Re: [Harp-L] Quality & price discussion

[Steve Baker <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 27.05.2009, at 20:48, Tom Albanese wrote:

> Steve and others,
>
> I've tried many many different brands and models of diatonic  
> harmonicas. For the bulk of my years as a player I've relied mostly  
> on Hohner products and within that brand, mostly Marine Bands, both  
> custom and out of the box. For the last two years or so however, I  
> veered off into Seydel 1847s. At first I thought that I'd found  
> something in the 1847s that would make me switch brands permanently  
> but after what I feel was a fair trial period I've abandoned those  
> and am back playing Hohners again. (Man this is getting expensive!)
>
> Times being what they are I really can't justify the expense of  
> custom MBs right now so I decided to try Marine Band Deluxe harps.  
> Having read both very positive and very negative comments on the  
> MBD I considered it to be a bit of a gamble to go that route, but I  
> bought four of them anyway (ADG&C) thinking what the hell, I need  
> some new harps so I might as well roll the dice. My initial  
> impression is that I think they are very good harps. They seem to  
> be carefully crafted and respond quite well for me after a few  
> tweaks on the reeds. I have only one complaint/question: Why do the  
> reed plates protrude so far past the comb? I've been playing MBs  
> for over 30 years and it's never been quite so apparent an issue to  
> me. These MBDs have reed plates that feel like dull knife blades in  
> my mouth. Are they all like that or did I just happen to get an odd  
> batch? I've tried fine grit emery cloth on them but after a few  
> hundred strokes it didn't seem to make much difference. What can I  
> do to correct this issue? Thanks.
>
> tom albanese
>
> http://www.myspace.com/bigrealdeal

I know some people have a problem with the issue of the reed plates  
protruding beyond the covers, but it's very easily fixed. If it's the  
protusion rather than the edges of the plates which bothers you, as  
your remarks would suggest, why not try loosening the reed plate  
screws and pushing the comb further forward so that the edges of the  
plates don't protrude so far, then tighten the reed plate screws  
again. That's what I do, anyway, hope it helps,

Steve Baker
www.stevebaker.de
www.bluesculture.com