Get On R. Sleigh’s email list!

I will be sending out juicy emails from time to time, including first come first serve offers on custom harmonicas, tech tips, and articles. I hate spam, and really don’t want to piss you off, so your information will stay here. That’s a promise.

Name
Email

By the way, you get two free downloads from R. Sleigh for joining the list above. You can find out what they are by joining, or go to R.Sleigh.com to read a description of them.

Custom Harmonicas by R. Sleigh

Please contact Richard via email with requests, and join his email list (above) to stay informed on special offers and openings in his calendar.

Turbocharge Your Harmonica!

Do you ever feel like you have to work twice as hard for half as much when you are playing one of your harmonicas?  Wouldn’t it be great if you knew you could take a stock harmonica and get it to play in tune and have an even response, get all the bends without having to work your ass off for one or two of them? Do you ever find yourself at a jam session hoping that they don’t throw you a solo when the only harp you have in that key is a real dog?  Maybe you now have some custom harmonicas that play well and you really want to conserve them, but get really frustrated with everything else you try to play.
Let me confess something – I used to be totally frustrated at my ability to make a harmonica respond to me and stay in tune. I even gave up playing the harmonica a couple of times over the years because I got so tired of trying to fix the damn things. It just didn’t seem fair – I got hooked on playing an instrument that seemed so simple, but I  could not find anyone who could explain how harmonicas really work or how to work on them.

Back in the dark ages of the blues harp (OK, I guess I have to reveal my age, sort of – I started playing in earnest in 1969) having a great harmonica was pure voodoo and good luck. I was allowed to try out harmonicas in the music store, even though you weren’t supposed to, and I just bought the ones that worked the best. If I got one that was particularly nice, I did everything I could to make it last, and I grieved when it died. Because there was nothing I could do about it.

I became determined to learn everything I could about how reeds work, what makes them bend, what makes them overblow, how you tune them, how you replace reeds. I made a series of prototype harmonicas, a version of the idea that the XB-40 uses to make all the notes bend on a diatonic. I repaired and customized thousands of harmonicas and made thousands of mistakes and went down countless dead ends figuring out the best tools and the easiest ways to work on harmonica reeds.

I studied with the best teachers out there and I ended up helping to develop the method that is now the standard by which all modern custom harmonicas are judged. If it’s a fact, it ain’t braggin. I played a big part in developing the Filisko Method, the process that rocked the harmonica world in the 1990s.

Why am I telling you all of this? Because if you are looking for tools and methods that will save you time and effort, if you want to understand how the harmonica works and how to work on it, I want to make this as easy as I can for you. I want you to cut through the line, skip the dead end experiments, and focus on a few skills and techniques that really get the results that you are looking for. And to do all of this with some tools that won’t let you down.

Now I can’t take you and turn you overnight into a top harmonica technician. That takes a lot of time and patience. But it is just like playing the instrument – if you find a good coach, some good books, and some good tools then you can make more progress in a month than you would in years of working alone.

If this sounds good to you, here is what I have to offer you:

“Turbocharge Your Harmonica Volume 1- Straighten Up and Tune Right” ”

This book will give you detailed information on how to tune, adjust your harmonica reeds. The main focus is on the diatonic, but the information on reeds can be used for any type of harmonica or free reed instrument. It took me years to figure out this information and how to explain it clearly.

Your cost: $27 (this includes shipping to any location in the world and personal responses to your questions about anything in this book.)

Just click on the button below and you can buy the book with credit card or paypal account on paypals secure server connection:

IF YOU LIVE IN AUSTRALIA: scroll down to order this book from Neil Graham!

You can also send a check or money order to:

R. Sleigh, P.O. Box 23, Boalsburg PA 16827

PLEASE INCLUDE A SHIPPING ADDRESS!

Thanks!

———————————————————————————

In Australia, order “Turbocharge Your Harmonica” from my good freind and fellow customizer Neil Graham at: http://neilgraham.com.au/

553 Punkalla Road, Central Tilba, 2456 N.S.W. Australia

———————————————————————————-

More Resources from R. Sleigh:

In the mean time, I am working on some projects to make it easier for people that want to improve their own harps, including tool kits , Marine Band Kits, and harp tech instruction.

Harp Tech Instruction

If you want to learn the most efficient ways to work on your harmonicas in record time, consider studying harmonica technology or music with me at my shop in Philipsburg PA. This is by far the fastest way to learn how to take control of your harmonicas. For more information contact me and I will put you in my schedule.

I also teach harmonica technology via webcam, email, and phone consultations. I can supply you with drawings related to your specific questions, evaluate your harmonicas, and generally support your efforts as you work on your instruments.

