Re: [Harp-L] Using valves on Hohner diatonics

[David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tom, I hope you were just funnin'.  When I was at HH, I got to see what harmonica company relationships were like at SPAH 2010- I mean from companies who actually make harmonicas. Everybody is competing with everybody, yes, but it wasn't like you'd think. Brad and Lars Seifert, Seydel CEO, talked to one another. I remember well just how encouraging Lars was to Brad and he came right out of the gun like that with a handshake and smile. The very first thing he said to Brad was something like "we are really pulling for you guys" and then they went into this discussion about all their cumulative efforts were good for the harmonica - the rising tide lifts all ships. Lars and I had something I called "The Beer and Sausage Summit," although I was the only one eating sausages. We had a nice, long talk over beer that I will long remember. 
I was in management at HH, but I didn't go sneaking around, snarling or anything. I enjoyed some nice conversations with Hering and Suzuki. I enjoyed finally meeting Steve Baker. 
When I was selling stock harmonicas, Danny G was a major competitor - and he was and is, one of my closest friends. There were many times we helped each other and it was more often him helping me. I
In this business, most of us are friends and respect one another. Not all are like that, but most are. The only people who aren't friends typically - who aren't a part of this band of brothers - are those who don't believe the rising tide lifts all ships and don't want to be anybody's friend.    
  
Me, I'm with the super-hot German chick in the video below. "I even love a harmonica. I love many harmonicas." 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75hfsbGwqk8

One thing a custom-comb maker might introduce to this conversation is the fact that what was suggested - making a comb with thinner tines to accomodate the valves is a great, great deal of work for such a small, small niche of clientele. It would be a heck of a lot easier to just get a razor blade and trim the valves, especially at the corners. The corner is always what catches. 


 
David Payne
www.elkriverharmonicas.com


On Wed, Oct 3, 2012 at 2:37 PM, Tom Halchak <thalchak@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:

> Mike:
> Given your recently created partnership with Hetrick, isn't extolling the
> virtues of Sjoeberg a little like telling your new bride what great lover
> your ex-girlfriend is?  Aren't you worried that Matt will be jealous?
>
> Sorry Mike.  I couldn't resist.
>
> Tom Halchak
> www.bluemoonharmonicas.com
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Oct 3, 2012, at 12:43 PM, Mike Fugazzi <mikefugazzi@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Sjoeberg combs work perfect for this as they are milled with narrower
> tines on each side and have room for screws in place of rivets.  I haven't
> tried it yet, but I think PT valves will work in an aftermarket GM comb and
> possibly a Special 20...I am getting more valves as I only picked up enough
> to work on a few specific harps and then decided I wanted to try it on some
> of my harps after they were all used up, lol.  I might have a couple of
> long ones to cut down and experiment with, but am pretty busy this week and
> need to dig them out.
>
> On Wednesday, October 3, 2012 11:35:53 AM UTC-5, Tom Halchak wrote:
>>
>> I've been reading with interest the thread about using valves on Hohner
>> diatonics.  The gist has been that the slots on the comb are too narrow
>> for
>> valves.  With all the custom comb makers out there (including me), Has it
>> not occurred to anyone that a comb with thinner tines (i.e. wider slots)
>> could easily be made, thus accommodating a valve?  I'm always up for an
>> experiment.  If anyone is interested in a comb that might suit this
>> purpose,
>> please feel free to email me.  Let's see what we can cook up.  It is very
>> easy for me to have laser cut acrylic combs made in small quantities.
>>  And
>> when you sand and polish the acrylic combs, they look as good as the
>> Corian
>> combs (my opinion).
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Tom Halchak
>>
>> Blue Moon Harmonicas
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>