When I first saw this video it was a total revelation. I have saved numerous harps from the bin and made good harps better using these techniques. On all these harmonica forums people blather on endlessly about sanding combs and sealing combs and putting micropore tape on combs etc. etc. etc. which really doesn't do much. If your harp has bad compression on one or more holes, its the reed or the slot stupid!! This video changed my life!!!!!
Good stuff...but the best way to do it is to make a dummy comb to mount your plates on while you emboss. That way you can actually use your breath to sound the reed like in real playing, instead of a plectrum. Make your dummy combs so you can test both the draw and blow plates WHILE DRAWING AIR. In other words you'll have to flip your blow plate upside down but that way you can access the proper side. NEVER use a penny or an Exacto, a chrome socket from a ratchet draws a smoother line of brass.
All other videos I've seen were like "well, I do it like this" and showed you how to do it on a real reed all the time (with crappy resolutions most of the times)
Awesome vid and funny as hell. Looking forward to more vids of the Elk River Harmonica Institute. You rule Dave! I always like the backing music of your vids...
Funny vid, great thx for your helpful advices in cool manner. I have some sort of question, not far from today, I used to tune blow reeds on my Big River Harp, after ending it, I have used some penny, and made blow reeds more embossed, after it, my harp stopped playing. I fixed it. No one, for my memory, mentioned about tuning blow reeds, should it be done?
I can't believe a pizza box just solidified my learning of the embossing technique. I've watched your other videos and dozens of others on embossing. This one is the most straight forward and understandable of them all. If it wasn't almost 1 a.m. here in New England, i'd pull out my box of old harps and start straightaway. Thanks again Dave.
What harmonicas would you suggest to practice on?
PenguinTuba 2 months ago
.0000001"
Is this a billionth?
BTW: Harpbeats are awesome!
gorblimey61 2 months ago
When I first saw this video it was a total revelation. I have saved numerous harps from the bin and made good harps better using these techniques. On all these harmonica forums people blather on endlessly about sanding combs and sealing combs and putting micropore tape on combs etc. etc. etc. which really doesn't do much. If your harp has bad compression on one or more holes, its the reed or the slot stupid!! This video changed my life!!!!!
2doorblues 3 months ago
Thanks for explain it easier!!!
Rinosajid92 4 months ago
i cant get mine to make that bright sounding "plink".. all it does is make the note sound... I think i even royal fucked my 8th hole
mmikern 11 months ago
Good stuff...but the best way to do it is to make a dummy comb to mount your plates on while you emboss. That way you can actually use your breath to sound the reed like in real playing, instead of a plectrum. Make your dummy combs so you can test both the draw and blow plates WHILE DRAWING AIR. In other words you'll have to flip your blow plate upside down but that way you can access the proper side. NEVER use a penny or an Exacto, a chrome socket from a ratchet draws a smoother line of brass.
gsd6600 1 year ago
good video. Thank you sir.
-$DR$
daddyrichispoor 2 years ago
Thanks for the great help!
All other videos I've seen were like "well, I do it like this" and showed you how to do it on a real reed all the time (with crappy resolutions most of the times)
Your pizza-box approach rules!
nitram00 2 years ago
if you had 100 of those pennies, could you get a big cardboard dollar bill?
mottag8830 2 years ago
Superb instructional vid. Merci beaucoup.
blogward 2 years ago
Awesome vid and funny as hell. Looking forward to more vids of the Elk River Harmonica Institute. You rule Dave! I always like the backing music of your vids...
GermanHarpist
myrecipes 2 years ago
Funny vid, great thx for your helpful advices in cool manner. I have some sort of question, not far from today, I used to tune blow reeds on my Big River Harp, after ending it, I have used some penny, and made blow reeds more embossed, after it, my harp stopped playing. I fixed it. No one, for my memory, mentioned about tuning blow reeds, should it be done?
Tpumapa3m 2 years ago
One of the first videos I did was how to tune a blow reed without taking anything more than the coverplates off.
If they need it, tune them.
elkriverharmonicas 2 years ago
very thank you for your attention. harmonica rocks :)
Tpumapa3m 2 years ago
thanks prof
robthebog 2 years ago
I can't believe a pizza box just solidified my learning of the embossing technique. I've watched your other videos and dozens of others on embossing. This one is the most straight forward and understandable of them all. If it wasn't almost 1 a.m. here in New England, i'd pull out my box of old harps and start straightaway. Thanks again Dave.
BlueVooch 2 years ago
This is ingenious...
ZackPomerleau 2 years ago
Great video, Dave!
Thanks for going to the effort to create and post this.
johnnieharp 2 years ago
Great info. What kind of Pizza was in the box?
boufgreg 2 years ago
I wish I could say Godfather's, but it wasn't.
elkriverharmonicas 2 years ago