[Harp-L] Painted vs. Shiny (unpainted) coverplates

["John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>]

	The effect that painted cover plates have on the tone of a diatonic  
harmonica is an overlooked topic.
	Once upon a time (before Hohner came out with its MS harmonicas) the  
Special 20 and the Pro Harp were identical, except that the Pro Harp  
had black painted (or Greblon coated) covers.  I always believed that  
the Pro Harp had a slightly darker, fatter and warmer tone than the  
Special 20. I'd always pay the slightly higher cost to get the Pro  
Harps.  Other players told me I was crazy.
	Fast forward to 2007.  Being less and less enthusiastic about the MS  
harps, ( and unhappy with Lee Oskars), I bought a set of Suzuki  
Promasters last year (which happen to have shiny cover plates).  I  
liked them, but I found the tone too bright and aggressive-- too "in  
your face" especially when amplified.
	Then, this year, I bought a couple of Suzuki Hammonds (which have  
black painted covers) primarily because I just liked the way they  
looked.  Surprise! The tone was darker, warmer and fatter than the  
Promasters.  I asked Oz Leguizamo at Suzuki customer service about  
this.  Oz  told me that the Promasters and the Hammonds are made to  
identical specifications, but because the Hammonds have painted cover  
plates, the tone is darker.  When I asked Antony Danecker what effect  
painted cover plates have on tone, he essentially confirmed what Oz  
had told me.
	Painted vs, unpainted cover plates is not a topic that had received  
much attention, but I, for one, have a definite and long standing  
preference for painted covers.  Now I  pay more to get  Hammonds,  
just like I used to pay extra to get Pro Harps.  There is a subtle,  
but definite, difference in tone when a harp has painted cover  
plates. Sometimes, I used to wonder if it was just my imagination.  
But now, after talking to Oz and Antony, my belief  has been  
validated. 	
	I also prefer unvented cover plates, but that is an entirely  
different topic.

	JP