Re: [Harp-L] Question for all you Marine Band Customizers

["Dave Payne, Elk River Harmonicas" <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hey Ron, is it the thickness of the mouthpiece, for lack of a better word, on the 364 that was uncomfortable? 
 _________________________________
Dave Payne Sr. 
Elk River Harmonicas
www.elkriverharmonicas.com 



----- Original Message ----
From: "rgwebber@xxxxxxx" <rgwebber@xxxxxxx>
To: fjm <bad_hat@xxxxxxxx>; h-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2008 4:10:09 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Question for all you Marine Band Customizers

Just an idea to consider, for those of you who, like me, like the extended range of 12-14 holes on a diatonic harp.  I have a standard 364 in C.  I don't particularly care for the size & hole spacing.  I am trying out the Seydel Solist Pro12, which fits my needs.  These can be ordered stock or in custom tuning, which I am using.

Ron
-------------- Original message from fjm <bad_hat@xxxxxxxx>: -------------- 


> I play both stock ans modified 365/364 series Hohners. I also play the 
> SBS harmonicas which share the comb of the 365. 
> 
> I obtained several composite combs in the 14 hole size. I bolted up a D 
> SBS plate to one to try it out. I only used the 2 end bolts that hold 
> the covers on to hold the harmonica together. 6 years later that D SBS 
> is still in my gig bag held by only those 2 bolts. Just having 
> something dead flat to bolt the plates 2 fixed most of my problems with 
> the 14 hole body. 
> 
> I have a couple of reworked 364's too. Both on composite combs, both 
> solo tunings. One is in Bb the other is C. They both play quite well 
> but the reason I had them made is they're in configurations that Hohner 
> doesn't currently make. The 1 draw on the Bb is pretty much impossible 
> for me to bend and I can get the 1 draw on a Seydel low low F. I have 
> no trouble with the 1 and 2 draw on a stock 365 in C. Stephen does 
> bring up a good point though. Those are really long reeds in very large 
> chambers. I think the reason I can't get the 1 draw on the Bb is it's 
> just too low for the comb. 
> 
> There is a cheap way to experiment with this. Get Randy Sandoval or 
> Chris Reynolds to make you a 365 comb and just get some stock plates 
> bolted to that and see what you think. You can get custom work done on 
> 365's but it costs. James Gordon used to do it. Pat Missin is another 
> good candidate. In fact an optomised 365 from Pat might be another 
> relatively inexpensive way to try this 365 thing out. 
> 
> Here's another thought. 365/364 Hohners are different to play than any 
> other harmonica I've ever run across. They take some getting used to. 
> I've always played them. My first harmonica was a 365 in C. My 
> experience of the line has always been good. I don't find them to be 
> especially leaky or hard to play but again I started out on one. I 
> don't know the state of the current Hohner product. 365's don't wear 
> out very often. The 365 I have lying around is at least a decade old. 
> Might could be the new ones are sieves but I doubt it. I do have a 
> fairly modern SBS and it plays just fine. 365/364's and SBS are the 
> only harmonicas I play in their stock configurations. I'm pretty fussy 
> about tuning and I don't bother to tear down these harmonicas because 
> for how I play they work really well out of the box. The better combs 
> are nice though. If I were more focused in terms of my time I would 
> bother to marshal the resources to upgrade to composites. They do get 
> more airtight on flat combs. As always your mileage will vary. Hope 
> this helps, fjm 
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