2 blow blues with SCX 56

[cisco]

I know my newest problem is discussed on this forum but I don’t remember enough details to do a search.
 problem is:

#2 blow sometimes pops or won’t play at all on my SCX 56.

Only has about 12 hours playing time. 
Careful water only mouth rinsing.
Sounds good otherwise.
No strange fixes attempted.

[Keith]

Likely just a stuck valve, do you warm it up to body temperature before playing it(?), as doing so will help prevent condensation from your breath causing a valve to stick together.

Sometimes you can blow into the back to free a valve, other times it will need gently separating with something like a wooden toothpick/cocktail stick.

[cisco]

Can the problem happen from just blowing in excessive saliva in addition to whatever occurs from low temperature condensation?

[Keith]

Definately, your saliva is quite sticky to valves. If you are a 'wet' player, try angling the chrom upwards slightly.

[Laina]

Try playing in different positions/octaves and, or, home key with the slide in too.

[SlideMeister]

Can the problem happen from just blowing in excessive saliva in addition to whatever occurs from low temperature condensation?

Only if you do it with a mouth full of carrots

[AimlessWanderer]

Can the problem happen from just blowing in excessive saliva in addition to whatever occurs from low temperature condensation?

Only if you do it with a mouth full of carrots

My phone just got a coffee rinse

[cisco]

The subject harpoon has recovered given about 8 hours drying time.  I may have to consider getting a recliner having a chrom position option for correct tilt.

I am a “wet” player except when I think of ever performing.
And choice (key) of music is also a factor.

[Gnarly He Man]

The valve that is sticking is over a blow reed, you can access it if you remove the cover plates.
The two layers are likely sticking to each other.
Valve maintenance is a necessary evil. You could replace it or clean it.
Just separating them will help, but it won't solve the problem permanently.

[cisco]

GNARLY

https://theharmonicacompany.com/how-to-clean-harmonica/

Is this a good tutorial or can you suggest another? 
For my SCX.

i have some tools and skill but otherwise harpoon clueless.

Kits any good ?

[Gnarly He Man]

That's a diatonic, so, no.
There is information on this website.
I did a cursory search, try this page.
https://forums.SlideMeister.com/index.php?topic=633.msg5315#msg5315

[Gnarly He Man]

Here is a recent post from a member about valves.
https://forums.SlideMeister.com/index.php?topic=17434.msg221919#msg221919

[SaxonyFan]

Cisco

To clean the valves do the following:

Get a piece of coffee filter paper and cut it in strips about a 1/4 inch wide and 2 inches long (I pre-cut a bunch of these and carry them in my kit). Wet it with water by dipping the end in a cup of water. Slide the wet (but not sopping wet) strip between the two layers of the valve. Put a finger on the valve to press down a bit and with the other hand slowly pull the strip out. Do that twice then do the same thing with a dry strip.

You can then do the same thing between the lower ply of the valve and the reedplate. I once had a brand new chromatic that had guey junk on the read plate near a couple valves. This method fixes such problems nicely.

Coffee filter paper has no sticky yicky binders in it to keep the paper together like binder paper or paper bags do. I once used paper bags. Big mistake.

[cisco]

Saxony

Your suggestion seems a bit aggressive but probably effective according to your experience.
I will attempt the method as the need arises.

The harmonica is playing normally but dropping some notes occasionally.
I’ll know what is true soon.

[BeauKim]

I agree that it sounds like the windsaver over the blow reed is sticking.  I would definitely try lightly scrubbing the windsaver. 

I suggest two preventative measures for the future:
1. Keep an upright position while playing as gravity will cause excess saliva enter the harmonica.
2. Start warming up you harmonica to match your body temperature or slightly warmer than.  This will help condensation building.  I looked at your profile and you’re in NC where it’s getting cooler. 

I hope that helps.

-Boaz

[cisco]

i have the impression that this new harmonica can change moods without knowing why.
Maybe there are stages of break in?  Sometimes everything works.  Sometimes a few notes choke.
I had a similar situation with a SWAN 10/40 and there was a chorus of ITS YOU, NOT THE HARMONICA 😝.  Well, I played on and can report that the SWAN became an excellent sounding harmonica.  No, I personally did not improve as fast as the harmonica So now I am in a holding pattern.  The whole  issue  may  be  a result  of  where  my
printed music  is  situated, that is  below  eye level which  pulls  the  harmonica angle
down  (BOO
Time will tell

[Piccolo Pete]

Hello Cisco,

Did raising your SCX45 upward help in keep your chrom drier? Or have you tried one of the remedies suggested in the comments, like the coffee paper strip clean. The reason I ask is that I just received my first SCX-56 chrom Friday and was reading up on any info I can find here on SlideMeister. ( Long time tin-sandwich play but totally new to chrom.)

Also, I noticed the the 10 draw and blow are lower in overall volume than the 9 hole and down. Seems like I need more air to produce tone on that hole.

In addition, it can be tricky to get a clear not on draw and slide in too. (I take it's because I am new to this and need to develop my embouchure and pay attention to air stream more closely.

Do you have any of these issues or anyone in group run into these as you you began learning the chrom? Any insight is greatly appreciated and thank you in advance. 

[cisco]

Most of my SCX 56 problems have been overcome with experience but now my concerns are “advanced intermediate “ class 😊
My go-to piece has become the SWAN 10\40 .
Sweet!

