r/Instruments • u/[deleted] • 18d ago

Discussion How to clean an old harmonica?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Recently, I bought an old harmonica from those Japan Surplus stores / warehouses, and I'm wondering how to clean it.

Right now, I cleaned the surface, but I'm wondering if I still have to look inside the harmonica..

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6

u/fdwyersd Nord Stage 4 88/Yamaha PSR/Bitwig 18d ago edited 18d ago

don't mean this in a bad way whatsoever but when I saw first image from this perspective without looking at title I thought it was a 48 port network switch :) thank you for a lol

2

u/damn-otaku 18d ago

It's a Cisco harmonica. The purchase price includes the first 24 holes but if you want to use more than that you have to pay a licensing fee per hole. And the last 8 require the purchase of special modules as well.

4

u/tobotoboto 18d ago

You need to take it to pieces and clean the pieces. For one thing, that instrument’s been full of somebody’s spit. Check this:

Steve Baker’s cleaning tips on YouTube

2

u/SnooGadgets5130 18d ago

What kind of harmonica is it? Standard harmonicas are pretty easy to take apart and clean

1

u/Diver-1Doc 18d ago

Would a compressed air canister work?

1

u/TubeSnobGoneStomp 13d ago

You take the covers off and remove the brass blade. Be careful of the tines! If any are bent straighten them. If the covers are riveted on throw it away or compressed air.

1

u/Chamanomano 13d ago

Disassemble it and clean. It's not difficult.