Gotta change my windsavers!

[A.J.Fedor]

I really like the Suzuki SCX series, but today, I had to stop kidding myself; I hate the windsavers like a snake!  I have two SCX-12 and one SCX-14. All of them began to stick after a few minutes of playing (again) I had to go back to my quieter but trusty MeisterKlasse. (which so far has never let me down - windsaver-wise)

So looks like I'll hafta tear them down and go with a set of Danny G's or somethin.
I haven't heard this from anyone yet, so it makes me wonder, but I can't deny the facts. I've had it with stock Suzy savers.

@ge

 

[El Moldo]

My SCX-56 (SCX-14) has been in the news lately for the same thing.  I am waiting for you to do the change first because I have never changed windsavers before. Started waxing an old Blues Harp with bees wax just to practice how much and how to, ready for the real thing.

Have a great night/day/whatever (I'm upside down from you).
 
LM

[Vern]

Don't use a soft, sticky wax such as beeswax,  candle wax, or paraffin!!!

Use Johnson's paste floor wax or maybe a wax for your car (carnauba) that will polish and leave a thin, hard, invisible film.

Vern

[El Moldo]

Great!  Thanks for that advice.  Saved from myself again.

LM

[Jimmy Halfnote]

I really like the Suzuki SCX series, but today, I had to stop kidding myself; I hate the windsavers like a snake!  I have two SCX-12 and one SCX-14. All of them began to stick after a few minutes of playing (again) I had to go back to my quieter but trusty MeisterKlasse. (which so far has never let me down - windsaver-wise)

So looks like I'll hafta tear them down and go with a set of Danny G's or somethin.
I haven't heard this from anyone yet, so it makes me wonder, but I can't deny the facts. I've had it with stock Suzy savers.

@ge

 A couple of things A. J. , how do the Swan valves compare ? 
         Now i don't know if you have replaced a whole set of valves before, i hadn't until recently, it is a rotten job, drove me up the wall, a few valves are one thing, a whole set is another kettle of fish. The harmonica in question must have been dismantled about four times, in an effort to get all the valves working perfectly, even then i still have a couple that have rough spots when cranking up the volume, they will stay that way. So if you are harassed at all by other things, get some one else to do them for you, do a barter with whatever you may have.
            I don't think you need the hassle at the moment A. J.


                                                                                               jh.

[smojoe]

Support note.
Yes, Vern is correct. Use Johnson's paste floor wax (comes in a flattish can like Simonize)
Use Bruce's paste floor wax (comes in a flattish can like Simonize)
Use Simonize carnuba auto wax (comes in a flattish can like Simonize)

Note to self: I use Johnson's (comes in a flattish can like Simonize).

smo-joe (in a can like Simonize)

[A.J.Fedor]

A couple of things A. J. , how do the Swan valves compare ? 

Jimmy,
Strangely enough, in the 15 months I've been playing the Swan, I've yet to have the slightest iota of wind saver problems. Think I'll take it apart and examine it more closely. This is the only harmonica that I've actually played virtually EVERY DAY.

I've never played anything "every day" till I got this thing; it was more like once a week.  Without exaggeration, I've probably logged an many hours on this cheap little axe in the last fifteen months as I have on all my Chromatics, combined, over the last sixty years. I know that sounds like a big statement, but I'm gunna stick with it.

[Gnarly He Man]

Some folks really like the Suzuki valves--
Danny G sells lots of different kinds, why not try them all?
G

[Grizzly]

Age, have you tried giving it a bath? Clean windsavers and plates don't stick as much. Just dunk it in a bucket of water with a little detergent. Rinse, air dry, try playing it again. Can't hurt.

Tom

[A.J.Fedor]

Age, have you tried giving it a bath? Clean windsavers and plates don't stick as much. Just dunk it in a bucket of water with a little detergent. Rinse, air dry, try playing it again. Can't hurt.

Tom

Why not?  They're all squeeky clean, but heck, I'm willing to give it a shot. Maybe I'll wax'em while I'm at it. 

[kc_liaw]

Age, have you tried giving it a bath? Clean windsavers and plates don't stick as much. Just dunk it in a bucket of water with a little detergent. Rinse, air dry, try playing it again. Can't hurt.

Tom

while you given it a bath, just add one "POLIDENT" tablet, those denture cleaner you can easily buy from pharmacy.. .... this table will digest away all the dirts.. and when you take out.. the whole thing will be cool like new..  you can bath it overnight.. if u wanna get the best result.... oh.. don't forget to rinse it with fresh water after it taken the bath..

cheers

KC

[reeds64]

A gentle bath using detergent or Polident and almost no agitation is a least effort good trick. Agitation can twist one of the Hohner valves so that it sticks in the reedslot. It's not a permanent twist, though, but you have to disassemble the harmonic to pull the valve out of the reedslot.

