RE: [Harp-L] Reed plate protrusion

[Michael Peloquin <peloquinharp@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> From: steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Michael Peloquin asked:
> 
> why are MB Deluxes not assembled this way in the first place?
> 
> They're certainly meant to be, it may depend on who assembled the 
> instrument in question. I went through this issue a couple of years 
> back with one of the people who do the work and will talk to Hohner 
> quality control about it today. As there is a degree of play in the 
> screw holes, inconsistency can creep in here. To ask why players who 
> shell out the cash should have to make minor adjustments themselves 
> brings us back to the rather tired subject of setting up your own 
> harps. Look at the state in which much more expensive guitars are 
> delivered to retailers. Any serious guitar shop will automatically 
> set up the instrument before selling it and nobody complains that in 
> some way the manufacturer is at fault because this is necessary. The 
> problem is, harmonicas are generally not sold by people with the 
> skills to do the work needed. Buy at Harponline if you want stock 
> instruments that have been checked through by an expert before 
> sending them out (shameless plug but no commercial connection in any 
> way),

 

Steve,

   Why can't the number 1 harmonica manufgacturer in the whole world just listen to its customers? I think all that we as consumers want to hear is: hey we didn't get it right and we will correct that moving forward. 

    I am not picking on Hohner or you when I address these concerns. I like Hohner's products and I have for my entire career. The MB Deluxe plays better tha comparable suzukis or seydels IMO, and I am a big Steve Baker fan...

    But, please do not give us these guitar analogy cop-outs... here is my guitar analogy:

Fender sells a deluxe version of the Strat to you with the fret ends protuding out the side of the neck, ripping your palms to shreds, Fender says, "just take a hammer and some tin snips and adjust 'em, they will be fine." That response would be unacceptable. You stated " I went through this issue with Hohner a couple of years back," why could this not have been left at that rather than tell us that this issue lies under the "tired" heading of "player personalized harp setup" This is NOT harp setup, but quality control. Why is there play in the holes? There is no play in a MB or GM (Hohner's 2 other sandwich style diatonics. ) 

     Why must manufacturers act like they know what is best for their customers when many of us already know that the converse is true. Look at New Coke, the Selmer Mark VII saxophone, the Edsel, Apple's Cube & Newton, plus countless other corporate product blunders. 

    When will the next harmonica manufacturer really step up to the plate for us? 




Michael Peloquin


http://harpsax.com

http://myspace.com/peloquinharpsax