How to Make Your Harmonica Last for YEARS!
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- Опубліковано 27 сер 2024
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In this video I discuss general harmonica maintenance, care and how to sterilize and sanitize your harmonica!
FYI: JP is now retired from teaching harmonica, but you can catch up with him over here:
www.gofundme.c...
I find a body temperature harmonica doesn't seem to condense as much as a colder one, especially at lower temperatures. Fortunately I have a built-in harmonica warmer, which looks exactly like my armpit. I know when my harmonica is warm because it doesn't feel cold anymore. If you want to experiment, I can think of another couple of body places you could try, but personally speaking, I'm sticking with my armpit!
UA-cam never sleeps. Timeless and helpful info. Thanks
My kid grabbed blew into my Hohner 2016 chromatic after eating a handful of cashews. It took three hours of micro-surgery to clean it out.
I hope he got a spankin' for it!
That’s painful to even think about
How did your kid get inside the harmonica in the first place? Was it some sort of hurricane? Maybe you should have just left them there to teach them never to climb inside a harmonica? That was how my dad taught me the dangers of getting inside one.
Lol this whole comment tree 🤣@@aphanez
Thanks for this video. Very resourceful. I'm a first time harmonica player too. So you, my good man, have just earned a subscriber.
I cleaned my oxidized brass reeds with bar keepers friend and a toothbrush. Made them good as new. Make sure to rinse thoroughly
Good tip. Thank you.
What about putting the harp into the glass of whisky?
That's gotta improve the sound too.
Get two birds stoned at once.
I did that with my mariene band goes well with Australian Rum
I take mine apart one at a time and soak the components in a glass of water with a little Simile Green for a few minutes, then use a tooth brush to clean each component one at a time. I brush the reed plates across the reeds and not up and down to clean them. then reassemble the harmonicas. They will play like brand new after this for quite awhile. The Simple green will add no after taste as dish soap does. Yes, you do have to keep your mouth impeccably clean while playing to avoid jamming up the reeds..
You are awesome sir your tricks are very useful
Love from INDIA God bless you abundantly and make you more skilled.
I use food-safe restaurant sanitizer. I buy a large jug if it for about $5 or $6 usd and it makes 128 gallons when you add water. This is the sanitizer they use in the last step of a three or four sink manual dishwashing process. It's totally safe if you ingest a small bit of it and it won't ruin plastic or metal.
Cool!
Harmonica maintenance for smoker would be a good idea to talk about it also when you get sick after a cold bronchitis or pleumonia ect after getting a virus and/or infection its a good idea to sterelize and clean it well
WOW! I never heard of how to clean a harmonica before! A zillion thank you's.
You bet!
thank you. you have a friendly and kind voice
I sterilize with mouthwash, Cepacol or Listerine, specially formulated to kill mouth germs and a pretty good solvent too. Doesn't taste too bad like alcohol. Don't let it soak more than a few minutes, the stuff is aggressive. Rinse gently with water to get it out.
When playing a lot on big harps (64 Chromonica), I may lube the mouthpiece with beeswax- warm the harp gently by running hot water across the mouthpiece from behind so the reeds don't get wet, wipe it dry, then rub the beeswax lengthwise to lay down a thin layer of wax. Just like waxing a ski. Also prevents discoloration of the metal. Be careful not to get any crumbs of wax inside the holes.
Clean water rinse, gentle slaps to loosen reeds and send excess water out either end, then air dry in the open. Reed plates on good harps don't rust, either brass or stainless steel. Coverplates can show rust spots over time, usually the undersides. Some safe liquids can brighten brass or SS, and the covers can be cleaned with safe chelating rust remover, polished with safe materials. Only raw wood combs are an issue for soaking, as they swell, and warp, and trap gunk just like wood cutting boards. Either buy sealed, or seal yourself, because they won't last and rub your lips raw. No pro plays unsealed combs. Sanitizing is pretty silly, especially if you look around the sort of places you play harp in. Sealed or plastic combs are clean enough with a rinse, wipe, and dry.
Sealed?
These are advises from a Harmonica master's, so although Hohner doesn't recommend passing it through the sink faucet, it seems to be safe.
I have a Fender Blues Deluxe which is cheap and plastic, but I also have a Hohner crossover marine band that comes with a bamboo comb.