Many of my students have ended up changing the way they play the instrument as part of the process of learning how to work on them. If there is any question that the way you are playing the instrument is throwing off your tuning, the response of the reeds, or shortening the life of your harps, we can figure this out and correct it.

Testimonials:

I have been playing Richard Sleigh’s harps for years  (and believe me, I ain’t gettin’ ‘em for free!!). But even though I’ve spent a chunk of change on them and had to wait a long time for some of them, I’ve never regretted the investment that I made.  Playing music is what gives me some of my highest highs, and these harps have taken me to places that I didn’t know I could go to. For example, I fell in love instantly with his low D for fiddle tunes, and it completely changed that game for me - and it is so much kinder to my neighbor’s pets than the standard D, to boot… I play a wide range of styles from Blues to Old Timey, standards, and Richard has dialed in the harps for my needs and then some. They are extremely even in their response from reed to reed, and when it comes to playing bends and overbends, it feels like I have power steering. They are WAY more playable than any production harp or other custom harp I’ve tried.

In the past few years I have also studied with Richard at his shop and I’ve been using his tools as well, and my sense of control over this part of my musical life has increased immensely. Working directly with Richard has been a series of breakthroughs and his tools just make tuning so much easier that I look forward to it (sometimes). I have even gotten good at replacing reeds, and it really makes it easier to know that Richard will bail me out if worst comes to worst.

Trip Henderson ~ New York, NY
http://www.myspace.com/triphenderson

“I greatly enjoyed working with Richard. I had a lot of ah-ha moments as Richard cleared up one mystery after another with his demonstrations and explanations. Watching a master technician at work and being able to ask questions on the spot is so easy and fun that I did not realize how much I was learning until later on. We worked on a wide variety of harps including XB-40s, chromatics and standard diatonics, and Richard’s approach seemed direct and right on for all of them.

Being able to try things out immediately and then have them critiqued gave me a chance to do an on the spot reality check on what was actually sinking in and uncover more questions and clarifications.

Whether it was routine maintenance, emergency repairs, or just to get a better understanding of the principles which make these instruments work, I found the instruction invaluable. Learning from Richard was a rewarding experience that gave me the confidence to go beyond basic repair to trying out some of my own customizing ideas.”

I was fortunate to have spent two weekends with Richard at times when he had gigs in nearby State College, PA (Penn State Univ). Working by day and enjoying great music at night was the perfect combination if it can be arranged.

I hope to return again to take advantage of Richard’s experience as a harmonica instructor as well as have him critique some of the customizing work I have done since my last visit.”

Terry Dyroff
Silver Spring, MD

“I consider myself pretty mechanically inclined and thought I knew my way around a harp before our session. Boy was I wrong! I didn’t know how much I needed to learn until Richard showed me his invaluable techniques and tips.

I just finished my first “on my own” harp tuning session. Wow what a difference in the sound… I can’t say enough about the value of the techniques and tips he shared with me. Run
don’t walk to the master!”

George Barnabic
Indian Mills, NJ

R. Sleigh Marine Band Kits

These Marine Band kits are comparable to the Marine Band Deluxe harmonica, but they have heavier internal sealing in the combs, and use traditional Marine Band cover plates modified in the back for strength, projection, and to recreate the look of pre–war marine bands. The reed plates are totally stock, except for drilling and tapping for screws. The two cover plate screws with nuts and three reed plate screws are all slotted screws, making this harmonica very easy to take apart to work on.(Please note: You must tune and adjust reeds on this harmonica. It does not include reed work by R. Sleigh.)

This is what I do for you with the Marine Band Kit:

• Seal the comb and plane it to fit reed plates. Flatten the lower reed plate fit comb perfectly.
• Re-shape the cover plates for strength and sound projection, and open up the back to look like pre war Marine Band
• Dril cover plates for screws and nuts.
• Drill and tap reed plates for screws
• Include all screws and nuts needed to assemble harmonica
• Smooth and polish off corners and sharp edges

Price: $50

Shipping

• Priority Shipping, handling and insurance within the United States:$8 for orders up to $100, add $2 for every additional $100 in value
• International orders please contact me for shipping information

R. Sleigh Harmonica Tool Kits

Finally! - professional quality tools for tuning and adjusting reeds, including:

