So I’ve been playing special 20 and figured I’d try a crossover. I’m feeling like it’s harder to blow and draw. Does it have to be broken in? I feel like I’m waisting a lot of energy playing it…BTW I’ve finished beginner to boss and halfway in breakout blues…,
2 Likes
Hi @JGFR3318
Harmonicas really do not need to be “broken in” – rather it is sometimes the player, especially beginners or those who have only played on one particular harp or harp model and now try to play some other model. You will really notice this if or when you buy & play a harp that has stainless steel reeds.
Often it is also a question of how well the reeds are gapped and shaped, or how air tight the harp is. These last 3 apply particularly to Hohner Crossover harps (at least in my experience – which is why I no longer advise beginners to use them).
Regards,
– Slim 
2 Likes
So, how do I make it more airtight? If that is the case? How many people need to open up and properly gap or change the gap on the reeds on a Crossover?
1 Like
@JGFR3318, maybe you can find something here? The topic has been discussed here several times.
If not, you can enter “Set Reed” in the search field (magnifying glass) at the top and you will find even more points.
Greetings from Astrid 
2 Likes
Hi @JGFR3318
Astrid @AstridHandbikebee63 has given you a very useful link. As to how many people need to open up and adjust Crossover reeds, I think that you can imagine that no one keeps such statistics. But for harmonicas the quality of the harp (its air tightness, reed gaps, reed shapes, reed alignments, tuning, etc) pretty much correlates well with the price of the harp. 
And to expand on air tightness I can tell you the following things to examine 
and, perhaps, even do. Remove the harp coverplates and check that all of the screws that attach the reed plates to the comb are tight. While the cover plates are off, go ahead and remove the reed plates from the comb. Then check that the comb is flat (as perfectly flat as possible!) on the sufaces where the reed plates attach to the comb. Use a glass plate (such as a window pane glass) to do this. If you see any uneven areas (even very small ones) then the comb needs to be sanded perfectly flat on that side – not something that everyone is eager to do. 
While the reed plates are removed from the comb, check that they too are flat. I find many harps have reed plates that are “bowed” or curved. This can usually be corrected (or at least improved) by carefully bending the plate with your fingers to reduce or eliminate the curve and get a reasonably flat reed plate.
For specialists only: sanding the reed plate surfaces that contact the comb surfaces is the ultimate method to ensure an airtight contact with the comb surfaces (assuming the comb surfaces are also flat). For the blow reed plate this would require removing the reeds and then reattaching them when finished – which is why this is seldom done on the blow reed plate. And even on the draw reed plate this again is not exactly something that everyone is eager to do.
The diatonic blues harp: a high precision instrument !! Who would have thought this before getting bitten by the harmonica bug ? 
Regards,
– Slim
2 Likes
Wow! I’m really shocked to hear this. I’ve purchased a few crossovers and have been so impressed with the gapping on them, and have found them incredibly easy to play.
I’m sorry your experience is not the same!
It just goes to show that harmonica brand preferences are SO subjective.
2 Likes