Re: [Harp-L] Chromatic combs cracking....

[Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

The wooden combs are not so much affected by temperature as by humidity.  The cold wrings all of the moisture out of the outside air.  Then when it warms up inside, the relative humidity goes very low.  This draws the moisture from the wood and makes it shrink and crack.  The Philipines are probably very humid and Phoenix is definitely very dry.  

There are several  ways to solve your problem:
1. Buy a Seydel Chromatic Deluxe, or Saxony harps with plastic or aluminum combs.
2. Replace the cracked wooden combs with machined Corian combs from Chris Reynolds and make maintenance easier with screws instead of nails.
    See  http://builderofstuff.com/270combs.html
3. Repair your harps and keep them in a box with a musical instrument humidifier, made for guitars and violins.  The old way was to keep a slice of apple in the instrument  case.

Vern

On May 3, 2010, at 1:22 PM, MundHarp@xxxxxxx wrote:

> Just now I am in Arizona USA. I have been experiencing problems with  
> cracked wood combs on THREE of my chromatics.
> 
> I happen to like my Hohner Super Chromonicas (270s). But they come as  
> standard with pear wood combs.
> 
> Over the years I have played my harmonicas in many interesting places both  
> in the tropics, and also in cold climates. But here in Arizona, it is the  
> temperature variation that seems to be causing the problems... In "The 
> Valley of  the Sun"  (Where Phoenix is situated), the temperature often exceeds 
> 90  degrees F during daytime at this time of year, & 20 degrees hotter than  
> that in the summer months. But when going into the Arizona mountains, the  
> temperature often drops to below freezing point. Where I was playing  last 
> Friday for example, it dropped to about 30 degrees F....  I was  playing a gig 
> in the open air that evening and it was COLD.
> 
> Oh I guess the answer is simply not to buy chromatic harps with pear wood  
> combs... But to my fellow harp players, I simply say "be careful... 
> Temperature  variations are not a good thing for harmonicas.
> 
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> 
> John "Whiteboy" Walden,
> English harmonica player.
> (Who lives in the Philippines.)
> Just now in Phoenix, AZ, USA.
> 
> 
>