Re: [Harp-L] uncomfortable Manji plates

[Gary Lehmann <gnarlyheman@xxxxxxxxx>]

My understanding is that the ProHarp covers fit on the Manji, using a
second hole already in place on the Manji reed plates and comb. And I think
the new Suzuki model is basically this concept, ProMaster covers on a Manji
(Olive).
If I may offer a word of encouragement, I too began playing with harps that
didn't have the reed plates extending out to the front of the comb (Special
20s), but now I am used to models (Marine Band etc) that have that feature.
So give it time--and don't kill yourself!
G

On Fri, Jan 20, 2012 at 1:26 AM, Mike Butler <butlermike@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I  recently started using Suzuki Manji harps as my main weapons of choice,
> I love their brightness, tone/timbre and out of the box playability,
> but after having been using them for a while now I am finding that after a
> hard out blowing session that my bottom lip (especially at the 10 hole end)
> is getting a bit raw and un-comfortable.
> upon close inspection I notice that the reed plate edge extends slightly
> beyond the comb face and more beyond the cover plates, this means in essence
> that I am sliding my lips along a steel blade albeit a blunt one but I am
> sure this is the cause of my lip irritation..!!
> I picked up one of my Lee Oscar's that I hadn't used for a while to
> compare and  the relief was instantaneous..(it was like putting an old
> comfortable pair of slippers on)
> all my lips could feel was the curved cover plates and rounded edges of
> the the comb, no steel blade as with the Manji's
> ..
> so now I figure my options are to either go back to using the LO's as my
> main harps (and lose a bit of tone) or file the Manji plates back so they
> are flush with the comb
> has anyone on the list performed this sort of modification and are there
> any downsides to doing this.?
>
> I once tried a Hohner 'Crossharp' which had plates which extended even
> more than the Manji's which gave an even more 'knife blade' syndrome plus I
> was losing
> air by not getting a good lip seal so these were practically un-playable
> for me.
>
> I had noticed in a recent post a mention that the Suzuki Proharp cover
> plate's fitted the Manji's "perfectly"..this gave me a bit of hope for a
> solution to my problem
> so I pulled out a Proharp that I had bought awhile ago (and never quite
> enjoyed playing) only to find that to swap the covers it would mean
> re-drilling the screw holes,
> this doesn't sound exactly perfect..!! maybe I have a different model
> Proharp ? (it is a valved model)
>
> anyone got any thoughts on this problem.?
>
> cheers,
> Mike in NZ
>