Food grade Teflon gaskets for diatonic and Lucky 13 harmonicas. Each purchase will include a set of 2 gaskets (top & bottom reed plates). Easy to install! Improves air tightness and seals out moisture. Washable, reusable, non molding! Excellent harp upgrade. Made in the USA!

Installation videos are available here:

Special 20

Marine Band Deluxe

Dee's Finely Tuned Instruments
Erie,PA.

Harmonica Gasket Reviews

Hi,
Gasket set came in today...a couple days early. All things considered, the packaging is very safe and adequate for most US mail experiences...got here in perfect condition. After I got all my chores done, I pulled out the offending Hohner Special 20 in D, mfg. date 2013/6 and got to work. I pulled the Phillips head screws and dropped both plates on the towel. I double checked all surfaces for cleanliness and laid the bottom gasket in place...wrong orientation I soon discovered...I saw my error and fixed it, put the plates back on, avoiding the orientation mistake, I didn’t like the sound of this one nor did it play easily. Seemed dissonant through the 4th hole...everything looked fine. A clean 12” X 12” terry shop towel and two jewelers screwdrivers are all that’s needed. I had previously cleaned the reed plates so they were good as they were. I spread the towel, took the covers off and laid the covers, screws and nuts in the screwdriver box so as to have them around later. By now I had unpacked the gaskets (beautiful work on these) and then assembled them. The screws went back in easily and I used an automotive tightening pattern as I would’ve on the head of a straight six engine. It avoids warping stuff. As soon as the plate screws were tight, I slipped the covers on and did the brief battle with the two little nuts and tight screw head slots to get the covers secured. This is always the worst part of reassembly for me as it requires an extra hand...didn’t have one handy. I polished the exterior with my clean shop towel and played a few notes and chords... The difference was remarkable! The intonation was cleaner, dissonance gone, easier to isolate the holes and the sound was noticeably better to my aging ears. So I’m convinced this was worth the small cost and modest effort needed to make worthwhile improvements. I’m guessing that the ports are now better isolated resulting in improved accuracy and that any air leakage is fixed for good. My only regret...this is a D harmonica and I just don’t like D. I need to find one in G and do the same thing...G is my favorite key on these things. The special 20 is OK. I have a 364 in G coming in and that may be the best of all worlds for the moment...love that extra low end! I have resurrected several Marine Band Harps now...resurrected is the correct term for these as they were in horrible condition and barely working. It’s fun work to make one of them okay again. Hohner has done an impressive job for many years. It really shows up when a little TLC will restore a prewar model to playable condition with only an hours work. My old timer was DOA when it came in. Next day we did the 50 mile drive to Albuquerque and had a good time playing all the way down and back. I’m hooked. Love the gaskets, they’re a work of art.
Paul S.

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I installed Dee's gaskets on three harps this weekend: a Lee Oskar melody Maker in G, a seydel Session steel in A, and a Special 20 in Low D. The results were promising. The biggest surprise was how the gaskets improved the performance of the Seydel. I almost didn't test this set, because in general I don't do mods to higher-end harmonicas unless something is obviously broken. This particular A harp has been my walking-around harp for months, and it's always had a certain subtle harshness in the tone and a slight unevenness in its response. The gaskets didn't make it louder, but they evened out the response and eliminated the harshness completely. This Session steel now sounds and plays more like an 1847, an instrument that costs $30 more than a Session Steel out of the box. I intend to treat all four of the Session Steels in my kit with these gaskets. I chose a Low D Special 20 for this test because low-pitched harmonicas intrinsically have a slower (and generally weaker) response than higher pitched harps, so improvements should be more easily audible. The gaskets in this case improved both volume and responsiveness. The low end notes on this harp speak fast and loud. The test on the Lee Oskar wasn't tops; I had persistent problems with one reed buzzing with the gaskets in place. I've talked to Dee about it, and he's shipping me a slightly reconfigured set of gaskets for testing. Solid customer responsiveness there (and a testament, I bet, to the ease of reconfiguration with 3D printing). I made a point of cleaning the reed plates and combs on these instruments with a wet medium-firm toothbrush before I installed the gaskets, brushing the plates in line with the reeds, and I think that's a good idea in general when you're putting something in place that needs to make firm contact top and bottom. Installation time in general was minimal, though I spent a lot of time futzing around with the Lee Oskar to eliminate the reed buzz. I think these gaskets are a modestly priced means to turning a decent moderately priced harp into something that performs like a higher-priced harp.

