Re: [Harp-L] tuning chromatic blow reeds

[Robert Coble <robertpcoble@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Both George and Smokey Joe have provided excellent advice.

Another very low cost tool is a reed lifter, to bring the tip of the blow reed
through the plate so that it can be shimmed up while you work on it. Richard
Sleigh provides a reed lifter in his excellent tool kit. It is made from a jumbo
paper clip. Simply snip off the outer piece of the outer loop, at a point slightly
less than 1/2 of the loop. (If the outer loop portion is not sufficiently long,
straighten it out and then make a bend far enough out to have sufficient length.)
Use a file or sandpaper to round the snipped off end. Using a pair of pliers, 
rotate the end so that it is at 90 degrees to the rest of the clip. The rest of the 
clip is the handle. To use, just slip the curved end into the reed slot and press 
GENTLY upward somewhere between the middle and the end of the reed. Be 
careful to NOT force the end of the lifter through the reed slot. If it does go 
past the end of the reed and through the slot, use your shim to lift the reed end
slightly BEFORE removing the reed lifter back through the slot. Otherwise, you 
might snag the end of the reed and bend it, ruining the reed. BE CAREFUL!

Regards,
Crazy Bob