I'll do this cleaning procedure for both in four months..
good points, i keep mine in cases, i have a chromatic c that is 40+ years old,still sounds good😆🖒
What brand is it?
Same here mines about 60 years old 😂🙏🏻
My Hohner Chromatica is almost 60, too. I never played it much because I was more of a note bender than chromatic player. I just wanted it because I thought it was cool. It is in superb shape and plays well. I appreciate it more now than I did then.
Warm up cold harmonicas,before playing.(Definitely ...important) (reckon I lose more,in winter) Other tips seem right to me.(I have a massive harmonica cemetery) Cheers
This is actually true because temperature effects mechanical behavior of metals much more than we realize. Lower temperature decrease ductility of metal. Warming it up is the best thing to do.
I kept getting blocked reeds, esecially in winter, but when I took the covers off I found it was just tiny droplets of moisture condensing. I was amazed to find out how small a droplet it took to stop a reed vibrating. I realised then that I needed to warm up the harmonicas first to body temperature before playing. You can see my own low cost, always handy solution in my other reply. 🙄Since using that technique I've not had any reeds hardly at all stopping due to moisture build up.
I use a jewelry cleaner. Ultrasonic vibrations. Maybe two times submerged in distilled water. No wood combs though ! And harmonica all taken apart. I like to take pictures as I take out screws so I remember on assembly. Lots of stuff vibrates off. Then air dry overnight.
I have an antique echo wood inside reeds so I don't think I can soak it or take it apart
Looking to get a few Harmonica's tomorrow and watched your video. Loved the info. New sub.
I "broke" my first harmonica due to overplaying, as I was a begginer, I guess it would happen eventually. Now, with a second one, in a intermediate/advanced level, I guess it will last longer following your steps . Just bought it recently, so there is time to preserve it. Thanks!
Buy a few, they're only cheap
My granny used warm water and tapped the moisture out on her hand. Dish soap tap out on my hand and use a hair dryer to dry after cleaning.
Hey guys, I have a question for you. I know with other "wind" instruments (reeds, brass, flutes etc.), musicians are taught to warm up their instrument before playing it by softly blowing air through it. This not only helps with tuning, but supposedly increases the longevity of the instrument. Is the same true for harmonicas? (Not the tuning part, but the part about increasing the life-span of the instrument.)
Hey Lee - this is a widely debate topic, but many experts I've spoken with have said no.
@@Harmonicacom I'm an amateur and I always blew my harmonica somewhere privatly before playing it in front of others simply to make sure no reeds might stick. But back then I didn't know about the wonderful cleaning methods you just taught me. I had no lessons before, even though I played in a small band. I just figured it out. But now I'm getting serious about it and want to learn everything I can on youtube. Thanks again! You are a perfect teacher!
The voice of the rooster was head,the man has chickens... I listen and enjoy 😊
Hey thanks for this video! You seem like a cool guy! I dont know why I started doing this, but I have been rinsing my harp after each time I play, then I shake it out and let it air dry. Do you think this would do more harm (corrosion) then good (washing out crud and keeping clean)?
I think these are great tips, but the sterilization/sanitation process of submerging the instrument in Peroxide might work w/SEYDEL harmonicas. What about Hohner Marine Band series which are made out of wood?
Don't use water, beer on any wood comb harp!
Спасибо за советы. Про применение перекиси водорода в таком контексте я даже не догадывался.
how about Listerine mouth wash?
"Cotton mouth." Yeah, blame the stage fright. Lol ;)
More like Hawaiian Happy Tobaccee...
JP Allen always seems so happy
JP is the OG!
Surely you wouldn't use hydrogen peroxide with a wooden comb?
No you wouldn't
@@Will-Max do you know what you would use instead?
Honer Marine Band... how do i clean it? it doesn't have screws and it has a wood comb.
Hey there - the Hohner Marine Band pear wood comb is double-lacquered, so I wouldn't hesitate to run it under the faucet, and then gently tap against palm to get water out, and then play it a bit, and don't put it back in it's case for a few hours to make sure it completely dries.
Hope that helps.
Rock on,
Luke
Simple, fast, safe and effective solution is to use Polydent for all but wooden combs.
Cool. Thanks for sharing Robert!
