Modding a blues harp
I love my hohner blues harp (yes I know it's not the greatest harmonica made, but it's the one that spoke to me), but it's a bit uncomfortable to play because of the sharp edges on the comb tines.
After lots of googling, it seems the doussie combs on blues harps aren't sealed with anything. Does that mean I can take some fine sandpaper and round the tine edges like a Crossover without hurting anything?
Thanks for responding! And it's Ms. :)
I actually got impatient wanting to play it more so I went ahead and did it. I THOUGHT it was unfinished, so I took it apart and did the sanding, and did the outside corners of the comb as well. I left all the parts of the comb that touch the reed plates completely alone. Didn't take me long to figure out that it was indeed sealed with something. Some visual comparisons between it and other finished woods told me it was probably linseed oil.
So I went and got some, then rubbed it on the sanded parts. Now that it's dry, the newly-finished parts match the rest of the comb so perfectly it's like it came smoothed out from Hohner. I love it. So, total success!
Here's how it turned out: https://imgur.com/a/fKUQWDI
Well done Ms Harper. You are HIRED! Readers can bomb you with requests to do their combs ;o)
P.S. when I toured the Hohner Harmonica Factory in Trossingen Germany--I watched in amazement the building of a Hohner Modular System "Blues Harp"--made up of probably 50% robotics and 50% women assemblers. The way I heard it, the development of the MS series was prompted numerous years ago, by outside consultants advising Hohner management to reduce headcounts by transitioning to an automated assembly processes. The initial MS harmonicas were not very playable and eventually had to be "made right" by craftspeople before they could be shipped out.
p.s.s. I purchased my first (and still have it) Hohner Blues Harp in 1973. Back then, Hohner would replace the Marine Band 1976 vented cover plates with non-vented cover plates. Even then, Hohner understood the easiest method of changing the voicing of a harmonica was to swap cover plates! Today, you can interchange reed plates, combs and cover plates with all Hohner MS Series harmonicas, including: Blues Harp, Cross Harp, Big River, Meisterklasse.
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
But I have to admit I'm curious about what an expert tech and player like you thinks about the Blues Harps compared to others from Hohner or other brands. Would you ever use them?
Hi AC, for me my primary gigging diatonic harmonicas are the Hohner Rocket, Special 20, Marine Band and Crossover. What all of these harmonicas have in common are the reeds. I have found the reeds have just the right amount of vividus (latin for lively, vigorous, spirited and lifelike). The voicing, playability and maintenance friendly attributes of those reeds are difficult to replicate.
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Hey Mr.Harper, it's good to hear from you.
Customizing your Blues Harp doussie comb for comfort is a terrific idea. Before I layout your game plan, let me ask you a few questions:
Looking forward to your responses!
Your Harpsmith, Kinya