[Harp-L] Re: Testing comb materials

[Steve IMAP]

As a harmonica educator and consultant to the Hohner company, I've given a great many harmonica workshops at music retailers, both in Europe and elsewhere. When presenting the current additions to the Marine Band range, I always demonstrate the difference in sound between the pearwood comb of the MB Deluxe and the bamboo comb of the MB Crossover. Despite the sometimes impassioned debate on this list, nobody among my listeners at these workshops in the course of the past 8 years (that is, since both of these models have been available) has ever expressed any doubt whatsoever that they indeed do sound different when I play the same phrases on both instruments one after the other. Ain't a big difference, but those people agreed that they could hear one. Sorry to all who see it differently, but I'm a bit tired of this perennial discussion.

Steve Baker
stevebaker.de