Harmonium Repair

Does your Harmonium buzz, keys stick, has it lost sustain? Too hard to pump? I can fix her up!

Most Harmoniums are very sucsceptable to weather changes, and over time need adjustments to keep thier sweet sound.

Harmonium repair – Boston, Massachusetts, and sometimes, New York, NYC. Harmonium Sales and Consulting on just the right harmonium for your needs.

Are you looking to buy a harmonium? Talk with me first, I often hear about used ones for sale, and know the most reliable sources for new ones.

Many of the harmoniums I repair are brand new, bought over the internet cause the price looked good. They often show up unplayable and sometimes different from the picture in the advertisement.

Besides, they just don't ship all that well. That's why I like Dhol so much, cause the instruments ship from the USA, and cause their Customer service is top-notch. This is the real-deal:

Dholetc sells High Quality Indian instruments shipped from the USA

Dhol is also a great source for Tablas, Sitars, Tambours, and many other indian instruments.

John can help you get started with harmonium lessons. You can learn to play very quickly. If you like Kirtan, If you like 'Yoga Music' such as Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Wah!, Girish, David Newman. If you like chanting, get yourself a harmonium and get started! Om shanti.

Be sure to email john at: eganvay @ gmail dot com before buying a harmonium for some valuble tips on what to look out for, and how to get the best deal.

Here's a great link to History of the Harmonium

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Deepak on January 20, 2009 at 6:33 pm

Hey John,

I recently purchased an Indian Harmonium and got it to USA by courier.

The problem I am facing with this harmonium is that there are two keys that stick to each other at every alternate hit (gentle push) to the keys.

Can you please suggest me what to do to fix it?

Thanks,

Deepak
admin on January 21, 2009 at 3:08 pm

Hello Deepak, Thanks for your note.

I have a few different way that I resolve sticking keys and I’m sure
that yours can be made not to stick.

Is it just a few keys, and are they near the end of the keyboard,
or more in torwards the middle. are the ends of the keys rounded,
or are they square.

could I ask the brand? Is this a Bina ?

-john
Hari Khalsa on January 24, 2009 at 1:34 pm

John, Thank you for fixing my harmonium! You did an incredible job bringing my beautiful harmonium back to life. It sounded like I had just picked it up from BINA in Old Delhi!. It is wonderful to have you in this area. I also felt you put so much love into the work and it shows! Thank you again. Blessings, Hari
Nancy on February 25, 2009 at 8:41 am

Hi John,

Thanks so much for all of the time you spent today taking such great care of my harmonium. It’s quite happy and I really appreciate your help.

Nancy
Terry on February 26, 2009 at 4:40 am

Hi John,

I am trying to find somewhere to learn Harmonium, and having a difficult time doing so. I live in the North Shore, on Cape Ann, but would expect if there are any classes or teachers, they are likely in the Boston area.

As you fix them, I thought you might be a good resource to help me find someone who teaches? (I am especially interested in Kirtan and Harmonium).

Thanks,

Terry
Irene on February 27, 2009 at 7:45 am

Wow…what a difference…it sounds great and my wrist doesn’t feel like falling off anymore! I can’t thank you enough!
james on March 4, 2009 at 8:54 pm

hi john,
just wondering. i bought a small harmonium. A Bina. and i found after two playings the g and a key in the middle stuck. What is the reason for this and what would you suggest to do to fix it.
thanks
james
admin on March 5, 2009 at 9:59 am

Hi James, very common problem.

there are a few reasons why this can happen. mis-alignment, swings in temp/humidity
causing shrinkage/swelling of the wood, or sometimes a hard playing style can bend the
pins that the keys rock on. There are major issues that can cause sticking as well, but since
Your’s is brand-new, probably not. If you’re local, I’d be glad to take a look, or send me an email,
perhaps I can help from a distance.
james on March 5, 2009 at 9:00 pm

thanks for that john,
actually im over seas at the time, so i wouldn’t be able to come, but my harmonium is a dulcetina and its a beautiful instrument, but its different from other harmoniums in that its higher and i can’t seem to figure how to get to the wood inside. Harmoniums you can just lift the lid. i figure you know all this, do you have any suggestions, or maybe i should just call the company? thanks again
james
Pally Dass on March 27, 2009 at 9:04 am

Hi John I have a Bina Deluxe Model Harmonium and it doesn’t keep the air too long in the bellows due to the intake bellows being bend(curved up). Where can I find the material to replace it/ what kind of glue do you suggest to use?. I opened it and added some oil to it to make it heavier which helped a tad bit but not quite as what it used to be. I am in New York and wouln’t mind bringing it to Boston for Repair.

