Crossover vs. Deluxe
What's the difference besides the bamboo comb?
cool thanks!
I agree with Dave, the main difference is the tuning. The MDB tuning is better for chords, while the crossover tuning is better for single note playing. The MDB tuning is closer to a pure just intonation scheme, while the crossover tuning is closer to equal temperament as used on a piano.
I think the MDB tuning is better for blues since we use lots of double stops and chords to thicken up the sound. The difference is more pronounced when playing amplified, since with just intonation the difference tones are in tune. Difference tones occur when you play two notes at the same time. It's a much lower tone that is the subtraction of the two frequencies being played. It's hard to hear them acoustically but an amp with good bass response brings them out.
But both are good harps. If you really want to learn more about different tuning schemes for the harmonica check out Pat Missin's articles on tuning: http://www.patmissin.com/tunings/tunings.html.
Steve
MBD tuning is the same as current marine band 1896. Crossover is a different scheme. Significantly sharper in 5 draw and 9 draw. So if you play second position bass line for instance, using the flat 7th it will sound a bit different. The mbd tuning is bit discordant in this way I think but I don't really mind so much. Yet. Truthfully I've only really started to notice it the last few weeks as I've been doing a bunch of chord tone/arpeggio type exercises and that flat 7 in the second position is jarring just a little (using the marine band deluxe)
Crossover seems more like the MS Blues Harp tuning. Re those two notes at least, they may be different in other ways.
Other differences are very small. Different cover bolts, the corner of the cover (mouth side) is rounded with no gap on the crossover. (1 less hair grabbing point). oh, brass screws for reed plates in MBD, steel in crossover.