brass reeds - but too much soaking can damage wooden bodies - especially complex gridded one like the old Echo with its 40 holes, divided by narrow wooden grids, on each side (one hole for each of its 80 reeds!). Prompt drying will also lessen the risk of rust in any parts of the cover plates that may have lost some of their electroplating.

I think a fairly brief rinse in plain, no more than warm, water should dilute most of the "Old Spice ... then a good airing (and drying) might leave it in a playable state. Don't force the drying with heat sources, as this might distort the very complex body.

Another area for caution is whether this model has valves on the lower-pitched reeds (as does Hohner's similar Auto Valve Harp ... which may not been seen in other countries, since it was listed as an "Australian Brand" in my original catalogue). These plastic flap-valves (similar to those used in the Chromonica models) could be loosened from their adhesives by excessive soaking or heat ... so take care!

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Cleaning a Harmonica
From: Tootler
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 04:36 AM

I don't know your particular model, but I had trouble with my Hohner Chromonica when a reed stopped sounding. I removed the cover plate, which is secured to the body by two screws, and using a wooden toothpick, I carefully removed some debris that had got into the gap in the reed. I then screwed it back together again and it worked fine. Another thing I regularly do is to remove gunk that builds up round the holes. A wooden cocktail stick does fine for that job.

I must admit I have always been wary of washing my harmonica as it is wooden bodied, but I suspect that a fairly quick wash in warm soapy water will do no harm, but be carful round the reeds. In fact I believe some of the old blues players used to soak their Marine bands in water before playing as they said it made them play better. I think that the soaking made the wooden body swell and sealed the reed plate properly so there was less air leakage.

Subject: RE: Cleaning a Harmonica
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 03:45 AM

G'day JimP,

I take it that this is the double-sided, curved lip-plate Hohner model 1499/80 that goes back as least as far as my first (circa 1958) catalogue. That one had a wooden body - and I would have thought that the later plastic-bodied Comet (also double-sided, curved lip-plate ... indicating Octave- [aka: "Organ"-] tuned, in two keys a fourth (?) apart replaced the Comet 1499/80, but you may have an old instrument.

I saw the plastic Comet going for close to AUD$200 a few years back, here in Sydney - and I haven't bought one for ages! I guess the older Echo - especially in a handy key set like A /D - would be a treasure worth restoring. With the Comets, I would have no worry about soaking them well in warm water (with occasional agitation), then draining, rinsing, shaking as free of water as possible and leaving to dry naturally. You can wash the wooden-bodied ones in water ... but I wouldn't let it soak for very long before quickly rinsing, shaking dry and drying in a moderately warm, ventilated spot. (I usually blow through the wooden-bodied ones straight after shaking out ... until I get evey reed sounding - if not dead to pitch!).

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Cleaning a Harmonica
From: Johnhenry'shammer
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 11:44 PM

Might just want to get a new one. The Echos are pretty cheap aren't they?

Subject: RE: Cleaning a Harmonica
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 10:40 PM

I use vingar.

Sincerely,
Garoyle

some add a "smedge of salt" but it is not recommended, since you might change the original register... you are static...let the fiddle tune to you.

Subject: RE: Cleaning a Harmonica
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 04:39 AM

get a tool kit from lee oskar harmonicas, open the harmonica up to air, then very gently wipe out the crud with the tools provided.
then from a distance try a cool hair dryer
if no luck go to a harmonica forum and ask again

Subject: RE: Cleaning a Harmonica
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 04:31 AM

Dettol and wire brush.

eric

Subject: Cleaning a Harmonica
From: GUEST,JimP
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 02:39 AM

I recently bought a A/D Honer Echo from a guy on ebay, for use in my sea music group. When I got it, it smelled horribly of some kind of oil-based solvent. I suspect that it had been WD-40'd to get rid of some surface crud. I contacted the seller, who claims that he disinfected it with rubbing alcohol and then misted it with Old Spice "to make it smell nice."

Whatever he did, the thing is unplayable, as I begin to gag every time I play it. I've tried airing it out (holding it out the window of my car when travelling at low speeds w/the wind sounding the reeds), and have tried wiping it down with gin. This has helped some, but it still has the odor. Any suggestions from you guys?