Re: [Harp-L] responsiveness - Hohner Cross Harps, Meisterclass, MS harps

["Jim Greenwald" <staggerin@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Ron

For some reason, I got a few Hohner MS Cross Harps a few years ago (on 
sale?) and was really disgusted with them. Are they still made with that 
'gold' coated plastic comb? Well ... that was the main problem with mine. I 
threw out the combs and replaced them with maple combs from Mark LaVoie 
http://www/middlebury.net/lavoie
They were then worthy of the normal investment of time on the reeds.

Cheers,
Staggerin' Jim
Listen to Roots Harmonica at http://www.live365.com/stations/staggerinjim

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Captron100@xxxxxxx>
To: <Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 1:31 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] responsiveness - Hohner Cross Harps, Meisterclass, MS 
harps


> First a short thanks to Hohner rep, Fernando Bresslau, for his  always
> helpful posts.
>  I know these subjects have been discussed here and there onlist for 
> years
> but........
>  Yesterday a friend gave me 5 Hohner Cross Harps that  he won't use.  They
> are very airy and non-responsive.  I have yet to  look at their gaps, but
> checking the specs on hohnerusa.com shows them to be of  the modular 
> series but
> they, as well as Meisterclass, use thicker reedplates  than entire rest of 
> the
> Hohner line.
>   My friend raves about his Meisterclass harmonicas.   This leads me to
> believe that one harp that uses thick reedplates is responsive,  while 
> another is
> just the opposite.  I regapped the one and  only Cross Harp that I have 
> ever
> owned, but it still plays stiff. and  tight.
>  I own one Cross Harp, bought because my usual brand, doesn't make a  harp
> in key of high G.  It was always unresponsive and I removed the  printed 
> name
> of "Hohner" from the back of the harp, lest someone in the audience  buy 
> one
> thinking that I endorse them (no offense, Fernando).  I've gapped  it so 
> that it
> should be responsive, yet it is still stiff.
>  Before I spend hours trying to improve these harps, what is the real 
> deal
> on responsiveness of thick reedplates, Meisterclass, Cross Harps, and MS
> series in general.   tia.
> Ron - FL Keys
>
>
>
>
>
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