Whistling reeds & other issues

[knobby]

As I've fallen out with my accordion at the moment, I thought I'd pull it apart and have a look at the reed valves on the bass side. I've been struggling with a few of the common chords as when played with notes on the treble side, or played softly, not all the reeds seem to be sounding or they start to sound at different times.

It appears my accordion has had work done on it before, and very few of the original leather reed valves were left. It was these ones which were curled badly on the bass side so I've replaced them. While I had the reed blocks out I blew & sucked through the holes in the reed blocks to see if the reeds sounded & if so how easily. I found a few problems:

1. I found a couple of reeds which wouldn't sound when I sucked. I found tiny bits of leather from the reed valves stuck in the reed. I removed these and the reeds sounded. Result :b
2. I found a couple of reeds which wouldn't sound at all irrespective of how hard I blew/sucked. I can't see any debris in there. Any idea what might be wrong?
3. I found a couple of reeds which when I blow through them make a very high pitched whistle - a solid tone rather than oscillating. Again, any ideas what might be wrong?

 

[JIM D.]

Go to the Accordion Revival website and in chapter 3 look for the topic Misalignment. If this is no help to you give me a shout, I'll be glad to expand on the subject. JIM D.

 

[Adam-T]

cleaning the reed and its plate with Iso-alcohol on a Q-tip usually sorts the whistling - it`s usually something (reedwax, wood shavings, bits of leather, corrosion) fouling the tongue - usually on the edges of the reed channel, don`t be afraid to pull the top reed gently out or push the lower reed in to clean in there - use a good Q-tip as its a pain removing cotton wool trapped in the reed ..

 

[george garside]

a simple process known as ''reed pinging'' cures many mysterious reed ailments and can be done with the reeds still on the reedbloks. There is a tool available for the job but a blade off a set of feeler gauages will do fine . bend the last half inch or so of the rounded end at about 25% (not critical) and wrap some taape round the other end to form a handle.

To use carefuly insert the rounded end under a reed and raise the tip of the reed about half an inch above the reedplate aand let go so it 'pings' back. do this a few times until the 'ping' sounds nice and clear.

To get at the bottom reed on a reedplate you need to lift the reedtonge up through the slot from below using a reedlifting tool or a small electicians screwdriver with a bend on the end will do. This enables the pinging tool to go under the reed as it pops up out of the slot in the reedplate .

george

 

[Glenn]

I've heard of "wheel tappers" but "reed pingers" is a new one on me

 

[jarvo]

Whistling reeds & other issues.......are Whistling Reeds more annoying than Whispering Grass.......? :lol:

Sorry . Could not resist....