Repairing Roll Harmonica
By Todd Augsburger
Spencer Chase, I was rereading your advice of about a month ago, and thought I'd comment on my experiences:
Recently, I overhauled a Rolmonica and found exactly the things you commented about, with the addition of a warped wood core. I filed the "high" side and filled the low side with a sealer in order to get it airtight. The brads that hold it together were loosening in a couple of places, so I relocated the angle of them upon reinstallation. It is easiest to "slide" them into place with pliers rather than "nailing" them in.
Regarding the "leathers": After some experimentation, I ended up using leather strips tacked with cyanoacrylate glue on BOTH ends. The leather is flexible enough to bow out in the middle when opening, but is held into place so as to immediately and easily close upon change of the inhale/exhale cycle. This made a *noticeable* improvement in ease of blowing, and also appeared to aid the inhale cycle somewhat. I would guess that the original is a poor design for valves.
But even when the air movement seems good, the inhaling sound quality still is poorer quality than exhaling--Anybody know why? Is it the way the channels are designed with the reeds on the opposite sides? Is this different than a regular harmonica?
And yes, the arrangements of music left something to be desired. But I'd like to buy some more, if anybody has some for sale. Does anyone make NEW rolls?
Todd Augsburger
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(Message sent Sat 29 Mar 1997, 19:13:37 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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