Valves in Swan harmonicas

[Gnarly He Man]

When I’m tuning, I usually set the tuning device to 443, and then allow for wiggle room.
440 is too low, and IMHO, 444 is too high.

[brorat]

Please guys, teach this old dog a new trick.
Would someone tell me what “loading the reeds” means??
Thanks!!

[Gnarly He Man]

In my experience, this is a reference to changing the pressure of the airstream and changing The size and shape of the inside of your mouth.
It’s the same thing you do when you bend on a diatonic.

[brorat]

In my experience, this is a reference to changing the pressure of the airstream and changing The size and shape of the inside of your mouth.
It’s the same thing you do when you bend on a diatonic.

So ... bear with me ... would this flatten the note?  Or would it "sharp" it?  Or can it do either?  I'm guessing flatten since the remedy seems to tune a few cents higher.

[Age]

I don't know of anything that raises a note (on any harmonica with valves anyway you need two reeds working together to do that) AFAIK Any mouth/jaw/throat shaping that modifies the tone tends to lower the pitch

[Grizzly]

I don't know of anything that raises a note (on any harmonica with valves anyway you need two reeds working together to do that) AFAIK Any mouth/jaw/throat shaping that modifies the tone tends to lower the pitch

(Not that I can do it, but…) it might also include a variation in breath intensity?

The goal is (unlike bending a single note flat) to bend all notes flat consistently; like, all from 444 to 440 tuning standard regardless of range.

Tom

[brorat]

I don't know of anything that raises a note (on any harmonica with valves anyway you need two reeds working together to do that) AFAIK Any mouth/jaw/throat shaping that modifies the tone tends to lower the pitch

(Not that I can do it, but…) it might also include a variation in breath intensity?

The goal is (unlike bending a single note flat) to bend all notes flat consistently; like, all from 444 to 440 tuning standard regardless of range.

Tom

Thanks Tom. I guess I’d you achieve the tone you desire, tuning a bit sharp isn’t a big deal.

[Ed McCullough]

I do not think the topic of tuning harmonicas has to be mysterious or worrisome. Here is my idea. Other people may have other ideas.

First decide if you want A=449, A=440, A= 441, A=442, A=443, etc. , based on the tuning of the people, piano or other instruments you want to play with.

Then ask yourself if you normally play notes without bending them, or if you bend your notes most of the time. Decide what your style is.

Next put your assembled harmonica into your mouth and a tuning meter in front of you. Set the tuning meter for the A that you want (438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 443, etc.).

I think that is a very simple system. It is easy to understand. You can add some fine points, but that is the basic system.

Then you have to spend the time to tune your harmonica

[Ed McCullough]

The Swan people in Colorado did not answer my inquiry about valves. What is the name of our member with a daughter who plays great in public? If someone will tell me his name, I will ask him to try contacting the factory in China.

[The Lone Harper]

It is possible to phone the Swan factory directly in China, as I have done previously/

[SlideMeister]

The Swan people in Colorado did not answer my inquiry about valves. What is the name of our member with a daughter who plays great in public? If someone will tell me his name, I will ask him to try contacting the factory in China.

That was Goldenrat harmonica, Ed, and his daughter's name is Sally

[Ed McCullough]

Mr. A, Gals, Guys,
- Goldenrat did contact the Swan harmonica company in China. The Swan company offered to sell valves at an absurdly high price.
End of effort with Swan.

[Lockjaw Larry]

Ed, what is different with Swan valves than, say, Hohner?  I make three different valves for personal use, all 1/8” wide.  My wife permits me to slice them on her Bee Line strip cutters so I get good consistency.  I make 3 mil, 4 mil vinyl with non-stick backing and microfiber valves.  If you would like to try a few I’ll be glad to mail you some strips free.  The invitation is open to all SlideMeisters.  Danny sells valves similar to mine.

[Danny G]

Except that Danny is currently out of these valves.

[Ed McCullough]

Maestro Lockjaw Larry,
  Famous and not famous makers of harmonica valves have labored and loved in their craft. I thank them for their love and labor. I’ve been playing my harmonicas in temperatures as low as 60° f and some valves keep sticking. My desire for valves to not stick at that temperature may be a futile as asking a Renault Dauphine to go from 0 to 60 in 15 seconds.
  Mr. A said the Swan valves never stuck for him after many years of playing a Swan harmonica. I wanted to try them myself.
  Also, there is one F# whose valves commonly make an obnoxious noise when a person tries to play that F# loudly.
  Valves made of different material will probably fix the F# problem. If you want to mail me a few for the F# problem, I will be delighted to try them.

[Age]

C'mon! I can't be the only Swan player on the list. I'm starting to feel like I got three heads or something.  Otherwise, there's no one out there who can verify my claims of Swan valve's superiority? In May, it's gunna be thirteen years that I've been honkin' on this old  Swan1248-6, and "nope" nary even one valve replacement! In fact, I have more total "hours" on that old war-horse than all my Chromes, put together.

I'm not so sure anymore;  maybe Swan valves are worth a buck and a half a piece.

[MikeB]

I have only been practicing for a couple years. I do this in my vehicle just before work for about 15 to30 minutes. I don't warm the harmonica & am usually playing in the winter with temperatures around 35 to 55 degrees (I have been commuting on a motorcycle in summers ). This Swan has never had a sticking valve, leaks, or poor sounding reed as of yet. I bought this from Amazon not sure at the time if I wanted something this big, but for only $80 I couldn't go wrong. I haven't been disappointed yet.

[Ed McCullough]

MikeB:. That is amazing information. Thank you for writing.

Mr. A:. I think that Hohner valves and other brands of valves always have many valves stick when you try playing at temperatures below 60°. Isn't that correct?

[Age]

Yeah, they pretty much all stick when you get the instrument cold enough. (even the Swans, although they're probably gunna be the last to succumb to the ole' sticking bugaboo)) I just picked up a Sirius that does the same thing. I have a simple trick that I thought up over twenty years ago, that can probably eliminate 80% of the sticking on any Chromatic.  The principle, is so simple, it's stupid. I just haven't tried it yet. I'll let ya know (either way) when I finally do it.