Re: [Harp-L] Nails in Combs

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

The cheapeest of the cheap haprs made in China are held together with
screws - usually far more screws than a Special 20.

So it's not a cost issue with the Marine Band and nails.

Rick Epping has articulated the belief - and I apologize in advance if
this paraphrase from memory is a mischaracterization - that nails allow
the reedplate to float above the comb in a sort of dynamic relationship
that allows them to vibrate more freely and perhaps adapt to small
changes in the size and shape of the wooden slab.

The wooden-combed Echo series of tremolo harmonicas are also nailed
together as are the wood-combed Auto Valve and the standard version of
the 270 chromatic. All the 364 and 365 model I've bought in the last
year or so - including one SBS - have been nailed together as well.

Two thing I have found in favor of nails are:

--When you want to have points of fastening close to the covers, nails
can get much closer to the cover edges than screws due to their smaller
and flatter heads. 

--As nails do not penetrate through to the other side of the comb, they
can be placed in a pattern that is optimal for fastening each
individual reedplate. To do this with screws you have to embed several
individual thread receivers in the comb in both sides, or use a
material hard enough that it can be threaded - procedures far more
complex and expensive than using nails.

Winslow

--- Ken Hildebrand <airmojoken@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I've bought a few 'custom' Marine Band harps over 
> the past few years, that still have the nails holding
> the reedplates on (instead of screws).
> 
> I was kind of disappointed to see this in a 'custom'
> harp, but the customizer must think that the nails
> are good enough, and/or if the reedplastes need to be
> removed, then it should be sent back to the customizer
> for service.
> 
> In any case, I find it disappointing that some 
> customizers still use nails or have reverted back to 
> using nails (from using screws).
> 
> Ken H in OH
>  
> --- Garry Hodgson <garry@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> > "Rich" <blues-harp@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > 
> > > But on Hohner's web site, the photo of
> > > the "Classic" Marine Band clearly shows it nailed
> > together, since only the
> > > Marine Band *Deluxe*, according Hohner, is screwed
> > together.
> > 
> > i find it odd that in this day and age they still
> > use nails for harps.  i could see
> > it, perhaps, for cheapos.  but not for the "standard
> > grade" $20-or-so harp that
> > a serioous player will use.  it's not the 1950's
> > anymore.
> > 
> > i'm curious whether it's an cost issue.  special
> > 20's use screws, and cost about
> > the same as an MB.  does a wood comb cost more, so
> > that cost is offset by using
> > cheaper fasteners?  is it a marketing thing, to
> > appeal to traditionalists?  or maybe
> > it has to do with keeping clear differences between
> > the MB and the MB deluxe.
> > 
> > ----
> > Garry Hodgson, Senior Software Geek, AT&T CSO
> > 
> > do for others with no desire of return.
> > we should all plant some trees
> > we will never sit under.
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> > Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> > http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
> > 
> 
> 
> 
>  
>
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