Frequently Asked Questions

 

CHAPTER: ORDERING

 

Do you ship all over the world?

Yes.

Not only do we deliver anywhere in the world, but we offer the same shipping price whatever the destination!

​

What delivery methods are available?

We offer a "Classic" service worldiwe, which works well and is low-cost, but a little long and, above all, with no real follow-up other than "the parcel has left" and "the parcel has been delivered".

We also offer a UPS service, which is more expensive but faster and with very detailed tracking. For the latter, remember to include your telephone number, which UPS requires to ensure delivery.

For Australia, Asia & South America we recommend the UPS service.

​

How long does it take to make the harmonica?

This depends on the volume of orders we receive. In general, it takes one to two weeks for your harmonica to be made and adjusted. Then count the time needed for transport.

​

What are the payment methods?

For France: credit card, Paypal, cheque or bank transfer.
For the rest of the world: credit card or Paypal.

 

What are my order details?

When you place your order, you will receive an automatic email with the details of your order.

You will then receive an email confirming that your order has been dispatched.

Didn't receive these automatic emails? Check your spam folder and tell your email management software that you accept emails from the alienbeatsrecords.com domain.

 

What is the link between ARKIA and Alien Beats Records?

Alien Beats Records is a music label, a publisher of musical methods focusing on the harmonica, and an instrument manufacturer. It is the organisation that created and markets ARKIA harmonicas and holds the international patents.

​​

​

​

CHAPITER: INSTRUMENT

 

Where does ARKIA come from?

The brand is French.

Research & Development as well as the design of the harmonicas are also French.

The reeds come from either Kongsheng (ARKIA Origin) or Hohner (ARKIA Signature).

The comb and the additional plate are made in France.

The ones for the ARKIA Origin model are made by us, the ones for the ARKIA Signature by a French supplier.

This is rare enough to merit a mention: the manufacturing moulds were designed and made in France.

The adjustments are made in France.

​

What adjustments do you make?

We retune the reeds so that the instrument is as accurate as possible.

We place varnish at the base of certain reeds to stabilise them.

We place the reeds very precisely to ensure optimum responsiveness when triggering natural notes, bends, overblows and overdraws (gap management).

ARKIAs can therefore be played chromatically straight out of the box by anyone who has acquired these techniques.

​​

Do you do embossing or arcing?

No. Despite the responsiveness of our harmonicas, we guarantee that the reeds have not been arched and the plates have not been embossed. The efficiency of our RSS (Reed Stabilizing System (c) ARKIA) means that we can avoid these time-consuming steps, which tend to prevent the reed from vibrating along its entire length and to matify the sound, even sometimes making it feel too soft.

​

What are the different tunings available?

The choice is yours: Richter, Lydian or Paddy Richter.

Richter is the historic tuning for diatonic harmonicas, and the one you'll find on the vast majority of harmonicas on the market. If you are just starting out, we recommend this tuning.

Lydian or Country Tuning: 5 draw is raised by a semitone. This tuning is sometimes used by musicians who are used to playing in several keys on a single harmonica (this is the choice of many jazzmen). This tuning is also used in country music, particularly for playing a major scale from 2 draw. Last but not least, it can be useful to play songs in the key of Em on a C harmonica (Autumn Leaves for example).

Paddy Richter: the blown 3 is raised a tone. This tuning is mainly used by traditional music players (mainly for celtic music).

​

Which harmonica for a beginner?

It's particularly worth starting out with an adjusted harmonica, which will enable you to progress more quickly and avoid developing certain bad habits, particularly in terms of breath management (unsettled harmonicas encourage you to play more forcefully and overcompensate for their structural lack of pressure inside the chambers).

The ARKIA Origin is an excellent option because, at a price equivalent to the mid-range of the major brands, it already offers the patented RSS system and manual adjustment, to propose exemplary responsiveness on all notes.

If your budget allows it, the ARKIA Signature will be the better solution (see comparison between the two), thanks to its incredible homogeneity over three octaves and a richer sound than that of its little brother.

​

What's the difference between the ARKIA Origin and the ARKIA Signature?

Both models incorporate our patented RSS system, a combination of a redesigned base to better manage airflow and an additional plate.

The ARKIA Origin features Kongsheng's phosphor bronze reeds, which are very supple and responsive.

The ARKIA Signature is fitted with Hohner brass reeds, which are very consistent in the way they vibrate.

The ARKIA Origin has a brighter, more powerful sound.

The ARKIA Signature's sound is richer in harmonics across the entire frequency spectrum. 

Both models can be played chromatically right out of the box (provided you know the techniques for doing so). However, overdraws are easier on the ARKIA Signature, especially the 7 overdraw, as well as the 1 overblow. It also gives an overall sensation of greater homogeneity. A sensation that's hard to describe, but it's clearly the category above.

The comb of the ARKIA Origin is 3D printed by us.

The ARKIA Signature comb is made in the factory and has a completely smooth surface that's a little more comfortable.

​

What's the difference between the ARKIA Signature and the ARKIA Signature Modular Booster?

No difference at all. It's the same comb that we called Modular Booster when we first created it, to distinguish it from the version that was in production at the time. The only difference now is that if you order a Modular Booster, we'll also send you inserts to be placed in the comb to modify the timbre to your liking.

A demo video is present on the product page.

​

A tooth has moved, is the comb broken?

Not at all. The comb is flexible to provide a perfect airtightness, and the teeth "walls" are not all the same thickness, to make it easier to obtain certain notes. Some of them may move if you touch them. Don't worry, just replace the tooth in question in the right place with your finger. If necessary, tighten the external screws a little more. In a playing situation, the teeth should not move at all.

