florida-trader
595 posts
Jan 10, 2015
5:24 AM
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I’m not shy. I’ll get the ball rolling. Blue Moon Harmonicas has a fresh supply of custom combs for all Hohner, Suzuki and Seydel Diatonics. Wood, Solid Surface, Aluminum, Brass and Fancy Acrylic. At present I have over 1000 combs in stock and ready for immediate delivery. Please visit my website to see what I have to offer, or send me an email.
Blue Moon Harmonicas LLC
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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Mirco
242 posts
Jan 10, 2015
10:58 PM
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What's the benefit of a custom comb, aside from looking really cool?
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Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
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florida-trader
601 posts
Jan 11, 2015
9:25 AM
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Marc. Generally speaking, custom combs are flatter than stock combs. Flatter combs = a better seal between the reed plate and the comb = more compression = a more responsive harp. That's the short answer.
The harp that got the entire custom comb industry started was the Hohner Marine Band 1896. Why? Becuase the unsealed pear wood comb on the MB swells and warps as it absorbs moisture from your breath. With repeated cycles of swelling and drying it woudl freqently warp. The sharp edges of the tips of the tines would protrude from the front of the harp creating a very uncomfortable playing surface. So as the art of custom comb making evolved, from the very beginning the common goals were waterproof, flat and rounded edges to create comfort. Comb making has evolved from there.
A lot of the combs I make replace injection molded plastic combs like the Special 20 or Big River or Seydel Session Steel. The plastic combs are full of cavities (I sound like a dentist!). All my combs are solid CNC milled from a variety of materials - wood, Corian, Aluminum, Brass or Acrylic, so there are no cavities. They are just more solid and airtight than the injection molded combs.
Hope this helps.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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Mirco
243 posts
Jan 11, 2015
10:12 AM
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Thanks. It does help. Lots of good information.
Right now, I have 3 different types of harps in my case: SP20's (plastic comb), Blues Harps ("wood"), and Crossovers (bamboo or pear, I think).
If I wanted to try a custom comb to hear/feel the difference, which harp type above would show the clearest change?
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Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
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florida-trader
602 posts
Jan 11, 2015
2:01 PM
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The Special 20 would have the most pronounced change. There is just a world of difference between my new custom SP20 comb and the stock injection molded comb. The Blues Harp has a Duciewood comb which is not at all a bad comb. It is an African hardwood that will not swell or warp. If it isn't perfectly flat you can easily flat sand it. The Crossover comb is bamboo that also will not swell or warp. It is Hohner's top of the line. Again, if it isn't flat, you can easily flat sand it. I wouldn't argue with you if you wanted to change one of those out but if you are looking for one comb to try the Special 20 is the clear choice. If the comb on your SP20 is not flat, there is nothing you can do to improve it - unlike the other two.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
Last Edited by florida-trader on Jan 12, 2015 9:14 AM
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Mirco
244 posts
Jan 11, 2015
6:52 PM
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Thanks again. At some point, I'm going to try this out and now I know where to start.
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Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
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1847
2733 posts
Sep 09, 2015
9:09 AM
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hi tom, just wondering if you have any post spah specials?
i am hoping to one day try out a custom, session steel corian comb
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marine1896
379 posts
Sep 09, 2015
11:01 AM
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look at all those lovely Blue Moon combs they are great! Turns a harp into an air tight more responsive harp!
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"Those British boys want to play the blues real bad, and they do"
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