Thanks very much Gunnar, for your help & pointers- I will be sure to try them out & see if it fixes the 2 problems. Incidently, when I was checking out the problem with the slow starting #9 button reed ("C"-push), I noticed that the spacing of the gap on the identical reed in the other Middle reed block looked about the same as the problem reed, so I assumed that wasn't the problem. However, now that I think about it, the problem reed looked slightly "concave" in the middle, not quite as much if any, as the problem reed. I don't remember the correct & safest way to bend a reed to adjust the spacing. Any pointers here ? Thank you again-- Jimmy

Everything mentioned could be the problem but it seems that you are threading on a delicate situtation and could easly ruin the reed. Proceed with caution if you must!

Sorry- I meant to say : ......."not quite as much, if any, as the NON- problem reed." Thanks--Jimmy