Preston
372 posts
May 25, 2009
6:38 PM
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I currently own a Hohner Blues Harp in the key of D. I have tried for weeks on end to tweak, improve, and customize it, and it still plays like shit. I got pissed off and went out and bought a Marine Band, in the same key.
As I opened the covers on my shiney new stock Marine Band, I found the draw reed plate had " D - " written in pencil on it.
I've never seen any markings on any of my harps I've opened up. Ever.
Has anybody seen this on a stock harp before? Does anybody know what it means? Was this harp once meant for something greater at the hohner factory, or did they just have a new guy working the day it was put together?
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jonsparrow
352 posts
May 25, 2009
7:17 PM
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that is interesting. never seen anything on any of mine.
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Aussiesucker
289 posts
May 25, 2009
8:47 PM
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Have seen it a number of times on Suzuki Harps especially the Harpmaster. I take them apart for regular cleaning and the Key is always on the plate. Plus I always use a permanent marker pen on them for ease of reassembly ie not to mix them up.
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Buddha
500 posts
May 25, 2009
8:58 PM
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I see that a lot.
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Ray
26 posts
May 26, 2009
3:52 AM
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I've seen it on Delta Frost harps.
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Preston
374 posts
May 26, 2009
5:28 AM
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Interesting. I wonder why some do and some don't.
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ness
9 posts
May 26, 2009
8:08 AM
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My Promasters and their replacement reeds all have it stamped on the plate. Don't remember seeing it on my Bluesmaster though.
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jonsparrow
357 posts
May 26, 2009
11:00 AM
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some one get a job at a harp manufacturer an find out.
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Buddha
506 posts
May 26, 2009
11:22 AM
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I heard its from the workers who are getting ready to work on another key of harmonica. They count out what they have left and then mark the start of the new key.
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jonsparrow
359 posts
May 26, 2009
11:33 AM
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makes sense.
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isaacullah
253 posts
May 26, 2009
12:05 PM
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Those Blues Harps really are pieces of sh*t. Man, preston, like you, I've spent hours working on them. I learned my custimization skills from the same sources you did (Dave Payne's and Buhdda's vids, Kinya Pollard harmonic workbench series, winslow yerxa's book, etc), and, while I was able to greatly improve those harps, my best stock marine bands were always better. I've had two of 'em (a Bb and an A), and they both sucked hard core. They were leaky, even after sanding perfectly flat. They went out of tune too quickly, and the gaps were difficult to stabilize (I was always regapping, and plinking, and re-gapping,a nd plinking!). The Bb had a bum 2 draw, and the 8 blow went out on the A. The tone was okay, but not great. They were pretty loud, but I found them brassy when compared to a MB. I've replaced them both with Seydels (soloist pros), and these are much better replacements. They sound great, with great volume and intonation. They also "take" to my customizations much better. The gapping and profiling the reeds is more premanent, and the reeds quickly settle into place after only a few rounds of flexing, stroking, and plinking. Plus, the harp is generally more responsive, and don't need to be embossed nearly as much. Overblows are way more readily available. Blues harps need a bit of setting up to make them accessible (for me anyway), whereas I was able to easily get them on totally stock Soloist Pros. After being set up, the OB's are just damn easy on the Soloist Pros, whereas they were merely "accesible" on a set up Blues Harp. If anyone out there is looking that the MS Blues Harp, I say save your money. A Marine Band, a Special 20, a Soloist Pro (or prob the regular Soloist) are going to be way better instruments out of the box, and are going to be better "canvases" for any customization work you end up doing or have done to them. Period.
PS. I'm writnign this from a crappy internet cafe in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. I'd like you to know that I brought my harps with me, and I'm introducing the Jordanian populace to harmonica blues! So far I've had mixed reactions. Is it just my playing or is the fact that they don't like blues? Time will only tell! :) I've managed to catch the interest of a few of the local kids though, so you never know, we may just start hearing some new young jordanian talent in the next few years! Cheers, all!
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The magnificent YouTube channel of the internet user known as "isaacullah"
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Buddha
507 posts
May 26, 2009
12:15 PM
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when you come back to AZ, gimmie a call. I have some very nice MS Blues harps that are almost ready to do. If they are still here, you can inspect them if you want.
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oldwailer
740 posts
May 26, 2009
12:38 PM
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Just yesterday I completed a D Blues harp that I had been working on. I haven't been a big fan of the BH--but I have several from my buying for cheap on ebay.
Anyway--I put it on a new comb that I made out of plexiglass--tuned it a little--did the reed work like Buddha taught me (as best I could--I'm new at this). Of course I first did a very thorough cleaning and disinfecting.
It's a great harp! I'm not usually fond of harps above C--but this one is getting to be a favorite.
I don't have a MB in the same key to compare it to--but I'll have fun playing it anyway!
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DutchBones
182 posts
May 26, 2009
4:14 PM
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A plexiglass comb? That qualifies for a (short?) YT video, wouldn't you say?
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DutchBones Tube
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Buddha
513 posts
May 26, 2009
4:15 PM
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plexigass works great if you get the right stuff. I made one for somebody one this board....
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Buddha
515 posts
May 26, 2009
6:24 PM
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You can tell them how to do it with a file. Most of the people here aren't man enough to craft a comb out of hard wood or plastic using a simple jeweler's file.
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Aussiesucker
291 posts
May 26, 2009
8:28 PM
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Ray > your comment that you have seen it before on Delta Frosts sort of confirms what I have heard that the Bushman Delta Frost and Suzuki Harpmaster are identical. Havn't seen a Bushman DF but have seen photos and they look one & the same ie but with different names.
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MrVerylongusername
331 posts
May 27, 2009
12:46 AM
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I think it's the welded reeds on the Delta that are the real smoking gun.
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scstrickland
78 posts
Jun 06, 2009
6:01 AM
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Just received Hohner MS reeds in the mail. Has C written in pencil. Looks like the reeds were worked over with a belt sander ???? Hope this is normal. All other replacement reeds I have bought looked nice new and shiny. Anybody know what the little red stripe (also seen blue) is on one of the reeds?
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