I have trouble with wind savers. If they do not lay flat can you use a fan to blow a temp of say 100 to 120 degrees at the harmonica and therefore avoid replacing them? It seems to me that temperature would flatten the wind savers again but to much temp would be fatal. Does anyone know?
So I can be bit rough with harmonica. Now I consider to buy one.
Yes. Buy one!
Let us know how you are doing,,sorry about your islands wats going on...I’ll keep you in my prayers...Love Kim
Thanks Bro.❤
Thanks for sharing your tips. Makes sense. 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent! You don't age, ever :)
Rinsing with water...is it hot, cold, luke warm, tepid, etc. ?
I have an $85 cpap cleaner that sterilized using ozone. Use it on my harmonica too. No rust, oxidation, smell or taste.
cool!
What is a cpap?
@@michaelstratton6701 a breathing device for those of us with apnea.
Thank you ! Very positive !
Glad you liked it!
Great information. You could be Steve Vai's brother👍
lol
Your a great guy , Thank you ..From Kimberly...
How about a hairdryer to clean out and listerene for clean..?
I dont think its a good idea due to the dillatation of the metal. Avoid temperature changes
What about desanitizing the harmonica with mouth wash, isnt supposed to kill all bacteria from the mouth it self'? Soak it for few minutes, then rinse it with water. PLEASE DO A VIDEO for evebody to see.
brass does not rust. however the cover plate screws and bolts do. for that using WD 40 removes the rust.
i will use hydroperoxide in the future so thanks.
(:
Right on, Lance.
Whilst brass doesn’t rust, I have known brass reed plates to suffer from verdigris.
Baking soda and white ginger for verdigris?
Sorry this is only water ? You put Armonica just only in tbe water ? Thanks 😊
Super Groovy Dude!
nice video. thanks
Do you put the front of back of the harmonica in front of a fan to day? Thanks a bunch, -M
won't water make the metal parts, rusty or have any other effect on the harmonica?
Thanks. appreciate it!
You seem like a cool dude
JP is a cool guy!
Drinking Jack Daniels traps 2 flies with one hit 😆
Does this method work for a wooden harmonica? Hohner 1896 ?
Can I sterilize the wood comb harmonica?
Seems like, mostly, good advice. I always wondered why the company didn't make a solution. || But one thing I find alarming about your advice is the smacking of the harmonica and the blasting it with water. Wouldn't that almost surely mess up your reeds? || Something I notice Neil Young does is he taps the harmonica against his leg BEFORE he starts playing. I'm always like, man, you didn't get THAT much spittle in it. lol
Tapping won’t hurt reeds. If you use a a water pick then it probably will. Slapping, if anything helps your harmonica because moisture
What about harmonicas with a wood comb, like a Hohner Blues Harp?
dfcii I highly recommend not to put your wooden comb in any sort of liquid. Clean it with a dry or damp cloth. Don’t listen to everything he says. I put my harmonica in hydrogen peroxide which he told me to and the wooden comb swelled extremely. This guy is a professional and switches between harps every week. If you want yours to last handle it with care.
Very nice.
How would an Ultra sonic cleaner work.?I just purchased one for wife for her jewelry and can be used for glasses. Uses only water but I always thought not good for the wooden combs on marine band type. Did read that was an easy way to learn to bend notes as helped seal comb
I've heard of lots of people using ultrasonic cleaner. 👍🏼
I use an ultrasonic for my harps. Put a shot of Dawn and a shot of hydrogen peroxide in and 3 or 4 harps at a time, then rinse and let them air dry.
Thanks.
So playing the harp while dipping tobacco would not be a good idea?
I just visualized that and I can't stop laughing. LOL LOL LOL
Dude.....awesome, i needed this info. I live close to Canada, and have had moisture freeze the reeds.
Haha, cottonmouth....
Good stuff!
Seriously let me ask - how do harpists who play harps that have wooden combs keep the wood from swelling or warping? After faucet sink rinsing then slapping then drying, those 'teeth' start to protrude after a time. How can I prevent this? I only have plastic combs now and even remember when that idea hit the market, bc i'm that old. I'd like to buy a hohner crossover but i reed that bamboo swells like any other wood.
Any advice on this or should i stick with plastic combs? Thank you very much
I use plastic combs!