[frankyb]

Hello Cisco, snip

Also, I noticed the the 10 draw and blow are lower in overall volume than the 9 hole and down. Seems like I need more air to produce tone on that hole.

Do you have any of these issues or anyone in group run into these as you you began learning the chrom? Any insight is greatly appreciated and thank you in advance.

I have an SCX 64 and I do not notice a difference between the 9  & 10 holes.  I have, from time to time, noticed it on some chromatics. 

[cisco]

I think that I have come to realize that there may be acceptable variations in note (hole)
characteristics going across the harp.  Maybe pitch issues, breath needed for volume and pitch control etc.  I should not have expected more but I just didn’t know better.
My SCX has all it should including a personality!
This is an instrument more mass produced than individually crafted but that’s OK for the price point.  My only chronic gripe is the adjacent C3,C4.   One sounds like best radio city and 3 is mud.

( Maybe I need a new harmonica )

Add to pitch issues the VERY important tone !

[Piccolo Pete]

Hello Cisco, snip

Also, I noticed the the 10 draw and blow are lower in overall volume than the 9 hole and down. Seems like I need more air to produce tone on that hole.

Do you have any of these issues or anyone in group run into these as you you began learning the chrom? Any insight is greatly appreciated and thank you in advance.

I have an SCX 64 and I do not notice a difference between the 9  & 10 holes.  I have, from time to time, noticed it on some chromatics.

Hello Fankyb, cisco and team - My error in my previous post...It is the 12th hole blow/draw w/wo slide. It is tempermentable - sometimes good and sometimes not so good. And when it does produce a sound it is noticeably quieter compared to the 11th and down..It may be due me still adapting to the mouthpiece and getting my mouthing / embouchure memory developed.

On the bright getting familiar with the SCX56. I'm able to play basic kids songs and church song from my tin-sandwich memory. 

[cisco]

Thinking out loud

Given a bit of insight now, I have to wonder if any two SCX 56 are identical ?
Not that it matters that much.

[frankyb]

Thinking out loud

Given a bit of insight now, I have to wonder if any two SCX 56 are identical ?
Not that it matters that much.

For me, the 12 hole, especially draw, is the toughest note to play.  Not always an issue with volume, but and/or an issue with the quality of the sound.  Chromatics like the SCX that use a ABS Plastic injected-molded combs are less efficient at these higher notes.  See Brendan Power:

https://www.brendan-power.com/combs-suzuki.php#powercombs

However, I have issues with 12 on all my chromatics, including those with aluminum combs.  That nay well be because I know no tunes with a note above 10 blow, so the only time I use 12 hole is playing the scale.

[Joseph]

Thinking out loud

Given a bit of insight now, I have to wonder if any two SCX 56 are identical ?
Not that it matters that much.

For me, the 12 hole, especially draw, is the toughest note to play.  Not always an issue with volume, but and/or an issue with the quality of the sound.  Chromatics like the SCX that use a ABS Plastic injected-molded combs are less efficient at these higher notes.  See Brendan Power:

https://www.brendan-power.com/combs-suzuki.php#powercombs

However, I have issues with 12 on all my chromatics, including those with aluminum combs.  That nay well be because I know no tunes with a note above 10 blow, so the only time I use 12 hole is playing the scale.

My high notes (SCX-48) also play a bit less than optimally if I tongue block (they seem fine if I pucker, but I'm working on tongue blocking with longer term goals in mind), which led me to Mr. Power's website.  But then I noticed that it says his PowerCombs for Suzuki products were discontinued, and advised the reader to look at PowerPlugs instead, which it says are also discontinued?  Is there any way to still purchase these products (especially the PowerPlugs)?  I'm hesitant to try to engineer some myself out of modeling clay or something, but the underlying principle seems like a good one based upon my limited understanding. 

[cisco]

if I didn’t know better ( and I don’t ), I would not initially suspect that spurious frequency comb behavior was the culprit here.  I know that my harp is not going to compete with something almost sine way pure like a flute but that is also part of the
harmonica sound that adds to the appeal.

is it not the reeds that are mainly responsible for note pitch and harmonic content?

In any case, I seldom need above hole 8 and I’ve made a truce with the low GC notes which demand gentle breath control and strict accuracy.  56 otherwise has a good sound
between extremities.

[Edward Brock]

Only if you do it with a mouth full of carrots

Bwaaahahahahahahahahahahaha  My great granddaughter did that to one of my chroms. 
Oh My Goodness!!!  What a Total disaster to try to resurrect that one.   :'(

[Gnarly He Man]

Only if you do it with a mouth full of carrots

Bwaaahahahahahahahahahahaha  My great granddaughter did that to one of my chroms. 
Oh My Goodness!!!  What a Total disaster to try to resurrect that one.   :'(

Send it your least favorite harp tech!

[Edward Brock]

Only if you do it with a mouth full of carrots

Bwaaahahahahahahahahahahaha  My great granddaughter did that to one of my chroms. 
Oh My Goodness!!!  What a Total disaster to try to resurrect that one.   :'(

Send it your least favorite harp tech!

Too late, Gary. That was a couple years ago. I cleaned it the best I could
and then gave it to her dad. Now I keep a better eye on the little munchkin.