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[arty]

My G/C Castagnari Laura is sick! The highest note on the pull of the G row has stopped sounding.

I have tried 'pumping' the bellows hard, as I have done before, with success but this time it didn't work. So, I took a deep breath today and opened up the box for the first time. I took the pins out, took the reed block out, gently lifted the smallest reed with the tip of a scalpel, pinged it, blew into it, prayed over it, then I did it all over again to make sure and put the box back together again. It was easy and I wondered why I was so tense.


But it didn't work, the reed still doesn't sound. Did I forget to do something? Should I just try again? Is there something else I can do? Maybe I didn't pray hard enough  Help !

[John MacKenzie (Cugiok)]

Sounds like the reed may be cracked, sadly

SJ

[Theo]

No I don’t think the reed is cracked,  if you pinged the reed that you can see then it was the wrong one.  The pull reeds are on the inside of the block.

[rees]

As Theo says, the pull reeds are on the inside. Also, the Laura is a two voice instrument so if that note is completely silent then you have two reeds not sounding.

[arty]

OK...I will open it up again tomorrow.

I took the reed block out and pinged the reeds on either side of it. So, you are saying that there are 2 more reeds inside the block that I didn't see? How do I get to them and ping them? Sorry if I seem completely stupid but I have never done this before!

As you will understand Rees, I am wanting to learn to do this myself, in order to avoid the hoo haa we had with HM Customs last time I sent the box to you!

Thank you for your replies 

[Thrupenny Bit]

Arty, as a fellow numpty when it comes to sorting boxes, I understand your pain and anxiety.
This has happened 2-3 times on my Tommy/Hascy.
It sounds like you did everything right, but as Theo suggests it was the wrong reed.
Take heart, have another go just try another reed!
Good luck
Q

Ah you've replied.
Good luck tomorrow.

[Theo]

With the reed block remove look into the vents on the underside of the block.  With a good light you should be able to see the reeds that play on draw.

[arty]

OK, thank you Theo. I am beginning to see the light! There are a couple of helpful videos on YouTube.

[playandteach]

Best of luck. Stay away from customs and excise.

[Steve_freereeder]

The reeds for highest notes on the Laura (in common with many instruments) do not have valves fitted, so it is easy to get to the inside (pull) reeds. The pull reed tongue will be visible through the slot in the reed plate. The clearance between the reed tongues and the sides of the slot are very small in these highest reeds and can be prone to getting a bit of dust or dirt wedged, which stops the reed from sounding.

To clear the pull reed, use a cocktail stick poked down through the slot to just ease the reed tongue down and up a few times. You may need to shave the point of the cocktail stick just a little to make it thin enough. You could also use the end of a straightened paper clip; the steel is soft enough not to damage the harder steel of the reed tongue. The reed tongues of these high notes are small and delicate, so take care - only a millimetre or so of movement is needed. This should clear any dust, especially if you blow gently down the slot at the same time (try not to spit!). Reassemble and test to see if the reed is sounding. If not, repeat the procedure.

The other possibility for a non-sounding reed is that the reed tongue set (the gap) has become so reduced that the reed will not start. Again, pushing down though the slot with the cocktail stick very gently and carefully will help reset the gap.

[Grape Ape]

Give me courage. I have been having similar problems with my Gaillard, except it’s a couple of reeds. The odd thing is, when I let it sit for a bit one or two reeds lock up- one on the M setting, the other on the L setting.  If I “blast” the notes between single and LM settings, the reeds then play fine until the next time...?

[arty]

Steve, you are a star! Thank you very much for your instruction, I hope I can sort it out. At least, now I know that opening up the box and taking the reed block out is not a problem.
I will let you know how I get on.
Thanks all 😊

[Winston Smith]

Messing with well-loved instruments can be nerve wracking, but if you don't go at it like a bull in a china shop, you shouldn't do any permanent damage. Be gentle, as if you were handling one of your children, and you'll be fine.
(If you want, I can lend you one of my big hammers!)

[Barlow]

I had a similar problem with my Castagnari Lilly, but highest note on the press. It was a minute piece of wax or similar. I used a thin feeler gauge to dislodge it. Having read Steve's post above, I see this could cause a problem as feeler gauges are probably harder than the reeds and blocks and could cause damage, so care was needed.

Could I ask, why do the high notes do not have valves? It was a bit disconcerting at first when I opened the box to see them missing.

[Steve_freereeder]

I had a similar problem with my Castagnari Lilly, but highest note on the press. It was a minute piece of wax or similar. I used a thin feeler gauge to dislodge it. Having read Steve's post above, I see this could cause a problem as feeler gauges are probably harder than the reeds and blocks and could cause damage, so care was needed.

Could I ask, why do the high notes do not have valves? It was a bit disconcerting at first when I opened the box to see them missing.

A feeler gauge is Ok for this sort of job as a steady or 'pinger'. So long as you are reasonably careful, you won't do any scratching damage.

Edit: beware of using the feeler gauge inserted vertically along the long edge of the reed tongue in order to clear any debris. You risk shifting the reed tongue out of alignment so that the opposite long edge comes into contact with the slot edge and hence stopping the reed from sounding. Up and down movement with the feeler gauge or cocktail stick, etc., is OK, but not side to side.

The purpose of valves on the reed plates is to prevent air loss through the 'wrong' side of the reed plate through the gap between the reed tongue and the slot.  However, the smallest reeds have only a tiny gap around the sides of the reed tongue with minimal consequential air leakage, insufficient to require a valve. In fact, to install a valve on these reeds is actually counter-productive as it will tend to mute the sound which is already quiet, compared with the larger reeds.

[playandteach]

You might also find that the reeds are the other way up, which is very usual. First time I saw it, I thought there was a mistake.

[Steve_freereeder]

You might also find that the reeds are the other way up, which is very usual. First time I saw it, I thought there was a mistake.

Indeed. Discussed recently here.