TBone69
34 posts
Jan 11, 2009
8:51 PM
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Hey Folks,
I started playing my Key of G Hohner Blues Harp more lately and have noticed that the blow and draw 3 hole does not work so well.
I figured I had some junk in there and being that the Blues Harps are supposedly modular I took it apart to find that the comb has some serious grain to it there has to be major leaks.
Does anyone no where I can find replacment combs? I checked at my local music shop and they dont carry them. Just check Musicians Friends and found replacement reeds but no combs.
Maybe I can seal/epoxy the existing comb to save it?
I figured I just buy another G harp and was supprised to see the prices are now 34.95!!! What the heck up $10.
Any info on how to save the existing comb of find a new one is appreciated.
Thanks
Tom
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Tryharp
69 posts
Jan 12, 2009
2:42 AM
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If I understsnd what you are saying, cant you just flat sand it to get rid of the grain. Check out a youtube vid by Dave Payne.
Tryharp
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Preston
88 posts
Jan 12, 2009
5:29 AM
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You can buy replacement parts from directly from Hohner.
Go to hohnerusa.com.
Click on Service
Click on Harmonicas
Click on Replacement parts
I have never ordered any, so I don't know how fast/easy they are to deal with.
I broke a comb in half last night doing some customizing. I used regular superglue on it, let it set, sanded it down, and dipped it three times in melted Beeswax.
Can't tell it was ever broke. You might try that before you order a new one, just like Tryharp says.
Also, I have been buying Blues harps at Guitar Center for $27.95. Luckily, I have one locally, so I'm not sure what they would be with Shipping and handling if you had to order one.
Last Edited by on Jan 12, 2009 5:31 AM
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tookatooka
79 posts
Jan 12, 2009
7:44 AM
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A company called Harponlin in Germany make acrylic combs for some Hohners.
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RyanMortos
38 posts
Jan 12, 2009
1:02 PM
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I have a hohner blues harp key of G and have difficulty with the 3 draw too! It plays like it's dead or something. I guess thats just coincidence but it's just odd. I havent figured out what to do about it, maybe embossing would help that. It also seems the blues harps comb seal has a tendency to flake away with play.
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~Ryan
PA
Ryan's Tube
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isaacullah
18 posts
Jan 12, 2009
4:32 PM
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Hey bro... Couple things about them blues harps. You HAVE to sand the comb. They have lots of imperfections (saw marks, raised grain, etc) that don't allow the reedplates to sit flush. Every blues harp I've bought is this way, so I doubt that a stock replacement comb from Hohner is going to be any better. The replacements reedplates (for the MS system) ARE better, however (thicker with better, less flimsy reeds). WAY BETTER! Another hint (also stolen from Dave Payne) is to sand the bottom of the draw reedplate too (the side that contacts the comb). Obviously you can't sand the blow reedplate the same way, the reeds are there! But you can buff it a bit with a Q-tip. Also, lay the reedplates flat on the table and make sure that they lay flat. 9 times out of ten, your MS reedplates will be slightly bent out of true. You have to CAREFULLY bend them back to flat. I do this just with my hands. I then apply a rub of beeswax to the surfaces of the combs that mate with the reedplates, and use a hairdryer on LOW to melt the wax into the wood. I do three layers of this, then I mount the reedpaltes back on, and use GENTLE torque on the screws. Too much torque will cause local deformation near the screwheads that can cause leaks. After these steps and a little gapping and retuning where needed, I find the Blues Harps to play very well, and are MUCH MUCH less leaky than straight out of the box. They're even better with the replacement MS reedplates.
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The magnificent YouTube channel of the internet user known as "isaacullah"
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oldwailer
438 posts
Jan 12, 2009
4:44 PM
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Isaacullah, I thought the slight bowing in the reed plates was there to create a little pressure against the comb when everything is nailed in--I have found this to be the way the plates are on pretty much every harp I have ever taken apart. I even sometimes have put a little bow in them myself--I think I'll stop doing that!
I have a couple of boneyard bluesharps I want to try your method on--they might be better than I thought--up to now I've always thought the bluesharps were just for times when you can't find anything else to buy--or they are really cheap on ebay. . .
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Luke Juke
26 posts
Jan 13, 2009
2:31 AM
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If you google 'builderofstuff' you'll find some great combs. I haven't bought any from him but I think the great J Ricci has. Also on one of Ronnie Shellist's vids he plays a brass comb. Take a look, they're very reasonably priced
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harpcrab
3 posts
Jan 13, 2009
5:47 AM
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For what it's worth- having not played my Bluesharp for a while due to it leaking so bad, this past weekend I took it apart to see what I could do. The wood comb did not seem to have any sealant on the top and bottom at all, so I sprayed it heavily with some clear acrylic spray paint, then reassembled everything while it was still wet, and waited for it to dry. (the idea was not only to seal the wood comb but also to seal the reed plates to the comb) It does play much better now. Still like my Promaster much better though.
Last Edited by on Jan 13, 2009 5:48 AM
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