[Harp-L] Combs

["Tom Halchak" <thalchak@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Anytime there is a discussion about combs it attracts my attention.  For the
past two years I have been offering combs made from wood, acrylic, aluminum,
DupontR CorianR, Samsung StaronR and brass.  So far, this conversation has
been entirely about tone so I won't dwell on the wide assortment of colors
that are available from me and other comb makers, but making your harmonica
a thing of beauty is definitely part of the equation.  I have not conducted
anything resembling a scientific study pertaining to the properties or tonal
effects of various materials.  My source of information is simply my
customers.  

I have had many many customers who have purchased one or two combs to "try
them" and have subsequently returned and purchased 10 or 20 combs to
retrofit their entire set.  This year I attended Hill Country Harmonica and
SPAH and had a close look at a lot of gig cases.  I can tell you that there
are a lot of harps with custom combs out there.  So while I know that there
are some "non-believers" who think that the comb makes no difference I would
be hard pressed to believe that the hundreds and hundreds of harp
enthusiasts that I and Matt Smart and other comb makers serve have been
duped or are simply deluding themselves.

I do not agree with the blanket statement that all stock combs from the
various manufacturers are not flat or are in some other way defective.  But
a lot of them are.  It is a significant enough percentage that by replacing
the stock comb with a flat custom comb, you stand a very good chance of
improving the performance and responsiveness of your harmonica.  The other
half of this equation is that more often than not, when the harp is
disassembled to replace the comb, the draw plate is flat sanded.  This may
have nothing to do with the comb but the reed plates are often the culprit
on a leaky harp.  If you're going to replace the comb or take steps to
improve the quality of your harp, flat sanding the draw plate is a
no-brainer..

Maka asked if there was a way to flatten the recessed combs of Special 20's
and/or Lee Oskars.  There might be a way to do it, but it would probably
require a piece of equipment that would cost ten times more than the
harmonica.  The injection molded plastic recessed combs are probably the
worst offenders (my opinion) but the leaks are cleverly hidden from view by
the lip that surrounds the comb.  That lip probably helps block some of the
leaks too so considering that Hohner and the rest are looking for a cost
effect way to make a functional comb; it's probably a pretty good design.
But I digress.

You might be surprised to learn that regardless of the material, the
devotees of each material use virtually the same adjectives to describe the
differences in how their harp plays after installing a new comb.  "Brighter,
Louder, More Responsive, Easier to Bend, Easier to Over-Blow, Warmer" are
the most common.  I have received countless emails from customers who have
related their experiences to me.  These are not marketing claims.  These are
independent reactions from hundreds of harmonica players all over the world.
Even the most ardent skeptic would have to acknowledge that it is unlikely
that all these people are crazy.

Another facet of the comb discussion that has been discussed before is
thickness.  We could start a whole other debate about that.  Did you know
that Marine Band combs are thinner than most other combs?  Did you also know
that Marine Band combs range from .210" to .240" thick?  Is it possible that
the coveted tone of the Marine Band is partly due to the thickness of the
comb?  And to carry it a step further, is it possible that when the stars
align and we happen to buy an "Out of the Box" Marine Band that plays like
velvet that the thickness of the comb has something to do with it?  I dunno.

In closing it my opinion (no scientific proof) that generally speaking
installing a custom comb can potentially deliver four primary benefits:
1.	Flatter combs make a better seal which reduces leaks and makes the
harp more responsive;
2.	Waterproof combs don't swell or warp reducing the likelihood of
leaks developing in the future;
3.	Comfort.  Custom combs typically have rounded edges making them more
comfortable on your lips, tongue and hands;
4.	Style.  Custom combs are available in a rainbow of colors and they
just plain look good;
5.	Identification. Many of my customers use different color combs (and
covers) to create a key coding system which makes it easier to grab the
right harp when they need it.

Sorry for the long post.  Hope I haven't bored you.  At such time that
anyone wants to organize a test or a study I would be happy to participate
and/or contribute some combs to the cause.

Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com