My Marine Band 1896s
Kinya,
The first harps I got were all Marine Band 1896s. Then I moved on to Crossovers. I've just got Richard Sleigh's tool kit, and have been cleaning my Crossovers, but am now faced with the question of what to do with the 1896s. Upgrade them or just move on?
For the former, if I'm going to change the nails for screws, it seems to me that I should also upgrade the combs. Two issues:
First, I don't have a stand drill. Just a hand power drill.
Second, what combs should I get, and where? Blue Moon offer a several options, and there's Andrew Zajac; I've contacted both but not had replies yet. Rockin' Ron is out of stock.
I've seen the "shopping list" you gave some time ago from MicroMark, and have that to hand.
I also have a slight suspicion I'm not biting off more than I can chew, and might do better just to get more Crossovers.... but am tempted with the thought that a little care and attention might make the 1896s nice airtight harps.
All advice welcome!
Kirsty
Existential crisis? I should say so! Feels like going over to the dark side!
Joking apart, though, after getting a really helpful email from Tom at Blue Moon Harmonicas (huge round of applause for him), I am now set on upgrading these MBs. I'm still not clear on what combs to get, though - wood, solid surface, acrylic or metal.
Kirsty
Hi Kirsty, I'm back ...
Rats! if you were at the San Jose, CA workshop last April, Richard Sleigh and I would have pulled you back over to the "good" side. We spent the entire Saturday demonstrating how to build a customized Marine Band 1896.
Assuming your primary style of playing is tongue blocking chordal (traditional Blues), and your goal is to have a set of good Marine Band harmonicas, I recommend the Marine Band Deluxe (#2005). This harmonica is built ontop of a sealed pearwood comb and tuned COMPROMISED JUST. If you find yourself gravitating towards single note type of playing (contemporary blues, pop, jazz, folk), the Crossover is built ontop of Hohner's new laminated bamboo comb and tuned to 12TET (12 tone equal temperament).
If your goal is to learn how to customize and maintain your instruments, I would recommend starting your training with the Hohner Special 20 (#560) COMPROMISED JUST tuning, rather than your Hohner Marine Band (#1896) harmonica. The reason for this is that the "secret sauce" for all customized harmonicas is the reed plate set up, not the comb:
- increase the compression of the reeds, by reducing the air leakage around the reeds by "sizing" (aka embossing the reed slots)
- set the profiles for all 20 reeds, including the way the reed enters/exit the reed slot, and calibrating the gaps on both the free and rivet ends.
- flatten the mating surface of the draw reed
- tuning
Another reason I recommended starting with the SP20, is because this "Marine Band" harmonica (yes, it has identical reeds to all Marine Band models) is built around the injected molded ABS plastic comb; alway straight, always air tight, always comfortable, and requires very little customizing ;o)
If you insist on marshalling forward with the MB1896, I would recommend Corian (DuPont) as the composite comb of choice. Super duper easy to work on, extremely air tight, and uber comfortable.
Review all Harp Tech studies at this site for your guiding light, and contact Richard Sleigh <rrsleigh@gmail.com> for his tutorials as well.
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
That's really useful information, thank you, And yes, I'm a traditional tongue-blocking blues type. I'd say my aim is to understand my instrument better, and to be able to maintain it (first goal) and then customize it (second goal). So all is not lost - I think the 1986s are going to serve as valuable nursery slopes on which to learn what I'm doing. A couple of Blue Moon corian combs are on their way, as are Richard Sleigh's videos.
Thanks for the advice, and for your Harp Tech lessons.
Kirsty
Keep us posted on your progress ;o)
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Hi Kirsty
Sounds a bit like an existential crisis going on ;o)
I am just heading out the door ... when I return, I will provide you with options.
Your Harpsmith, Kinya