​

ARKIA Signature: why is the lower comb slightly recessed?

On the ARKIA Signature, the top cover falls into the plate groove and the bottom cover is slightly further back.

If you prefer to have both in the groove, you need to reverse the position of one of the external screws (put one of the two female screws at the top).

But we advise you to keep the layout with this slight offset. We've tested all the options for placing the covers, and this is the most effective for triggering bends and overnotes. It's a win-win situation for both kinds of notes.

​

ARKIA Signature: why the vertical line on the left of the comb?

A stylistic coquetry, no doubt? Not at all. We opted for a flexible comb, which ensures a perfect seal between the reed plates and the comb. The downside is that it's much more difficult to make a flexible comb than a hard one, especially with the very specific and precise design of the ARKIAs. As a result, there are a few minor surface defects, including this line, which is present on all our ARKIA Signature combs. As these defects are minimal, we prefer to sacrifice a little of our aesthetic standards in order to maintain the best possible playability.

​​

How do you play an ARKIA?

Like all wind instruments, the harmonica is played by using the entire air column to blow and draw. This is achieved by inflating the belly when you inhale and retracting it when you blow, without forcing.

This is particularly true for ARKIA harmonicas, which would be more sensitive to playing too forcefully.

Don't puff up your cheeks when you blow, don't pull air through your throat when you draw, don't constrict your throat, and try as much as possible to play bends and overnotes only by changing the position of your tongue, without using your jaws, which remain almost closed.

Doing so will prolong the life of your harmonicas, and make your playing more accurate and fluid.

​​

Why do I block certain notes when I play?

It's quite rare, but players sometimes contact us with a question about blocking natural notes. These are usually blown notes, often in the lower register.

One of the many advantages of ARKIA harmonicas is that they are adjusted. Their structure and tuning make it easy to trigger all the notes, as long as you play with the whole air column. A player who breathes in by contracting the throat or inflating the cheeks runs the risk of having problems on certain notes.

You can choose to open the gaps again. You can also change your breathing slightly (see question above). Finally, if you'd prefer us to intervene or if you think there's a problem with the instrument, don't hesitate to contact us, we'll do everything we can to help you.

​

I play exclusively Blues, are the ARKIAs suitable?

Absolutely. Many of our customers are great Blues players. Some of them have bought the complete set of twelve tones.

​

If I don't play overblows, are the ARKIAs of any use?

Absolutely. Firstly because they are structurally extremely airtight instruments, and secondly, because the settings allow you to optimise triggering, including natural notes and bends. Last but not least, with a ARKIA in your hands you may come to overblows faster than expected.

​

If I open the gaps in an ARKIA, do I lose the benefits of the instrument?

Yes and no. You lose the optimisation that ensures that each note can be played with the same amount of air and without the slightest effort. But because the ARKIA is tighter than most harmonicas on the market, and its design allows better compression of the airflow, you keep the structural benefits of the instrument. In fact, it may seem paradoxical, but it's much more adaptable than any other to open gaps, whether for natural notes, bends or overblows. In particular, you can produce clean overblows even with fairly open gaps.

​

Are you planning to release an ARKIA Signature 'Low' model?

Not at the moment. We have a Low F version of the ARKIA Origin that we're very happy with. The brilliance of the Origin's plates goes well with this very low tone, and the RSS system makes it a very playable Low, which is rare. All this for an equally rare mid-range price, which is even rarer for Low harmonicas.

We have the feeling that we wouldn't do much better with a Signature version, at a much higher price.

On the other hand, you can buy our RSS comb + plate system independently and integrate them into a Low harmonica of the same dimensions (Hohner Thunderbird). We haven't tried it in every key, so let us know what you think!

​

Is it possible to use your RSS system in another model on the market?

Yes.

The comb and the additional ACP (Airflow Control Plate) of the Origin model can be placed in certain Kongsheng (Solist), Suzuki (Manji) or Dabell (Noble) models. We haven't compiled an exhaustive list, but you can easily find out by comparing the reed plates.

Having said that, we're not selling them independently at the moment, as we're only just managing to produce what we need for our instruments.

In the shop, you'll find the comb and ACP plate for the Signature model. They can be fitted into a Hohner Marine Band Deluxe or a Hohner Crossover.

They'll give them a real boost!

​

 

CHAPTER : MAINTENANCE

​

Can I clean ARKIAs like any other harmonica?

Yes, you can. Just be careful not to use hot water, as the heat could deform the material of the comb or the ACP plate (particularly true for the Origin ACP). You should also be careful not to move the reeds, as you risk losing their adjustment.

You'll find care instructions in the description that came with your ARKIA.

 

Any advice on reassembling the harmonica?

If you have to dismantle your instrument, we advise you to tighten the internal screws a little when reassembling it. The reed plates must adhere well to the comb, without compressing it. The minimum tightening is what will give the best results for easy bends and overblows.

You can tighten the outer screws just a little more.

Tip for more advanced players: tightening the screw behind hole 9 will make it easier to trigger the overdraws.

 

I'd like to change my plates. Is that possible?

You'll find ARKIA Origin plates in the shop, which you can buy 'raw' or adjusted by us.

We can only propose the ARKIA Signature plates at a higher price than their manufacturer, Hohner, so you might as well buy them from them.

If you want them set, contact us.

​

Safety

Like all harmonicas, reeds can become damaged over time, or even split. To avoid injury, be vigilant and don't hesitate to change the reed or reed plate if you feel that a natural note is becoming difficult to play, or that its pitch has dropped abnormally.

Do not leave your harmonica in direct sunlight or in extreme temperatures, either hot or cold.

Beware of car interiors on sunny days, as temperatures can rise very quickly, which is never good for musical instrument parts.