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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Bends Juke Harmonica
Bends Juke Harmonica
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
756 posts
Mar 26, 2012
7:56 AM
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I needed an F, so I got this NOS Bends Juke harmonica in F from Danny G of newharmonica.com at the Harmonicollege event in Huntington. A lot of times when you get an F, it's pretty leaky and inconsistent, but this was nothing like that. I start playing this thing and it played surprisingly great, response was pretty even across the board. The tuning is spot on. It's tight, really tight and the overblows 4,5,6 and 1 all come in without squealing and it has an embossed-type tone.
Of course, I take it apart to see what's going on. There's a reason it has an embossed tone. The reedslots are embossed with a sharp tool. Somebody has also done some reed-profile work on it, there are places where the worker was a bit aggressive and there is slight caterwhomping at the tips of some of the reeds, but I can't tell that's it's affected the response any, it just looks kind of messy if you look at those reeds really closely.
The comb seems a bit thinner than most, thereedplates also mate really tight to the comb. It appears that the comb has been sanded fairly flat.
On the tuning, it's been tuned twice. First time it was tuned with a file on a tuning apparatus. The second time was fine tuning with a rotary tool after the harmonica had been put together.
I don't know if they all are like this. I've only seen this one, I also need an Ab, I might get an Ab sometime.
Shame these guys are out of business.
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David
Elk River Harmonicas
Elk River Harmonicas on Facebook
"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato." - Lewis Grizzard
"Also, drinking homemade beer." - David Payne
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Greyowlphotoart
988 posts
Mar 26, 2012
8:51 AM
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I think with all OOTB harps it can be a matter of luck of the draw. I bought a Bends Juke in D half price just before the company went out of business and even after tinkering with it I'm not that happy. To be honest it's not as responsive as I would like. It OB's kind of ok. I have tried to do some work on it but just can't get it right.
I also bought a Bends Tonica Chromatic and that was unresponsive as well.
So as you can imagine I'm not that impressed.
Pleased to hear you got a good one though.
You might be interested in these shots I took and originally posted a while ago. I know you are a customiser and I'd be interested in your observations.
Grey Owl YouTube
Grey Owl Abstract Photos
Last Edited by on Mar 26, 2012 9:26 AM
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
757 posts
Mar 26, 2012
11:24 AM
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Yours is embossed, too. That's interesting. They embossed the naked plates, before the reeds went on and it's hard to see unless you look for it. I don't know if you've had the reedplates off, but the reedplates don't look like they are sitting on right. Maybe you can de-caterwhompify the reedplates by backing the screws out a little bit so there's a gap between the screw head and reedplate. Then work tightening from the center out, just like you would installing a head on an engine. Tighten to just barely snug, back off about 10 degrees, and do the same on the other screws, working your way out from the center screw. Then go back, from the center again, and tighten them to just snug, no tighter.
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David
Elk River Harmonicas
Elk River Harmonicas on Facebook
"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato." - Lewis Grizzard
"Also, drinking homemade beer." - David Payne
Last Edited by on Mar 26, 2012 11:34 AM
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LIP RIPPER
573 posts
Mar 26, 2012
1:51 PM
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I bought a "B" on the 1/2 priced deal. I haven't opened or even played it except for the first few minutes after I received it. I don't like it.The 3 draw is the most contrary reed on the thing. Ya wanna buy it?
LR
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Greyowlphotoart
989 posts
Mar 26, 2012
2:15 PM
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Thanks for that suggestion David, I'll give that a try.
I did remove the reed plates btw and lightly sanded the comb in an attempt to address any leakage but with no noticeable improvement for my efforts.
I reckon some adjustments I made to gapping helped a bit but it still seems a bit leaky so I'm hoping your suggestion will help.
Ps In my original post I mentioned the chamfering on the reed plate at the tip of the reed as I had not seen this on an OOTB harp before.
Grey Owl YouTube
Grey Owl Abstract Photos
Last Edited by on Mar 26, 2012 2:17 PM
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