Chiff and Fipple Forums

Hole #4 wasn't blowing right. Of all holes. I took the top and bottom covers off, blew into the holes, and everything was back to working A-OK, so I screwed the top and bottom back on. Good as new. I have no clue what was causing the problem, nothing fell out of the harmonica.

Consider yourself an expert harmonica tech. There will have been lint from your pocket or a hair from your 'tache or elsewhere. Threaten a harp by unscrewing the covers and it will fix itself instantly. Trade secret.

I wish mine did
My Seydel low D suddenly got a flat D at hole 7.
I've got it open to clear out any debris, but no success, no debris.
When I plink the reed it does not reverb as long as its neighbours (even though it played when assembled). What shall I do? Is it fixable? I paddy-Richter tuned this harp, but have not done serious reed repairs as yet.

For first-position players of Irish/Scottish tunes the 7-blow will commonly be the first reed to go south. I fear that your reed has got terminal fatigue and will need replacing. With my Special 20s I do this myself by cannibalising other blown-out harps for their reeds. You don't have to find a reed of the exact pitch - a reed that is too long can be trimmed to fit the slot then fine-tuned. I have never owned a Seydel so I can't predict what particular problems this brand will reveal.

Thanks Steve! I feared for that.
Well, I may have to learn reed replacement.
Disappointing that the reed gave up its ghost so quickly.
I like playing Seydel harps, and the low D is (was) great.

Hans, I love Seydel harps, but I've had three reeds go bad on the 7 hole on the D harp. My G keeps plugging away, but I am reluctantly staying away from Seydel for a bit. I'm not up to retuning a harp (I've done it before, but I am down an arm at present) so I'll probably just get some Lee Oskar melody maker reedplates and do the mix-and-match thing.

Really a shame, as the Seydels have such a lovely sound and playability.