What do you think about this?
I’ve got a crossover.
Youtube says it’s cool, but chat gpt says it’s a bad idea as it can damage the comb and the reeds. And using it more than once a month is crazy.
I don’t know 
Thank you!
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I got give one for christmas and use it on them once a month or so in addtion to regually giving them a rinse with warm water. it doesn’t seem to harm them at all and I assume it is actually setilising them.
I’m just not sure how essential it is as regualr rise it with water seems to do just fine. I doubt it’ll hurt it unless you’re obsessivly puttung it in every single time you play, which seems overkill.
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You’re using water with the wood comb? I heard we should only do it with plastic ones or the wood could expand.
Thank you, Piglet!!
Arh, all my harmonics have plastic combs. I’m sure others can advise better than me on wood combs, but would’ve thought a quick rinse and then plenty of drying time wouldn’t be too bad (although I could be wrong on that)
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thank you, piglet!!
@Luke any advice on the seydel disinfection bag for the crossover with wood comb? thank you!
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Hohner say the comb on the crossover is completely sealed, so you shouldn’t have to worry about moisture.
https://hohner.de/en/instruments/harmonicas/diatonic/marine-band/marine-band-crossover
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Thank you, Piglet!
But I’m not quite sure it’s good to put it under the water
You should be fine, the wood is sealed up with waterproof stuff. We’re talking about rinsing warm water though it to wash the spit and other gunk out not soaking it for extended time. In yey olde days of time gone by the combs didn’t used to be well sealed so water could make them swell but you should be fine with your crossover.
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I remember as a kid in chichago watching the old harp guys on maxwell street. They would soak the harps in water to expand the wood on purpose. Not sure why but they would have several harps soaking in A glass of water. They would switch every few songs. Again not sure why?
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I can imagine several possible reasons that they regularly swtched harps:
(1) They switched to a different key.
(2) When the harp has been in the water for a while the wood comb soaked up some water and expanded. This possibly made the harp more efficient (more air-tight). After playing it for a while the comb contracted somewhat as it began to dry and the efficiency of the harp was decreased. So they switched to another “fresh” harp with a soaked and expanded comb.
(3) Perhaps the reeds in the harp began sticking as sticky saliva began to build up on the reeds, so they changed to another “clean” harp and placed the “dirty” one into the water to dissolve the crud while they played further on the “clean” harp.
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I’ve seen people soak harps like that, but in beer. Wondered why but never asked. Wouldn’t have thought beer would be good for the harp, but maybe for the players🤣
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Good topic. In order to keep cheeseburger and fried chikin chunks off my reeds my habit is brush, floss, and rinse mouth. After playing rinse harps (all plastic combs) in warm water as mentioned, dry overnight. That’s it. However…., There is a thing called “biofilm” that attaches to the reeds whether I can see it or not, so they go into the ultrasonic cleaner ever few months. Play better, sound better, last longer, but I may be wrong about some, part or all of this. But I’ve learned alot hanging out on these forums over the years.
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@pabloterraga If Seydel says it’s fine for their 1847 Classic, then it should be fine for Crossover too.
BTW the Crossover does have one coat of lacquer on all the wood, but it’s 3ple coated only on the face of the comb.