Does anyone know if the Bamboo comb has the same cleaning problems as the wood comb or is it more like the plastic easy cleaning?
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On crossovers? They are triple sealed….Much like plastic.
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I recently investigated the crossover bamboo combs. If you are referring to the crossover by Hohner, their website provides finishing details related to each organic based comb, if i remember correctly, but you’ll need to buy one to know for certain.
On another subject, beyond the ease of cleaning bamboo combs, I have a bunch of crossovers. But they leak air, so i rarely use them. Pros have said the same. Mine are several years old. Bought them when I was taking lessons from Dennis Gruenling. His picture was on the box at that time. I doubt he plays stock crossovers.
A few months back, i was setting up a crossover, which included sanding the comb to eliminate the leakage, but i creased a reed with my thumbnail during the setup and never had a chance to check it out thoroughly regarding anything beyond leakage. However, by sanding the comb i did create a more airtight harp.
There are many ridges on the crossover bamboo comb caused by the manufacturing process, and these ridges need to be sanded to create an airtight harp. Otherwise the reed plates do not tightly attach to the comb. Sanding would most likely remove any finish if Hohner finishes the entire comb, which I do not believe Hohner does.
I just now disassembled the aforementioned crossover harp. I do not see much finishing on the teeth except at the front, where most swelling from saliva would occur on a pear wood comb, and maybe that thick finish extends back 1/4 inch.
Lastly, I prefer a bamboo cutting board to a wood cutting board. Much more resilient. But the plastic combs are my go to comb, and some pros are now playing Special 20s and variants exclusively.
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@hill.shayne91 I’m not 100% on this, but I believe they are only 3ple lacquered on the part that is facing the mouth. I don’t think the inside of them is 3ple lacquered. I know, at least, that that is true of the Marine Band Deluxe’s, and I’m pretty sure it’s also true of the Crossovers.
Still, bamboo is supposed to be difficult to get to swell like the Pear Wood does, but in the final analysis, if you wanna run your harps under water (which I find to be very helpful from time to time) you’re probably best off just choosing an acrylic comb. You can buy a Crossover with a custom acrylic comb installed by Todd Parrott for $100. I promise you you won’t be disappointed. I personally prefer the MBD over the Crossover, but I play a lot of chords, splits, and double-stops.
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Water and wood are not a good combination. I replaced all my wooden combs and can dip my harps in alcohol and clean them quickly and easily.
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Sounds like what I found when i got my first Crossover. I looked at the comb and saw marks were all over one side, Air leaks are frustrating and a wooden comb can cause them. I could not understand Hohner letting a harp go and cutting such a small corner on something as critical as a comb.