SUZUKI SNB-20 Shinobix Silencer Sound System for 10hole Diatonic Harmonica Instruction Manual
- June 12, 2024
- Suzuki
Table of Contents
SUZUKI SNB-20 Shinobix Silencer Sound System for 10hole Diatonic Harmonica
Instruction Manual
Thank you very much for purchasing this product. Kindly read the contents of the Instruction Manual to ensure the safe and long-term use of your harmonica. Store the manual in a safe location to prevent loss after reading it.
Over time the reeds can become weakened and break through metal fatigue. Should any reeds break, please be careful to avoid inhaling and swallowing any fragments. Before playing, please be sure to read all the instructions, particularly concerning the reeds
PRECAUTIONS
Observe all of the following precautions to protect your harmonica from damage.
Before playing
Wash your hands and rinse your mouth thoroughly. Also, play each note slowly
and carefully to check that it is in tune. A tone that is badly out of tune
may be a result of the reed being broken. Do not use the harmonica in this
event.
Prevent foreign matter from entering the harmonica
Do not allow foreign matter to enter the harmonica. Failure to observe this
may result in damage.
Do not grip the cover too tightly.
Do not grip the cover tightly or bite it. Failure to observe this may result
in malformation or damage. There is also a chance that malformation may cause
gaps into which the lips or tongue could get caught, resulting in unexpected
injuries.
Do not blow too hard.
Do not blow harder than when usually playing harmonicas. Failure to observe
this may result in malformation or damage.
Do not throw or drop your harmonica.
Failure to observe this may result in damage or injury.
Keep your harmonica away from heat.
Do not leave your harmonica near heat sources, such as ovens, or exposed to
intense sunlight. Failure to observe this may result in malformation or burns.
General care and maintenance
After playing, tap out the harmonica in the palm of your hand, and then wipe
it with a soft, lint-free cloth. For more thorough cleaning, wipe with a cloth
dampened with HAC-01 (Suzuki Harmonica Sterilization Cleaner) or ethanol to
disinfect it. Do not use any chemicals or solvents other than those listed
here to clean your harmonica. Failure to observe this may result in damage.
Place the harmonica in the case and store in it a safe location after
cleaning.
Precautions concerning reeds
Reeds are susceptible to breakage
Harmonicas produce sound when the small internal metal plates, known as reeds,
vibrate. There are cases in which frequent use or blowing strength may cause
metal fatigue, resulting in the reeds becoming out of tune, cracking or
breaking off, All reed instruments are susceptible to this phenomenon.
Sign of impending reed breakage
If your harmonica becomes badly out of tune, it may be a sign of impending
reed breakage. Do not play the harmonica in this event. Failure to observe
this may result in a reed fragment entering the mouth or being inhaled.
Do not face upward when playing
Do not face upward when playing the harmonica. If a reed breaks off, there is
a chance that it may enter the mouth or be inhaled. If you inhale a reed, seek
medical attention immediately.
Reeds are consumable items and therefore require regular maintenance.
In the same way as the strings on string instruments break when used for long
periods, harmonica reeds also become out of tune and break. The life
expectancy of reeds depends on playing styles and frequency of use. You are
recommended to contact Suzuki periodically and request maintenance in order to
extend the life of your harmonica.
Foreword
Product Descriptions
SHINOBIX harmonicas consist of two parts; the harmonica and the silencer. They
are easily fitted together. The inside of the silencer is spiral-shaped, and
provides high levels of silencing performance despite its compact size.
Set Description
There are two sets available, the SNB-20 Full Set that can be played
immediately after purchase, and the SNB-20CVS Users’ Set that does not include
the harmonica (part replacement set).
SNB-20 (Full Set in the Key of C)
- Silencer
- Harmonica in the key of C
- Semi-hard case
SNB-20CVS (Users’ Set)
- Silencer
- Upper and lower covers
- 2 sets of cover screws
- Semi-hard case
Main Specifications and Part Names
-
Material: Cover and Silencer / ABS, Body / Resin Containing Natural Wood Fibers
Dimensions: 100mm × 62mm × 42mm -
Weight: 116g
Note Positions and Relationships
The harmonica is played by blowing and drawing your breath at the various tone
holes.
The following chart shows the positions of the notes on a basic 10-hole
diatonic harmonica in the key of “C”. You will also notice that as well as
playing single notes, it is possible to blow or draw multiple notes (chords).
For example, if you blow tone holes 1, 2, 3, (#4 is optional), the notes
played would be C, E, G (C), or a “C” major chord. Using the blow and draw
method at the various positions makes rock, blues and other chord patterns
easy to play and lots of fun!
[Range: Key of C]
Can Now Be Used with Suzuki 10-Hole Harmonicas
In addition to using the SHINOBIX with the Full Set, it is also possible to
use the covers and silencer with Suzuki 10-hole harmonicas*. This enables the
silencer to be used with the favorite models in your possession and harmonics
in different keys.
- Compatible Models (As of November 2021) Suzuki 10-Hole Harmonicas
MR-350/HA-20/MR-550/MR-550H/M-20(Except low keys)/C-20/F-20/PH-20N
- The comb and read plates are not sold individually.
- The harmonica included in the SNB-20 (Full Set in the Key of C) is the same as the C-20
Owners of the SNB-20 Full Set
- See “2. How to Play the Harmonica”.
Owners of the SNB-20 Full Set Who Wish to Use it with Other Harmonicas
- See “3-1. Attaching and Detaching the Silencer” (P. 29) → “3-3. Attaching and Detaching the Harmonica Covers”
Owners of the SNB-20VCS Users’ Set
- See “3-3. Attaching and Detaching the Harmonica Covers” (P. 33) → “3-1. Attaching and Detaching the Silencer” .
