[Harp-L] Re: Combs

[Steve Baker <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At the risk of provoking the scorn of those with a divergent opinion  
I'd like to sketch my own experience with combs made of different  
materials:

During the last couple of years in the course of my work for Hohner  
I've made fairly exhaustive tests comparing combs made of various  
woods and other materials, using Marine Band Deluxe reed plates and  
covers due to the ease of assembling and disassembling them. I not  
only compared identical instruments fitted with different combs, but  
also swopped the reed plates so I could hear the same comb with a  
different set of plates in order to eliminate possible differences in  
reedplate quality. In addition I regularly play many of these  
instruments on stage, often swopping harps in mid song to see if  
there's a difference or to switch to one whose sound and playing feel  
I prefer. I hear and perceive distinct differences not only between  
different woods but also between wood and plastic, and also between  
woods treated with different finishes. I haven't been able to conduct  
tests using identical reedplates and covers with metal combs, but my  
experiences with various harps fitted with metal combs lead me to  
believe there is definitely a difference. A Hohner Meisterklasse MS  
will sound slightly different with a wooden or plastic comb and it  
will certainly feel different. Try it yourseof  -  the parts are  
compatible after all. These tests have led me to clear personal  
preferences. It's true that the outside listener might not notice any  
difference, because we're talking about nuances here, but I certainly  
notice enough difference to make me switch from one to another in the  
middle of a song in order to make my music sound the way I want it to  
sound to me. It's a moot point whether even a knowledgeable listener  
will be able to hear the difference between a Stradivarius and a  
medium priced violin, but believe me someone like Nigel Kennedy can,  
and that's why top violinists are prepared to pay astronomical prices  
in order to get one.

Elizabeth's point about possible toxicity is something I can only  
agree with. Many woods can cause allergic reactions and there are  
harmonicas on the market that I will not play for this reason,

Steve

Steve Baker
steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.stevebaker.de
www.bluesculture.com
www.youtube.com/stevebakerbluesharp