Re: [Harp-L] Nails in Combs

["Steve Shaw" <moorcot@xxxxxxx>]

> This is rationalization BS for the following reasons:
>
> 1. You do not want the reedplates to vibrate with respect to the comb 
> because the collisions with the comb will absorb the vibrational energy of 
> the reeds.
> 2. Screws are better than nails because, for air-tightness,  you want the 
> fasteners to pull the plates and the comb together, even if one or both 
> have to bend slightly to come together.
> 3. Repeated removal and replacement of nails makes them lose the power to 
> pull the plates against the comb.
> 4. You don't need nails under the covers because the cover screws hold the 
> covers and the reedplates down.
> 5. Nails are cheap and easy for the manufacturer but are an abomination for 
> the repair technician.
>
> Sorry for not being able to express a clear, definite opinion on the 
> subject.   ;o)
>
> Vern

They are an abomination for the amateur, too, who merely wants to get inside 
the harp to tune or change a reed or fix a gap or two or clean the innards.  
I pay sixty quid for a double-sided Echo harp that will inevitably need 
opening up fairly soon after acquisition and at frequent intervals after 
that for this kind of maintenance and cleaning.  The cover ends distort upon 
removal and the nail-holes are then too big to hold the covers back on 
securely.  The advice from Hohner is to snap off a piece of toothpick in the 
hole.  Ha ha!   Getting the plates off without distorting them is a 
nightmare, and same problem with tightness of the nails when you put them 
back on.   This kind of design on a cheapie throwaway may be justified, but 
on a serious harmonica it's just a joke.   Let's face it, the harps make it 
as difficult as possible to take apart and put back together again.  It's 
not good enough and it's about time Hohner came into the modern era!

Steve


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