[Harp-L] RE: Manji welded reeds? (David Payne , Smo Joe)

["geoff atkins" <geoffatkins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dave said, 
"As I understand welding, the reeds are aligned by machines who then dangle
the reedplates over a tank of sharks with laser beams attached to their
heads. The sharks look up and zap the reeds secure."
Correct
We've got a good supply of sharks here in South Africa, great whites,
raggies, etc. But have you considered the hammerhead shark, it's ideal for
attaching two correctly aligned lasers and doubling the welding speed!

This perfection in harp reeds perturbs me, already Suzuki Promasters have
a visibly closer reed tolerance than the Hohner 1.05mm thick plates use.
But I've had less trouble with the Hohners as far as dust and other
contaminants are concerned. When the Manji improves yet again on the
previous products will it not also become more susceptible to blockages?
I'm not asking for popcorn-proof construction, but my old lungs still have
enough air to handle the minute leaks of today's harmonicas.

SmoJoe's comment is also spot-on, "make a few models..very very well".
In this case Suzuki appear to have started from the ground up, even
to the extent of considering reed format, and a stainless cover instead of
the internally rusty, externally dull Hohner covers. Maybe the Manji is the
next evolutionary stage, and harps will change for the better?

Best Regards and enjoy the SPAH convention !

Geoff Atkins