Re: [Harp-L] Marine Band self improvements

[Seth Galitzer <sethgali@xxxxxxxxx>]

Ha!  Bonus points for original use of a sax reed.  Important question
though:is that an alto, tenor, or bari 2 1/2, and do you prefer Rico
Royal or Vandoren for plinking? :)

Seth

On Wed, Jun 23, 2010 at 12:48 PM,  <Cljdm@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I like Marine Bands. Grew up on them and seem to always go back to them.
> but they do lack what some more consciously made brands have built into them
> out  of the box. So here is what I have resorted to when I get a new stock
> MB.
>
> 1. Take it apart.
>
> 2. Spray the comb lightly, 3-4 coats, a few hours apart, with  polyurethane
> semi-gloss (mini-wax brand).
>
> 3. Rub the rounded edge of a  penny down each reed slot 5-6  times.
>
> 4. Gap the reeds and plink them with a saxophone 2 1/2 reed.
>
> 5, Curl the reeds up a bit with the sax reed and plink.
>
> 6. Raise up the the  back of the cover plates with a metal  3' crimp tool
> ($34 at home depot).  Can someone explain the benefit of  doing this. I do it
> because I see the backs of custom harps raised up. Also the  pre war harps
> have the back covers raised. . So I figured I would do it too. It  seems it
> would allow the harp to project more sound? Hard for me to tell.
>
> 7. Put harp back together. I would use screws, but I am not there  yet.
>
> My new harps are playing much better. Air tight, and much more responsive.
> I just hope I am not taking any life expectancy away.
>
> Any comments welcomed,
>
> Chris Mastakas
>



-- 
The beatings will continue until morale has improved.