|
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Quick marine band update...
Quick marine band update...
Page:
1
congaron
52 posts
Aug 17, 2009
8:49 PM
|
Well, it's been over a week with my new marine band harp in A. I am surprised to find it is actually my favorite otb harp. I really like my harpmasters, but have had some occasional choking out when I get wound up at practice and amp'd. Not happening with the marine band. The tone definitely beats my blues harps, although the harpmasters and promasters seem quite similar to the MB tone-wise. Similar, not identical.
I opened the back, trimmed some minor swelling in the comb, rounded the corners to match the brass and smoothed the brass as well.
Just fiddling around with it since I'm out for surgery recovery. Playability-wise, it's easy to overblow 5 and 6 once the reeds are warm. Every bend is there including hole 10 blow bends. There is even an exaggerated hole 5 draw bend available and exaggerated hole 7 blow bend. It may need a little more adjustment, but I haven't opened it up at all. All my minor adjustments have been with a toothpick under the covers and through the comb slots. Eventually I will work on hole 4 overblow and tweak the 5 and 6 holes a little more.
This harp is airtight. No hiss whatsoever. It's gritty, warm, trumpet-like, sax-like...awesome. It takes minimal air to play...much less than my bluesharps. About like my suzukis.
I was hesitant due to internet reviews. Perhaps I march to a different drummer. I am thinking it may be the harp for me because of my playing style and willingness to tinker a minimum amount. Way less required than my d blues harp ms needed.
I am not drinking the Kool-Aide either. If you read my comments on tube swapping, you'll remember I call it like I hear it. So far, for me marine band is a 100 percent winner. I can't say the same for my blues harps...I seem stuck with either good bends or overblows on my d blues harp. Can't seem to get it set for both.
I see why customisers like to work on these. Mine has responded to my tiny adjustments very well. I'm getting one in G soon. That will give me a primary and a backup harp in every key we commonly play in. Only two marine bands but that will likely change.
|
mr_so&so
185 posts
Aug 18, 2009
9:37 AM
|
Congaron, I've had a few MBs and every one of them eventually had major problems because of the unsealed comb. I've recently gone back to MBs because I too like the playability of them, but the first thing I do with a new one is take it apart (see Dave Payne's, elkriverharmonics, Youtube video), sand, then seal the comb with salad bowl oil. Then tweak it and you got a good harp.
|
Post a Message
|