Well done Dee.

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I bought a gasket for my Bb Hohner Rocket. I played the harp with and without the gasket and before customization and after I customized it. I've tried some aftermarket custom Rocket combs and was underwhelmed. They had the same problem as the stock combs even though they're solid aluminum. Both options are leaky. After trying the gaskets I must say there is an improvenent to the stock Rocket without mods. However after modifying my Bb it really came to life. From my perspective, to make a harp play better your goal is to setup the harp to respond to the lightest air pressure and a hard attack. The first step in achieving great response is making the harp air tight ie... reduce leakage. These gaskets do just that. Coupled with reed work, burnishing the slots, gapping and tuning, my Rocket really plays great.

Three things about the Rocket that makes it a great improvement over the Special 20 are the larger size holes, the back opened up and vented cover plates.

Sometimes knowing Kinya can be a problem. Seems like every time I talk to the guy I'm spending more money. I've now got an A and G Rocket to go along with my Bb. I'm sure there's a C and D just around the corner.

I'm not really convinced that usind gaskets on Marine Bands or Seydel 1847 harmonicas is the way to go. With harps that don't have a recessed comb I've found that sanding the comb and draw reed plate on a flat granite stone to be very effective. However the Special 20, Rocket and Seydel Session Steel will really benefit the use of a set of these gaskets.

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I received the 3 sets of gaskets you sent me and was able to install one on a vintage Marine Band. The sound has improved on this harp, but the other 2 sets are too large for me to use - are they cut for an MS series or something else with a slightly larger comb? I do not have any harp that they will fit.   As I said previously, I use the older style MB and also vintage Old Standbys with a wooden comb, which were discontinued in the late 1970s. They are the same as a MB, with different cover plates. I also have a few vintage  harps in my gigging case which are the same size as the MB. Have not bought a new harp in more years than I can count. My harp tech is Mike Easton, who has worked on my harps as needed for the past 20 years.   I realize that I am in the minority these days as far as my preference for the older MB design, but I am way too old and set in my ways to change. I don't think you will have too many customers in my category, but it would be nice to have your product as something they could try. Keep me informed and I will spread the word to the harp players in my circle of acquaintances.

Thanks again,

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Just installed my free gaskets--thanks Dee!  First impressions are that these certainly don't hurt anything, although I  took a chance putting them into my Session Steel with the TurboSlide--it's  kinda complicated, magnets and all.  Then I put them into a G SP20 I got from Rockin' Ron, a Joe Spiers Stage I  (remember when they did that?). My 3 draw bends were never smoother.  5 OB still isn't very pretty, but 6 OB is!  Hey Dee, what are you selling these for? I like using the Turbo Lids, so I  would be in the market for the SP20 ones.
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Dee
The gaskets were very easy to install and worked great.  I play half valved harps and thought that might cause issues but doesn't seem to be a problem.  
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 Got them today (I'm in Switzerland, so they got here really fast!) - thank you very much, Dee!

First test was on a Special 20 in A with a flatsanded draw reed plate and adjusted gaps, already quite responsive. I've been using it to work on Brendan Powers "Japuneasy" for some time now, so I'm quite familiar with how the draw bends in the low octave work on that harp. I actually didn't expect too much from the gaskets, but I was pleasantly surprised ... very smooth bending and much better tone, especially noticeable on the half and whole step bends on hole three. Harp is also louder and more responsive overall.

Then I tested a Lee Oskar in G harmonic minor - first time I managed to get (and sustain) all three bends on hole 2, so a big improvement here as well. Also louder and more responsive over the whole range.

Less impressed with a Seydel Session Steel in low D, it's still not as responsive as I wish it was. But the gaskets work nicely on my other Session Steel in A harmonic minor.
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 Thanks for figuring out how to make great gaskets!  I've been stuck literally on micropore tape/razor cut for many years.  You have solved a problem for me.   
I just purchased 5 sets.  Keep up the great work.
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I got my Blue Midnight in F to make notes I have never heard before!
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Dee, 
Got the gaskets, installed them and on every harp there is a pronounced improvement in air tightness. Harps are more sensitive, easy to play and I can get overblows on a couple of holes that were out of reach before. Good product! Thanks for making 'em.
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Received gaskets today and put them in. Went great...sounds great. Thanks for your personal touch.
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