florida-trader
635 posts
Feb 14, 2015
5:57 AM
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During a recent discussion of my Blue Moon Special 20 combs a couple of guys asked about making similar combs for the Suzuki HarpMaster. I’ve always thought the HarpMaster is a great harp. It is most certainly Suzuki’s answer to the Special 20. And so I did. Pictured below are some aluminum prototypes. They are just polished at the moment and have not been anodized yet. I am posting these pictures and hopefully starting a conversation that will help me determine how many and what colors and materials to make.
An unintended, but very positive, consequence of this is project is that I have created the opportunity to build some hybrid harps. All the Suzuki diatonic harps have the same footprint. The Manji, ProMaster, HarpMaster and all the rest have identical profiles. The only difference is the number and location of the screw holes. My Manji / ProMaster combs already had all the various screw holes so it was a simple decision to maintain that design and add the lip around the edge to create the recess and mouthpiece. So in addition to HarpMaster reed plates you can use any other Suzuki reed plates on this comb. However, you probably don’t want to use Manji or ProMaster covers because they are designed to sit back off the edge of the reed plates in the traditional Tin Sandwich design. Rather, it is best to use the HarpMaster covers. But here’s a pleasant bit of serendipity. The SUB-30 covers fit perfectly and make a very nice looking harp.
When I build a customized SUB-30 I use my BMH30 comb and External Valve Plate along with the customer’s choice of ProMaster or Manji covers. I don’t use the SUB-30 covers. When I build a SUB-30 I am converting a harp with a recessed comb to a tin sandwich. This new recessed comb for the HarpMaster enables me to do the opposite with Manji or ProMaster reed plates, provided that I have covers that will fit properly.
So, if you have any interest in these combs please let me know. No obligation on your part but I would like get a feel for which materials – Aluminum, Corian, Fancy Acrylic or Brass – Colors -- and of course quantities you would like to see me have available. I would be surprised if these combs are in as much demand as the Special 20’s so I don’t think I can justify loading up the way I have with the Special 20 combs. The pricing will be the same as the recessed combs for the Special 20’s or Seydel Session Steel. The Aluminum, Corian and Fancy Acrylic combs are $49.95 each. The Brass Combs are $64.95 each.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
Last Edited by florida-trader on Feb 14, 2015 6:10 AM
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