How to Play the Harmonica
Playing the Harmonica
Grip the harmonica as shown in the illustration on the right, place the
harmonica to your lips and either blow or suck. The silencing effects of the
silencer will reduce the volume of the sound.
- The sensation when playing will be different to normal 10-hole harmonicas owing to the characteristics of the instrument.
- The silencer may become detached if you grip the upper cover too hard.
- The silencer does not completely mute the sound. Avoid playing the instrument in a manner that may inconvenience people in the vicinity.
Using a Microphone
The HMH-100 harmonica microphone (sold separately) can be attached to the
product. Monitoring the tunes recorded with the microphone on headphones,
etc., allows you to listen to the music at the same acoustic level as when you
are actually playing
- There are clips for attaching the microphone on the rear of the silencer (two locations on the left and right). Attach the microphone to either of these as shown in the illustration on the right, and then tuck the microphone inside the silencer.
- Run the cord along the groove and fix it in place.
- Follow the instructions for attaching the microphone in reverse to remove it.
- It will pick up the low tones when located on the left, and the high tones when located on the right. Decide on the location for setting the microphone either on the left or right in accordance with your own preferences.
- Remove the microphone when not using it.
Do not use excessive strength to pull the cord
Do not pull the cord when the microphone is set in position. Failure to observe this may result in malformation, damage or the cord being severed.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Perform the following tasks over a table or desktop without fail.
Attaching and Detaching the Silencer
The silencer must be removed for cleaning purposes and when attaching it onto
a different harmonica.
Detaching the Silencer
- Grip the silencer as shown in the illustration, slowly press down on the two marks on the upper cover, and then slide the harmonica out.
- The silencer can be removed once it has been slid approximately half way
Attaching the Silencer
- Place the harmonica approximately half way along the silencer.
- Slide the harmonica while slowly pushing the lower cover. Continue pushing until it will go no further.
Make Sure the Silencer is Attached Facing in the Correct Direction
The silencer has a correct and incorrect direction. If you chose the wrong direction, you will not be able to attach it. If you apply force in this event, it may result in breakage or other damage.
Silencer
Cleaning the Silencer
You are advised to periodically dismantle and clean the silencer before it
gets too dirty
- Detach the silencer from the harmonica.
- See “3-1. Attaching and Detaching the Silencer” (P. 29)
- Remove the silencer assembly screw and dismantle it. (Use a Phillips No.2 screwdriver) Make sure you do not lose the various components.
- Clean each component. Rinse the resin components in water. Thoroughly wipe off all moisture after cleaning.
- Reassemble the parts while paying attention to their orientation.
Attaching and Detaching the Harmonica Covers
Detach the covers when cleaning or adjusting the instrument, and when attaching the covers to another harmonica.
Detaching
- Detach the silencer from the harmonica.
- See “3-1. Attaching and Detaching the Silencer” (P. 29)
- Loosen the cover screw and remove it.
(Use a Phillips No.1 screwdriver)
Attaching
If you are the owner of a SNB-20CVS Users’ Set or wish to replace the
harmonica, first of remove the covers from your harmonica*.
Compatible Models (As of November 2021) Suzuki 10-Hole Harmonicas
MR-350/HA-20/MR-550/MR-550H/M-20(Except low keys)/C-20/F-20/PH-20N
- The harmonicas are not sold individually.
- The harmonica included in the SNB-20 (Full Set in the Key of C) is the same as the C-20
-
Slightly tighten the cover screws and attach the covers onto the harmonica.
The screw goes on the upper cover and the nut on the lower cover. -
Attach the silencer before tightening the screw.
- See “3-1. Attaching and Detaching the Silencer”.
-
Gently press the harmonica as shown in the illustration on the right, and adjust it to ensure that a large gap does not appear between the silencer and the harmonica. Tighten the screws after adjusting it.
- The silencing effect will not function properly if a gap exists.
Do not use on any models other than those listed above.
Failure to observe this may result in malformation or damage. The silencing effect may also not function properly
Volume Level
Harmonica Breath Level
Q&A
Q: What level of silencing can be expected?
A: The harder the harmonica is blown, the larger the silencing effect of the SHINOBIX silencer. When compared to the normal volume of a 10-hole harmonica calculated at 100%, the volume will be reduced by approximately 20%. When calculated into decibels, the normal volume of between 80dB and 90dB when the harmonica is played normally will be reduced to between 60dB and 70dB. YMeasured at a distance of approximately 50cm from the gauge (comparison survey carried out in-house). YDecibels (dB) are the unit used to express volume and the strength of sound, and the higher the value, the louder the sound. YThe silencer does not completely mute the sound. It is therefore necessary to make sure that playing the harmonica does not inconvenience anybody in the vicinity
Q: Is it possible to bend notes?
A: Note bending is a skillful technique for producing sounds that do not exist on a 10-hole harmonica layout. Although it is possible to bend notes with the SHINOBIX in the same way as with other 10-hole harmonicas, the end result may be slightly different owing to it structurally having less openings.
Q: The silencer is too tight (too loose) when attached
A: If you have difficulty attaching and detaching the silencer smoothly, either loosen or tighten the silencer assembly screws to adjust and improve it. « See “3-1. Attaching and Detaching the Silencer” (P. 29)
SHINOBIX Web Guide
Access the SHINOBIX website with the use of the QR code. The site explains how
to use your harmonica in an easy-to-understand video. We hope you’ll find it
useful.
SUZUKI MUSICAL INST. MFG. CO., LTD.
2-25-7 Ryoke Naka-Ku Hamamatsu Japan
www.suzuki-music.co.jp