• Super sharp draw scraper mounted in pin vise handle - The first time I had a machine shop make one of these tools for me, it cost $120, and the prototype is not as easy to use or as sharp as what I now offer. You will find that with a little practice, this tool will peel away brass from a reed in  way that is easy to control and predict.
• 2 files - one super high quality Grobet (Swiss made) file for fine tuning, and one average quality file for rough work or for tuning reeds that have solder on the tips (allows you to save the other file for brass) Both are triangular files. The grobet is smaller and thinner than the other file.
• 2 reed lifter/reed wrench tools, designed to support reeds for the accurate use of files and scrapers. One is for blow reeds, the other for draw reeds or exposed reeds.
• 4 in 1 screwdriver that fits most harmonica screws.
• Shim stock pieces for curving reeds
• Detailed instructions with drawings and color coded tuning charts. Includes descriptions of how to check and improve reed curvature, and tuning plus many other aspects of harmonica maintenance.
• This also includes a free phone consultation with me to answer questions about the use of tools, and email support as well)

Price: $85 (includes priority shipping within USA)

R. Sleigh Harmonica Tool Kit (stripped down version)

This version of the tool kit is great for international orders or for people that only want the specialized items that are machined to my specifications for the tool kit.

• Draw scraper without pin vise handle
• 2 reed lifter/ reed wrench tools
• Instructions sent as PDF files in email
• shipping to any location at no extra cost
• phone and email support (free 20 minute session on skype or by appointment if you call me)

Price: $55

New: Deluxe Version of the Tool Kit with leather tool wrap by Jeffrey Spoor of Cumberland Cases

This tool kit is the result of my search for the ultimate combination of luxurious materials and practicality. You could unwrap this kit in a diner and work on your harp while you wait for your eggs and bacon, and then wrap up everything in seconds when your breakfast arrives.

Go to this video at youtube for details

This tool kit includes the draw scraper mounted in a pin vise handle, the 4-in-1 screwdriver, two reed wrench / reed support tools, a reed prod mounted in a pin vise handle, a high quality swiss file, an inexpensive file for filing soldered reeds, shim stock,  tools wrapped in a royal blue jewlery polishing cloth, followed by the final wrap - a high quality leather tool wrap that makes an excellent work surface and measures 8″ x 12″.

PLEASE NOTE! - the tool kit no longer has the scraper in the screwdriver handle. I also replaced the paper clip tool with a new version mounted in a pin vise handle which I feel works much better. The video does give you a good overview of the tool kit and the rest of the items in it.

Price: $97 plus shipping

Harmonica instruction

Now Avalable- Train Rhythms and Pentatonic Scales

Train Rhythms and Pentatonic Scales
CD, bonus CD, instructions and personal coaching

Core harmonica skills for any style of music. Every musical instrument has basic skills that must be mastered to have a solid foundation, the simple things that make possible all the other techniques. Learn how to hold a guitar so your fingers can move freely and you will make a lot more progress as time goes on than someone crippled with a grip that restricts your fingers from their full range of motion. Learn how to smoothly pass your thumb under your fingers on a piano keyboard while playing a scale, and you have the key to playing with control and perfect rhythm.

The harmonica is an unusual instrument because you play it breathing in as well as out.  One of the core skills for mastering the harmonica is relaxed, balanced breathing. It just happens to be true that one of the most basic breathing exercise for the harmonica is also the basis for many of the great harmonica steam train imitations. This explains why so many of the early harmonica players have such huge tone. They grew up with the steam trains and they learned to play steam train imitations on the harmonica. When you master breathing through the harmonica, you can:

Step by step instructions on how to:

- Create HUGE TONE at will - When your throat gets big on the inside, the tone on the outside gets big as well.

- Smooth out how you go from blow to draw notes so your playing has an effortless, free-flowing feel and sound.

- Go from the thinnest, “cut the room” treble sound to a deep round bass tone when you want to. It’s like having a tone control that gives you the whole range from high to mid to low

- Conserve your energy and never run out of breath. When you play, people will ask you “When do you breathe??” and you can say “All the time!”

The pentatonic scales combined with the train rhythms are the perfect warm up exercises and chop builders. You will never outgrow them. Included with the scale exercises are detailed instructions on the moves you need to master to play fast and smooth, and efficiently.

With the pentatonic scale exercises you can:
- Use 3 single note patterns as the framework for melodies in at least 6 different positions, speed patterns, and jamming.

-Train yourself to avoid the most common bad notes or “clams” in the 6 most useful positions on the diatonic harmonica

-Develop a solid foundation for playing all of the more complex scales and modes.

The “Train Rhythms and Pentatonic Scales” CDs plus instructions and 20 minute one on one phone or skype session is $40 + shipping

How to order from R. Sleigh:

Send a check or money order to:

Richard Sleigh
P.O. Box 23

Boalsburg PA 16827

Or send money by paypal to: rrsleigh@gmail.com

Please make sure to send your shipping address!

I am sorry, but I cannot process credit card payments

Please send me your email address with payments - if you order tool kits, I will send you a PDF of the Tool Kit Guide.