Re: [Harp-L] Endorsements

[David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I probably wouldn't be the right guy to make a comparison, I've never owned an MB DeLuxe, never seen a reason to, since I could Deluxify at home.
   
  I played the Marine Band exclusively almost for 25 years, until Nov. 2006, when I started playing Seydel. I'm probably way, way, under the radar on the Marine Bands, since I don't sell very many, mostly, I presume, cause my heart's with Seydel and I wear that on my sleeve and people don't come to me looking for Marine Bands. It's wierd how these things work, I have this passion for prewars, and people buy way more of those from me than the new ones. 
  This has nothing to do with its out-of-the-box quality, but I have extreme difficulty making adjustments on Marine Bands with these new reeds they have, so all I really do is seal the comb and file the reedplate top down flush with the comb. My original idea was for a custom Marine Band as a side, but I wasn't able to make it like I could the older MBs. 
   
  On the coverplates, the plates' job is to keep your fingers, moustache, etc. away from the vibrating reeds. As far as acoustic resonance properties, there are none. I think the wavelength at 440 Hz is like 2.7 feet or something. 
  But what the coverplate does do is dampen sound. Coverplates that sound different don't have different acoustic resonance qualities, they dampen sound differently. Or, some will disagree here, change the tone by sending the sound in different directions (side vent or side vent megaphone).. often those changes are percieved by only the player, which is OK with me, because I'm usually the only one who hears me play ;)
  I am thinking right now about overtones and coverplates, though.
   
  My guess on the reasoning for Seydel using no coverplates in that test, is that different coverplates would taint the results, since the 1847 coverplate is so thick, or at least cast doubt on the test results if it didn't. 
   
  Dave 
  _________________
Dave Payne Sr. 
  Elk River Harmonicas
  www.elkriverharmonicas.com 
   
   
   
  Joseph Bernard <bjosephmex@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
  While we are all making endorsements let¢s not forget Winslow Yerxa¢s book which can be purchased at the citations below.  I¢m going to buy it as a Christmas present to myself in a few months so I can get all of Winslow¢s stuff organized into one place.  It has been my observation that authors often sell their own books [autographed] to make money from the sale as well as the copyright.  Is there any such deal that I should know about?
http://www.amazon.com/Harmonica-Dummies-Sports-Hobbies/dp/047033729X/ref=tag_tdp_sv_edpp_i
http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesTitle/Harmonica-For-Dummies.productCd-047033729X,subcat-ARTS.html
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Harmonica-for-Dummies_W0QQitemZ170258131568QQihZ007QQcategoryZ268QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-047033729X.html
http://www.smarter.com/music-books/harmonica-for-dummies-/pd--ch-1--pi-10219412.html
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/601-2739880-1695355?asin=047033729X&afid=yahoosspplp_bmvd&lnm=047033729X|Harmonica_For_Dummies_(For_Dummies_(Sports_&_Hobbies))_:_Books=&ref=tgt_adv_XSNG1060
I wouldn¢t hold my breath waiting for Dave to favorably compare the Marine Band Deluxe with the Seydel 1847.  I don¢t own either, but one must wonder who Hohner is marketing the Marine Bands to.  Like most harmonica technicians, Dave modifies the Marine Band and sells it.
http://www.elkriverharmonicas.com/Elkcustoms.html
My guess is that Dave would include any additional tweaks you wanted made to them no charge, or for a very reasonable price.  I can¢t imagine that the price of a Marine Band Deluxe is any reflection of the increased cost to Hohner, rather than recognition that Hohner is competing with harmonica technicians like Dave.  To me the much maligned Marine Band [with it¢s nails rather than screws] is one of many fine harmonicas FOR ME!  Tinkering with a Marine Band isn¢t a problem, it¢s a challenge.  However, I would recommend the Special 20 or Golden Melody to someone that didn¢t share my outlook.  
One of the great things Seydel does is put sound samples on it¢s webcite.
http://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=211764
http://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Seydel/Products/10201/SubProducts/10201C_Chrom
http://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Seydel/Products/15301/SubProducts/15301C
I honestly can¢t hear the appeal of steel reeds over the internet.  Otherwise, what is the appeal of owning an incredibly durable harmonica?  A flat harmonica is a good candidate for learning how to tune!  It¢s the easiest tuning task imaginable, and you do it on a harp, that in your judgment, has lost it¢s value.  
I own many Seydel Sessions and Soloists and am very satisfied with all of them.  I just don¢t see the appeal of a metal comb, steel reeds, or rounded channels.  [None of which I own.]  I¢ve been told by knowledgeable people that it doesn¢t make any difference what material the comb is made out of.  I¢ve even been told that the rounded channels of the Soloist Pro don¢t impact sound.  I have trouble with this one!  Note that Seydel compares the steel reeds with brass reeds absent cover plates in their sound samples.  I also have trouble with the notion that cover plates do not impact sound.  Yes, I¢m pretty good at math and understand the wave-lengths are long and the cover plates are in close.  I was in on this discussion about a month ago.  
The way I play, and the fact that I live at altitude, heat distribution and water vapor are a big concern.  For me, wood combs are best, plastic combs are OK, and metal combs are trash.  Nice thick western reeds are also good for blowing out water vapor.  
The thing that I¢d really like to know is how the plastic combed 1847 does in a dishwasher?  I also don¢t see the appeal, but I¢m curious whether or not it works.  Has anybody out there done that?



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