Please Help
Thank you
Pally Dass
admin on March 27, 2009 at 3:19 pm

Hello Pally,

This might work better on the phone, Are you talking about the internal bellows being bent, or
the external. and are you talking about the seals, the flexible leather-like fabric that holds the bellows together?
there is a material called reed-organ synthetic textile that can be cut to shape. I would use a hot glue gun for the synthetics. There are very-talented repair people in nyc I could put you in touch with?
balram on June 16, 2009 at 8:49 pm

Hi
I borrowed a bina from a friend and one key constantly hums without touching the key, its ver y annoying to be playing a song with one key constantly playing in the background, any ideas on fixing it,
also what are all the brass pulls on the front for, there are 6 alltogether.
thanks
b
admin on June 17, 2009 at 7:51 am

Hello Balram,

The pulls on the front are called stops, the larger ones allow air to pass through the reeds, there’s usually two midrange/bass, and 1 female, or treble. the smaller pulls are drones, a single note plays.

Can you email me the model number, (usually on the face of the instrument) be sure all the small pulls are pressed in to turn offf the
drone sound you have issue with. If it’s still sounding with all the small
pulls pressed in, then there is a leak in one of keys. press the keys one at a time until you can idendify which note is playing, be sure the key is coming back up all the way, sealing off the air. If that doesn’t help then there is a problem that needs to be repaired.

Where are you located?

take care

john
Dan on June 22, 2009 at 4:17 pm

John,

I recently rescued a harmonium from the trash in New York City. It looks great, although it is missing the top cover. Unfortunately, it is also missing the stops and it seems like some of the keys are leaky (looking at the top of the keys, I can see that some of the metal pins that hold the keys down are either loose or out of place completely). I’ve search around a lot for a place to buy replacements but have come up empty. I’m not too familiar with the instrument, but it occurred to me that if I could just get a picture or some idea of what the mechanism looks like, I might be able to make a replacement myself. I’d love to get this thing working properly again, and since I paid nothing for it, I’m willing to experiment with ways to get the sounds going right. Can you suggest a vendor for replacement parts? Or maybe you have a suggestion of how to simulate the action of the stops. Thanks so much for your help.

-Dan Rosato
Wali Frozan on June 23, 2009 at 9:08 am

Dear Sir,
I live in Canada and I have a scale change harmonium. I have 2 problems with the harmonium and I need help to fix it.

1. I want to adjust the coupler. Right now the coupler is adjusted in a position that presses the lower octave key so much that the volume of the lower octave key is louder than the middle octave key. Is this the way it should be or should I adjusted so that it only slightly touches the lower octave key?
2. The bellows are side-multi bellow but it only has one spring in the left side. I am a left handed person and my wife is right handed. When I move the spring to the right; it works well for me and when I move the spring to the left; it works for her. Burt it does not work for both of us. We both want to play the harmonium. I tried removing the spring completely but I found the bellowing was hard for both of us. Should I put 2 springs? One for the right side and another one for the left?

Please kindly reply to my question. I really appreciate your help. Thank you so much.
admin on June 26, 2009 at 8:27 am

Hi Dan, sounds like a great find. wish you were closer. You really don’t need
the stops, most play with the air controls all open anyway.. but you will have to open the box up and plug-up the drones. stops that play a single note all the time… you don’t need those either.

ona harmonium, generally, the big knobs are air controls to the different reeds, the smaller knobs are the drones.

I would suggest a visit over to keshav’s music to play a few, take a look
at how they are put together. the pins are basically brad-nails with the heads
cut off.

Kehsav could probably get you parts, or advise on repairing, but at least you could get an idea of how it should be.

-j
admin on June 26, 2009 at 8:31 am

Hi Wall,

If the harmonium coupler is made from stiff wire under the keyboard, then adjustment is possible, a careful removing of the key, and bending the wire. if it’s made of wood, then it’s a bit more challenging to file away some material.

you can weaken the spring by bending it in the opposite direction…. no way
to put it in the middle? you could get some spring steel and make two smaller/weaker springs, wind it around a bedpost, baseball bat, rolling pin etc…

adjust to what feels right and hope that works. If you were closer I’d be glad to take a look.

good luck, thanks for the note.

-john
David on July 14, 2009 at 6:38 pm

Hello,
Without getting into to many details at the moment I was wondering if it is possible to purchase Harmonium reeds from you?
If not do you know of anyone who sells Reeds for a Harmonium?
Thank You
admin on July 15, 2009 at 7:38 pm

Hi David,

At this time I do not have spare parts for sale, there would be an
amazing number of variables in reed sets. I know that Bina sells reeds,
and you may want to ask Keshav in NYC. a quick search will turn up his website.

Best of luck!! and let me know if I can help further.

