Re: [Harp-L] plastic comb vs wood ?

[Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>]

Although I've seen a great deal of discussion covering the tone and
durability differences of plastic vs. wood (and other materiel), I don't
see a lot of talk about the difference in *how they play.*
*
*
To me, the difference is substantial, and it has less to do with the nature
of the material and more to do with how they are physically shaped.  I have
four harps with plastic combs:  a session, a special 20, a harpmaster, and
a Lee Oskar.  There are two things I notice about these vs. a wood comb on
my MBs.

-each of them has slightly larger holes and hole spacing, with the session
being the most disparate (a full "hole and a half" larger than the MB comb
when held side by side)

- they all have some kind of chamfering/rounding/softening of the edges of
the holes.  Again, the session has obvious, visible 45 degree chamfers that
are about .5mm, The others are not chamfered, but the edges a rounded and
softer than that of the MB.

This makes them have a softer and more comfortable mouth feel, but
play *noticeably
*less responsive (to me, anyway).  The sharp lip edges of the stock wooden
MB comb make the notes "snap" into playing when shifting between holes, and
the ever-so-slightly smaller distance between the holes makes some licks
play clean and crisp, while the same runs are spongy and loose on the
plastic comb harps.

Does anybody else notice this phenomenon?  To me its like night and day.
 It's, honestly, like a 20% difference in my mind.


On Sat, Jun 8, 2013 at 7:28 PM, Fran_3 <mailbox0600@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> The honer specal 20 and ms have wooden combs... right?
>
> Can you replace them with a plastic comb?
>
> And, I'd like to hear your thoughts and comments about plastic vs wood.
>
> The concern to me would be maintainability... how many times can you take
> the nails or screws out of a wood comb harmonica before it just doesn't go
> back to gether any more? Or is this really an issue?
>
> Regarding tone... years ago some soaked wooden comb harps before
> playing... but I think that has been de-bunked... or has it?
>
> Wooden or Plastic? Whadda ya say?
>