I love my crossover… unless something is jammed under a reed (which it has yet to do) I don’t do much with it…
I kinda have rules w myself on it though…. I don’t play after eating… I make sure to wash down any food w water… I don’t drink sticky soda type drinks before playing… I don’t play if I have a cold/flu… I promptly put back in case after airing it out… and I don’t let others blow in it. 😂
How long it will last who knows. I’d buy another though if or when it goes bad. Sound quality is 👌
VERY POLITE AND HAPPY FACE GUY.
Yes! JP is AWESOME!
Yep.... Your correct..... Every time I saw John Mayall, Paul Butterfield, Charlie Muselwhite... they always stopped the show and said, "Hey ... I gotta rinse my mouth out..I can feel saliva accumulating in my mouth.. I'm aware that this is bad for my harp...so excuse me while I rinse my mouth..
WTF...you gotta be kidding..... PS... i give kids harmonica's,,,cuz I think it's the right thing to promote music... Bless You Brother
Isopropyl Alcohol ? then rinse whit water
Thats what i was thinking or Methylated Spirits
Slobbering the harp is a thigh slap practice. Oh so tasty. Playing the nasty blues in a dive bar CAN pay off. Even wearing a mask. Do you know how much time you just saved me with your video.
What about wooden comb harmonicas? Is it safe to wash them like that?
What age and brand you got?
@@Harmonicacomit's marine band 125th anniversary
i have harmonica swan key of c
Anyway,thank you
"Harmonica player Jason Ricci has a video on cleaning your Harmonica and he uses Kaboom cleaner. I don't know if I would use that stuff but he uses a toothbrush and he scrubs lightly. Then rinses it off with alcohol and water. Thanks for the video that was very helpful.
you're cool!
I would not do this with a wood comb, only plastic.
How do you clean a wood comb harmonica? Do you have to take it apart?
I inject in it distilled water then slap it,
then inject Pharmaceutical Alcohol and then a hairdryer (cold air) to dry it.
Aloha I see you are local I need help cleaning I’m in Honolulu can you get in touch with me.. please.. mahalo
Why not just run some clean water through it after every use by holding it under the tap?
yeah Plastic combs might be fine. I have a wooden comb and think the water would kill it. I might get another one with a plastic comb that seems to be the easy way.
Bleach diluted in water is what is used in the childcare business for sanitizing toys.
Thank you so much friend, Merci beaucoup l'ami. :) Just to let you know, your sit were you subscribe, Facebook is spying were we put are e-mail address.
Buy ultra sound bath and clean harmonica...😮😊
Three questions, JP: 1) Why didn't you mention brushing your teeth? Isn't it much more effective than simply rinsing your mouth with water?; 2) Why do I need to sterilize my harps if I'm the only one playing 'em?; and 3). You're not telling me to stick my wooden comb harps into a jar of liquid, are you? Like wouldn't that ruin 'em? I believe I saw a plastic comb harp in the video.
Dov Landzbaum 1) It would not be practical to brush your teeth multiple times during a playing session, so rinsing.
I didn't say during a playing session. When I play I don't eat or drink anything but water. That's the only way I know for sure that my oral cavity is clean. Otherwise brushing is the only way to go; I bring a toothbrush and toothpaste with me every time I know I'm going to play.
Lol you're a funny human
Nothing funny about it. I'm dead serious. I have lots of harps, and I play a lot, I'm in a band, and I've had almost all of them for the past 10 years. I haven't ruined any of 'em with food particles.
I rinse with mouthwash, so I guess I'm even more extreme. But my harps are pretty much spotless.
I hear lots of applause from the rooster!
I agree that harmonicas need sterilizing on occasion. If you don't think so, try opening it up and putting it under a microscope. Human mouths carry a lot of nasty stuff. If you have ever been bitten by a person and didn't treat it soon enough, the infection can become major (more so than a dogs bite). You could even carry Hydrogen Peroxide in a small travel size and rinse with it if you want to be ultimately careful (not harmful if not swallowed, so you have to do that elsewhere). Then onstage, water is best. If you are also singing, some use a honey-lemon tea, i think, to help their throat. As JP said, rinse with water before picking up your harp, that mixture could be deadly for it (sugary honey and an acid).
As to your method, a very soft bristle brush and or a cloth (lint free) to hasten the removal might be suggested (just don't get the bristles around the reeds).
