Tuning Aid

[brorat]

I'm pretty certain that the answer to this question is buried somewhere among the many pages on the "Maintenance" topic!  But ... in an effort to save myself some time ...

I want to work on tuning one of my harmonicas.  I can play each note and use my tuner app to determine the current state of each reed.  That way, I can find out how many "cents" I'm off, and which way I need to go.  I've done that, and I've made a record (on paper) of the current tuning for each reed (blow and draw).

Now, I can work on the reeds on the outer side of the plates and correct them. 
Question:  I'll need to fully remove the reed plates to work on the inner reeds.  Is there some way I can "test" what I'm doing to them without having to put the plates back together to test them?  Do I just make a "guess" as to how much material to remove, then put the instrument back together to re-test the tuning of those interior reeds?

Any help would be appreciated!

[Grizzly]

Is there any way to attach the top plate to the bottom of the comb, and vice versa, to expose the inner reeds?

Tom

[brorat]

Is there any way to attach the top plate to the bottom of the comb, and vice versa, to expose the inner reeds?

Tom

Good thought, Tom.  I'm not sure it can be done, but I'll give it a try!
Thanks.

[Gnarly He Man]

There is the French tuner, a little cap that can be placed against the reed plate.
I usually just hold the reed plates against the comb with thumb and index’s finger.

[Age]

My buddy, Jeff has one of those hand held jobs. Pretty stinkin' kewl.

[beads]

This video shows the process for tuning inside reeds, starting at about 7:20. The entire video is worth watching. I have tuned inside reeds by pushing them up through the slot like this and holding them with a feeler gauge. No need to take the plate off.

[Age]

Even though I hate tuning harmonicas like a snake, that's the way I do it as well.

Maybe I'm nuts here, but I like to wait as long as I can to tune reeds that are "going south", cause I've always suspected, once a reed starts to go flat, it's gunna go flat again faster cuz:
1. The reed getting older and tired.
2. After tuning, there's gunna be even less material there to maintain the reeds integrity that remains in that little piece of brass.

I've yet to ever have a reed go sharp on me (except for a weird cracked one ) I believe reeds go flat cuz their getting old and tired, and just like us: "age" only goes in one direction.

Yeah, I know, it sounds weird, but I'm a little weird meself. 

Age

[Age]

That's also another reason I don't like playing octaves; it's the best way to demonstrate how outta tune your axe is. I've always had a hard time ignoring "octaves" that sound (to my ear) like fingernails on a blackboard, and just one reed that isn't "dead nuts" on the money will do that every time.

[brorat]

Thanks all👏👏👏
I got the outside reeds @pretty close”!
I’ll watch the video and maybe try the push through method.

[Gnarly He Man]

Could this be that Meisterklasse?

[brorat]

Could this be that Meisterklasse?

Not yet Gnarly!!  Thought I’d try one that wouldn’t cost much replace if I mess it up!

[Gnarly He Man]

I’ve got another one on the bench, don’t spook me!

[Ed McCullough]

That magical guy in Las Vegas worked on my Meisterklasse sometime around 2005. I had not asked him to tune it, but he did tune it. The octaves sounded fabulous.
-. When I get a round tuit, I will tune my other harmonicas to the same standard.

[Gnarly He Man]

Octaves—yeah, time for a new thread.

[Ed McCullough]

I have been practicing switching between playing an individual note and that note combined with the note an octave below it. I have that pretty much under control and can go back and forth almost instantly.
-. I also have been practicing going back and forth between an individual note and playing the object that includes the same note and the note 1 octave babove it. I need more work on the second one.