Top C# phosphor bronze reed choked. Please advise

[Ellis Dedá]

Dear harmonica comrades.
I need your advice on C# top note before I inflict irreparable damage to this tiny reed. I have Suzuki Sirius s-56s model that I love dearly. Unfortunately, right from the box top C# (button pressed) was unplayable. I VERY slightly increased gap, but no sound and more stray air. Next I decreased gap, again,  VERY slightly. It did produce some uncertain little off-key sound and rapidly reed choked. Strangely my Suzuki SCX-48 has the same problem. Surprisingly my Hohners are fine in this department..
Is it a typical issue with Suzuki phosphor bronze short top notes reeds? Just wondering... Please, help me with your advice.
Thank you,  Boris.

[SlideMeister]

You really ought to be getting some kinda noise out of it. If not, (after adjusting the gap and the reed ain't stuck) you might want to look for a cracked reed or something.

[Ellis Dedá]

Hi A.J.
Thank you for reading my amateurs whining.
After some tinkering I was able to get C#, but only after rapid switch of slider from straight C. But the note is very unsustainable and lasts only a half of a second.. I plucked reed and it didn't sound like it is cracked. Not yet.. I wish I'd knew the direction in which I should work like towards opening or closing the gap.. this reed is tiny and there not enough flexibility to survive multiple trials and errors.. For now I’m in state of panic and want to leave home before I kill my love and investment.. I know that Suzuki reeds are welded and practically irreparable..
Again, thank you for your kind support..
Boris.

[Gnarly He Man]

Hi A.J.
Thank you for reading my amateurs whining.
<snip> I know that Suzuki reeds are welded and practically irreparable..
Boris.

I fix Suzuki.
Are you in the US?

[Ellis Dedá]

Hi.
Yes, I'm from New Jersey. I'm so glad you stopped by. I'm fairly new to Suzuki, but Sirius really impressed me. Until Sirius I thought of myself as a loyal Hohner guy. Not anymore. And it's great to know that there is someone brave like you to deal with these beasts. I didn't find many offerings in the US on Suzuki chromatics services.

[Gnarly He Man]

I do their warranty work. If you purchased the harmonica from a US vendor less than a year ago, I can look at it for the cost of shipping.
And if not, I can still help.
I do other brands too, Hohner has me on their website as a repair guy, but I am the official Warranty Guy for KMC, which acquired the franchise a few years ago.
I have been covering that spot for a dozen years, I used to do it in San Diego at the warehouse, before the franchise got sold.
I am in Oklahoma now.

[Ellis Dedá]

Hi.
Could you provide me with your info on where to ship harmonica and steps on how? I think if we'd continue communicating via email we might help to save some space on server for SlideMeister.. my address: bzlotsky@verizon.net
Thank you.  Boris.

[SlideMeister]

Just make sure he finishes mine first.

[Ellis Dedá]

Sure!
A.J., yours first. My family left Kiev, USSR more than 30 years ago. I still have memories of staying in line for everything. So don't worry, I'm immune to wait lists 😉

[SlideMeister]

Oh wow! That's funny!

[Gnarly He Man]

Here goes:
Gary Lehmann
822 N. Stewart Ave.
Norman OK 73071
Gnarlyheman@gmail.com

And Age, yours ships tomorrow.