Re: [Harp-L] 270 Brass Comb?

[Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

If the total weight of the harp with brass comb won't bother you, and you like the permanence of brass, then go for it.  Unlike wood, brass is dimensionally stable and the harp is held together with screws and not the accursed nails.  This makes maintenance/repair much easier.

Don't expect the harp to be any louder or sound any different.

Brass offers the possibility of threaded holes in the comb for the screws that hold the reed plates and covers.  This makes it possible to remove one reed plate and cover while leaving the other still attached.   It is sometimes necessary to enlarge the holes in the plate to accommodate small deviations in their positions.  In this case there is some dimensional "slop"* in the holes in the plate.

The alternative is clearance holes in the comb with long screws in threaded reed plates.  In this case when you remove one cover or plate, the other comes loose. Here the "slop"* is in the holes in the comb.

To avoid surprises, you should make sure that you and Chris agree on this design detail. If you choose threaded holes in the comb, it might make sense to pay him extra to fit the plates to the comb.

* This slop / play / clearance is necessary because all 270 reed plates  are not dimensionally identical.  Hohner uses a hand-sanding operation to flatten the front face of the harp.  The reed plate dimensions depend on the amount of sanding that can vary from harp to harp.  Factory replacement reed plates have not been sanded at all, making them especially different.

Vern

On Mar 22, 2014, at 8:40 AM, joe hagins <joe_hagins@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

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