[Harp-L] Comb material

[MundHarp@xxxxxxx]

Back in about 1997, Vern Smith ran a comb material seminar at SPAH in 
Detroit.... I was lucky enough to be the harp player to actually play the harmonicas 
at that seminar.
The diatonic harmonicas that we demonstrated were identical, except for comb 
material.... Before I took part in that seminar, I honestly thought that 
"wood" combs gave a warmer tone....
However, the result of that seminar was that the audience could not tell the 
difference between a diatonic harmonica with a wood, plastic, aluminium, or 
evan a concrete custom made comb!
It proved to me that the harmonica player makes the tone, and NOT the comb 
material.
The variation in tone seems to be between a "well set up" harp and a "badly 
set up" one.... OK... The cover plates DO make a difference... My favourite 
cover plates are "blues harp ms"... I like thin cover plates... If I use for 
example Meisterklasse ms cover plates,  that are MUCH thicker, the harp simply 
does not feel so "alive" to me as I play it.
These days I prefer to play a harp with a metal comb. But NOT because of the 
tone.
Over the years pearwood combs (Hohner Marine Band hm  and Hohner Blues Harp 
hm) have ripped my lips to pieces! Then I found plastic combs that don't swell. 
Great... But metal combs make the harp FEEL nice... So that is what I play 
(given the choice) these days....
However, I still have 1960's rebuilt marine bands hm and  1970's and 1980's 
blues harp hm, all with wooden combs, that I often play.... I am sure that the 
audience can't tell the difference as to what harps I'm using!
John Walden
London
England