-j
Manisha on August 7, 2009 at 5:52 am

Dear John,
Something is wrong with two of the keys in my harmonium and I also need a cover for my harmonium. Will you be able to help me? I live in Newton upper falls in MA.
Thanks a lot,
Manisha
admin on August 7, 2009 at 11:21 am

Hello Manisha, I’d be glad to talk with you about your harmonium. send me an email and/or describe the problem with your keys? john
Anshuman Goswami on September 29, 2009 at 7:18 pm

Hi John,

I have got this scale changer (9 changers) harmonium about 3-4 years back from Pakrashi Kolkata. Last week I observed that 4th reed from left’s cloth is coming out and making a constant sound.

So I tried to fix opening the reeds and hence created few more issues.
Now another reed’s cloth (velvet kind of cloth that covers the slot) and now the coupler is also not working. I stay in NJ and do not think I could immediately travel to Boston to meet you. Any guidance you could render and help?

Regards
Anshuman
Princeton, NJ
admin on October 1, 2009 at 8:00 am

namaste Anshuman, Sorry to hear that your harmonium is not well, Though it doesn’t sound too serious. The coupler may be challenging, but the seals on the reed covers shouldn’t be too much of a problem to resolve. Have you rang Keshav in nyc? he may be able to advise, or repair for you.

Let me know if I can help you further.

john
prapanna on October 5, 2009 at 10:12 pm

Hi John,

You have been helping all. Actually, I need a harmonium. Where can I find a harmonium in USA. What is the easiest way to get it ? Would you please advise me. If in very good condition and good in looking, used one also can be bought. Would you please advise me by my email ?

Thanks
admin on October 6, 2009 at 6:46 am

Namaste Prapanna,

There’s a link from the harmonium repair page to the company that sells harmoniums shipped from the usa. I’ve seen several of their models, and for the price, the sound and quality is great.

https://www.dholetc.com/index.php/?r=82942 will get you there. they ship from USA, and the customer service is very good.

Thanks for your note and let us all know what you get.

john
jacinta on November 4, 2009 at 12:56 pm

Hi there,
I got a new harmonium but the coupler doen’t appear to be engagaing, in that it depresses the key only slightly and doesn’t produce a sound ..I’m new to the harmonium ,am I doing something wrong? help please!

Om Namaha Shivaya!
admin on November 5, 2009 at 7:58 pm

Hi Jacinta,

You’re going to have to describe what’s happening a bit better.
and the make/model of your harmonium. Where did you get her?

pull all your big knobs out, press a key and pull the bellows.

get sound then ??

-j
Kam on December 9, 2009 at 5:30 pm

I bought a brand new Bina Portable Deluxe harmonium. The coupler does not engage at all. I need help.
Kam
admin on December 15, 2009 at 10:42 am

Hello Kam, where did you buy it? I’ve had to repair many harmoniums that ship from india. they are just not packed well enough. your coupler is repairable, one key at a time it can be re-sprung within an hour. where do you live?

-j
The Oct8pus on January 25, 2010 at 9:18 am

Hi -
My harmonium has two reeds that buzz tremendously when the key is pressed. I'd like to replace them, but I have searched far and wide, and can't find anyone who sells harmonium reeds.
Can you point me in the right direction?
Thanks
Mike B
admin on January 27, 2010 at 8:14 pm

Mike, your reeds don't need to be replaced, they can be adjusted to eliminate the buzz. where do you live? If you're not local I could talk you though this possibly.

john
Joseph on February 2, 2010 at 6:01 pm

Hi John,
Was trying to fix a sticky key on a double reeded harmonium like the one shown here: http://tinyurl.com/yan4kwn
In trying to shimmey the guide pin free, I accidently broke the wooden stick from the pallet It looks like it can be glued (although the surface area of contact is thin and small) but wanted to ask you first what you'd recommend– if these mechanics can be repaired–or if a replacement can be found somewhere.
I live in New York City by the way.
Many thanks,
Joseph
admin on February 4, 2010 at 12:27 pm

Hello Joseph,

nice harmie. I use wood glue often, and sand the mended joint smooth before reassembling. hope that helps. you could try bringing the piece to keshav, but it sounds pretty basic of a repair. Let me know if I can help any further? or send me a digital pic of the piece you are describing.

john
Deepak on March 4, 2010 at 10:53 pm

Dear John Namaste,

I have a situation because of which I feel myself stuck. The tongue of one of the reeds of my harmonium has broken and since I am in Maryland I do not find any one around who can fix it.

Can you suggest me something to get it fixed?

Thanks for your time in advance,

Best regards,

Deepak Sharma
admin on March 4, 2010 at 11:46 pm

Deepak, try these guys for harmonium repair parts:

http://www.perfectthird.com/Strings%20and%20Parts.htm

-Yoga John

Harmonium Repair

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