I can see your method as being a good way to accomplish this. I have tried boiling, but only with plastic combs and I never liked doing it. Didn't seem to harm them, but messy. Best to rinse under distilled water (most stores have it) as it has been demineralized as well as sterilized. If you have hard water you might wind up coating your reeds (the only thing that might hurt them). But as I don't carry a jug around with me, you do what you can. I always carry a small travel (folding) toothbrush and travel toothpaste (Usually basic, not a mint) and brush and rinse ahead of time. The folding brush keeps it cleaner in the case. I am just now thinking that I should add a few of those preset up type flossers (look like a U with floss across it and a pointy other end for things that are stuck) because if you have ever eaten, brushed, and then flossed, sometime meat or stringy vegetables are still there, but may release while playing. If you have ever been in a set and all of a sudden a reed sticks, you will do what you can to prevent. GROSS, Huh!!! (GUM is one brand, I like their narrower tooth pick end for helping). If you have crowns, they can accumulate even more stuff.
So thanks for the suggestions. I used to play a lot (amatuer at churches and small pubs with friends, so far haven't been paid) 15 to 20 years ago, but then started leading with a guitar and never was comfortable with a neck brace. Kinda of fell out of it and only played on occasion. Now picking up the harps to resurrect them and see what happens. So, thanks for the refresher and on a new way to keep them nice.
ONE last thing, you mentioned rust. I don't recall you saying what you do about it. Thanks
I heard he was in a auto accident and lost two arms and a foot. I hope that's just gossip.
You’re comment sent me to google,you probably know by now it’s very true
How horrible, you could tell he was a good man who truly loved to play the harp
Now he can’t even use his hands,i think his lungs are damaged
That’s just terrible
How sad.
Who are you talking about?
😊
I'm late to the party but"How did it taste"?
Ha! Good one. :-)
Thank you fellow blower 😁
That sounds so wrong
Zoomer that’s was my first reaction. 😂
Did someone just come out of a closet?..
Or Polydent.😂
I only take my harp lessons from Daniel Day-Lewis.
lol
speaking only?
Roger that, Abe. Thanks for watching!
Rum, vodka, burbon. Soak 1 hour. Shake. Dry. Play.
The sugar of that does not get the harp eventually sticky?
Javier Vitali ...Saliva with my every use takes care of the bi-annual rum bath sugar problem. I've had the Honer Echo Harp for 18 years now, no problems. I play a couple hours a week.
@@thirdeye9106 my harmonicas get lost before they get old.
That’s what she said..
Cleaning your harmonica in hydrogen peroxide, vinegar or alcohol??? Not good advice.
thanks Mark.
Hey joker 👋 hehehe joke you look like joker on new movie joker hehe
Alcohol crystallizes in ruins harmonicas you are completely out of touch with reality. Is this satire? Anyway God bless hope you people wake up see you later.
Clean water rinse, gentle slaps to loosen reeds and send excess water out either end, then air dry in the open. Reed plates on good harps don't rust, either brass or stainless steel. Coverplates can show rust spots over time, usually the undersides. Some safe liquids can brighten brass or SS, and the covers can be cleaned with safe chelating rust remover, polished with safe materials. Only raw wood combs are an issue for soaking, as they swell, and warp, and trap gunk just like wood cutting boards. Either buy sealed, or seal yourself, because they won't last and rub your lips raw. No pro plays unsealed combs. Sanitizing is pretty silly, especially if you look around the sort of places you play harp in. Sealed or plastic combs are clean enough with a rinse, wipe, and dry.
Clean water rinse, gentle slaps to loosen reeds and send excess water out either end, then air dry in the open. Reed plates on good harps don't rust, either brass or stainless steel. Coverplates can show rust spots over time, usually the undersides. Some safe liquids can brighten brass or SS, and the covers can be cleaned with safe chelating rust remover, polished with safe materials. Only raw wood combs are an issue for soaking, as they swell, and warp, and trap gunk just like wood cutting boards. Either buy sealed, or seal yourself, because they won't last and rub your lips raw. No pro plays unsealed combs. Sanitizing is pretty silly, especially if you look around the sort of places you play harp in. Sealed or plastic combs are clean enough with a rinse, wipe, and dry.
Aloha, I see you are local too.. I am having serious cleaning problems if you can get in touch with me I’d appreciate it.. mahalo