Filming Harp Tech Study: Marine Band 101A
Hello Everyone,
Next month, David and I will resume filming of the Harp Tech series. Our focus study will be on customizing the gold standard of all harmonicas, the 1896 Marine Band (yes the harmonica held together with nails).
I am in the process of creating my outline and wanted to ensure the lion's share of your MB wish list is covered. Please post your list of things you would like to see covered.
Your Harpsmith,
Kinya
Hello Hank,
Yeah, in fact, your time here at HARPSMITH reminded me to include a segment on the fundamentals of reed symbiosis. Hugely important is calibrating the blow and draw reeds in the same hole--as a single device, not two separate things.
As for the rennovation, the completion date has been pushed to the end of the year ;o(
Your Harpsmith,
Kinya
Hi Kinya.
Marine Bands were the first harps I tried but I found them hard to play as a beginner and soon abandoned them in favour of Hohner Proharps, Crossharps and the like when they appeared in my local music shop (never saw a Special 20 for some reason, or any other brand apart from Lee Oskars for that matter- pre internet days!).
Since joining this site, however, I've returned to the MB, started tweaking my own harps and am now a very happy MB user- to the point where I'm no longer compelled to try anything else! Anyway, although I've now figured most of this stuff out to a reasonable standard, I'd be interested in seeing your take on the following customising techniques, which I think would also be a great starting list for any members new to the idea of customising their MBs:
sanding and sealing the comb
rounding the tines
replacing the nails with screws
opening up the backs, prewar style
Looking forward to the series!
Rob
Hey Rob,
How are you Brother? Thank you for your response.
Your wish list matches my outline. You will be elated with the results, after learning my strategies!
Your Harpsmith,
Kinya
I am going to throw something out there in regards to MB's...I know it might not be popular...
A new MB Classic is about $30-35. It has nails and now comes with a sealed comb. I have some from Hohner that are sealed and have seen them in stores. They have a reddish come with Hohner stamped on it.
IMHO, there are two types of players. Those who view harps as disposable and those who try to maintain them over time. Nowadays, I would be much more inclined to just buy a Crossover or MBD if my goal was to customize or maintain the harp. If it is more of a throwaway or only in need of the most basic maintenance, I would go with the new sealed classic.
I can mod a classic by only removing the covers, which are easy to reattach with nails. I would do the following:
1. Open the covers
2. Gap with the harp assembled
3. Tune with the harp assembled
Now, it is difficult to ensure the blow reeds are ideal regarding their profiles with the harp attached, but I don't think that is a huge deal.
If I want an all out custom, or the greater flexibility to tinker with the harp, I think the extra cost of the MBD or Crossover is totally warranted...especially over time.
Hello Mike
No big reaction here so take this with a pinch of salt but I think you have "thrown something out there" that isn't particularly relevant to the thread! Your post makes some good assertions for sure but is it really in the right place? I think that the Harpsmith, as a contribitor to the site with a series of videos forthcoming, was asking what members want to know regarding 1896 MB customising rather than opinions about whether such customising is worthwhile. Hang on, got me thinking now, maybe my post isn't relevant either... oh no, where will this go? I foresee a meaningless spiral into oblivion! Sorry to all, had a beer or two, ignore my wittering and post something useful, eh! ;O)
Thanks Guys,
Both your observations and comments were duly noted. In fact, when a customer requested a customized MB, I would have steered them towards the Marine Band Deluxe--saving me bench time and money for the customer. The reason being, the cover plates and combs were already finished by Hohner--allowing me to wholly focus on the task of calibrating the reed plates.
As for the upcoming Harp Tech study, I purposely titled the segment, "Marine Band 101A" because my goal was to satisfy those harp techs wanting to learn how to customize a MB harmonica from scratch. Sort of like baking a cake, or learning the scales--it will impart greater understanding of how "a thing" works.
MB101A will provide you the recipe on how to build the gold standard of "customized" harmonicas--the Marine Band 1896.
Your Harpsmith,
Kinya
It's extremely relevant, robfraser. Rather than having a top-tier customizer talk about the aesthetics of the harmonica, I would pick his brain about factors that most impact the playability of a harmonica (or maintenance, which Kinya has documented with great length and even more skill).
For example, reed symbiosis, reed profiling, embossing, etc are all much more relevant to how a harmonica performs. I would also place tuning - creating Justly tuned harmonicas for blues players - would be more beneficial.
While the sonic differences in comb material is still disputed, I concede that having an airtight comb is a significant factor in the performance of a harmonica, but less so than say reed symbiosis. It has also become widely accepted that coverplates are a huge factor in the overall tone of a harmonica - but again, working with them is well documented, even by Kinya himself, and the impact in playability and longevity of a harmonica is unproven.
At the risk of sounding harsh, lots of people can convert a MB to screws and a sealed comb...you can easily find hours of YouTube videos doing such...I can point you to specific vids. Very, very few people can work on the reed plates of a harmonica and optimize it with a high level of expertise (we all hit the accidental jackpot, sometimes). That is a much more "mysterious" art, lol. If I was being tutored by a "named" harmonica tech/customizer, which incidently I have...more than once, I would put 90% of the studies into gapping and reed profiles.
But, what do I know? ;)
Hey Mike
This has taught me not to submit a post when imbibed but hey ho! I feel the need to reply to your response in any case... So, without sounding facetious, can I refer to the original post which, specifically, requested a wish list from members looking to customise their 1896 MBs?
I didn't see any such list from yourself as, no doubt, you are not in need of much/ any education in this area having been tutored by more than one named harmonica tech/customiser. I defer to your knowledge of all things relating to harmonica construction, reed profiling, reed symbiosis, embossing and so on and I hope that you haven't interpreted my comments as a direct challenge to your expertise in these areas. I am familiar with your status as a Hohner endorser and the fact that you have your own customising service and I happily concede that I know only a fraction of what you know about customising harps!
My point is that, as informative and thought provoking as your comments and opinions are, the relevance to this thread are questionable. If you want to talk about reed profiling, embossing, comb material or anything else that's great! But those topics are a bit more generic and maybe belong elsewhere, bearing in mind the fact that the video series is specifically about customising the 1896 MB and is more than likely aimed at members who may well have never opened up a harp before.
I just thought your post wasn't really in the spirit of the thread, that's all. Anyway, let's not lose sleep over it, eh! I welcome your last word on this and can't wait for the videos!
Please go over embossing if possible!
No worries. I will feature the Sjoeberg UST tool for this elusive technique.
~Kinya
Glad to hear this Kinya. My previous list stands but I'm working away on our last conversation but I'd love to hear/see how the reno's are coming or have worked out ;-)
Seriously I'm sure these will be highly in demand.