Age, your comment about the Swan valves is pretty strong. Has anybody tried to buy valves from the Swan company? (Oh no! Another Holy Grail to chase. I've still got some DuPont Teflon soaked baking pan liner somewhere. Anyone want some of that?)

Actually, it sounds as if the wax and a Vern valve or a Danny valve are the best combination so far.

[streetlegal]

As a Swan player myself - I'd only say that in my experience that while the Swan valves are not bad, I could not say that they are trouble free. The ones on the inside have never given me any trouble, but the outer ones do buzz and flutter. That's why I am working on my own windsaver design which I hope will solve these problems with the blow windsavers - some grail's are worth chasing

[Wendellfiddler]

A gentle bath using detergent or Polident and almost no agitation is a least effort good trick. Agitation can twist one of the Hohner valves so that it sticks in the reedslot. It's not a permanent twist, though, but you have to disassemble the harmonic to pull the valve out of the reedslot.

Age, your comment about the Swan valves is pretty strong. Has anybody tried to buy valves from the Swan company? (Oh no! Another Holy Grail to chase. I've still got some DuPont Teflon soaked baking pan liner somewhere. Anyone want some of that?)

Actually, it sounds as if the wax and a Vern valve or a Danny valve are the best combination so far.

I do this soaking in dental cleaner pretty regularly with all the harmonicas I use a lot -  and I agitate them gently for a few minutes and let em sit maybe 10 minutes and rinse them off thoroughly.  I have an old tennis ball tube that I put them in.  The MK I can do without removing the plates from the comb as it doesn't have voids that would fill with water.  Suzukis, 2016's and such require removing the plates from the comb otherwise you have lots of water trapped in the comb. 

I've never had a problem with twisting but sometimes one falls off - which is good cause it was probably attached well anyway.

Doug

[A.J.Fedor]

As a Swan player myself - I'd only say that in my experience that while the Swan valves are not bad, I could not say that they are trouble free. The ones on the inside have never given me any trouble, but the outer ones do buzz and flutter. That's why I am working on my own windsaver design which I hope will solve these problems with the blow windsavers - some grail's are worth chasing

How old is yours? The last Swan I had a few years back had the usual noisy-sticky valves; this new one doesn't

[streetlegal]

Mine was bought in January this year - the new boat-shaped model. They didn't all give problems - just some of them. But even one problem windsaver can be a source of much annoyance to the player. I think that all plastic type windsavers must develop these problems - I think it is a mechanical problem - their efficiency just deteriorates with bending - especially bending under blow pressure. If you take a thin piece of plastic and flick it up repeatedly, eventually it will lose some of it's spring response.

[Gnarly He Man]

I worked on a 16 hole Fabulous yesterday--it has the same windsavers that the SCX has.
I don't think they can be all that bad if they put them on an instrument of that caliber!

[Grizzly]

Not necessarily. It's the economy of scale. Why would Suzuki, or anyone, keep two or more different windsavers in stock when they are essentially disposable? Think the other way around: design the best for the Fabulous, then use them for every other model. Maybe not exactly what they did; just one way to look at it.

Tom

[Gnarly He Man]

Valves are one of the Achilles heels of the chrom. I don't believe Suzuki would cut corners on them if they were going to use them on this harmonica.
I wish I knew how to create the perfect valve.

[Jimmy Halfnote]

I worked on a 16 hole Fabulous yesterday--it has the same windsavers that the SCX has.
I don't think they can be all that bad if they put them on an instrument of that caliber!

 Did you notice something when replacing the Fabulous covers Gary ?   Well on mine there is so little leeway at the fixed end of the valve, the covers are not on clean plate, but resting on the edge of puddles of glue. I have since took a razor to the 'puddles' so that the cover edges can sit cleanly on the plate. How much is this harmonica new ?

                                                                    jh.

[Gnarly He Man]

Jimmy asked:  "How much is this harmonica new ?"
http://www.harmonicas-direct.com/harmonicas/chromatic/suzuki-fabulous-fc-64c-chromatic

[Danny G]

MSRP in the US is $5299.99 http://www.suzukimusic.com/harmonicas/harmonicas/   That works out to 3334.47 GBP

[Gnarly He Man]

It's a nice harp--but I can get by without it.

[Danny G]

Suzuki has the Fabulous, Hohner has the Silver Concerto and Seydel has the Renny
All of them are waaaaay beyond my budget

[Gene D]

Has anyone made a comparison of the Fabulous to the Renny?  Just curious.

Regards,
Gene Dodson

[Gnarly He Man]

I volunteer!
Pmail me and I will send you my address . . .
I will check out the windsavers too, while I have your Renaissance--
Hey, I probably need both the Seydel and the original model to make the best comparison . . .

[pmelissakis]

Jimmy asked:  "How much is this harmonica new ?"
http://www.harmonicas-direct.com/harmonicas/Chromatic/suzuki-fabulous-fc-64c-Chromatic

Except for the 2 extra holes - Looks like a Meisterklasse with the HOHNER
replaced with SUZUKI. 

Pete