So, This is my First foray into harp customisation, as you can see from the pics I’ve opened the SP 20’s one In A one in D at the back this gives them far more sound projection (they are now really loud, they are all gapped and tuned to how I like, and I decided to spend a bit of money on an aluminum comb for my D Harp. This didn’t take me long, and I learned a ton of stuff as I went along. Oh, one more detail I added sleeved screws on my cover plates instead of the standard issue Hohner screw and annoying nut. They are now so much easier to take apart and put together again thanks to this added feature.
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Looks great 
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Thanks
… and the round holes? How are they?
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Pretty cool, I like them and the comb isn’t overly heavy ( although you know your holding a harp with an aluminum comb) found a supplier abroad who doesn’t charge too much and the tax on them is small so I’ll by a couple every month
@roodoginsumner and @lasersolutionswi
Here’s a Marine band deluxe minus the wooden combs
( not a fan of wooden combs.) This actually sounds twice as good now.
Nice job. I like getting rid of a lesser comb. Another advantage of this set up is to clean the harp dip it alcohol for about five seconds. I have all my harps set up this way and I spend more time playing and less time dealing with air leaks. I also rotate the reed plates very lightly on 1,500 wet and dry sand paper to make sure the plates are straight. Any depression will show up and can be dealt with.
I just replaced a reed plate and it was not close to being right. The first month I started playing the harp was more of a cruel introduction on dealing with air leaks.
I like your A harp. I have a Special 20 that has been customized and it plays great. I dislike the shape relative to a Crossover as the 20 feels more like a match box due to the shape. Same for my Oskar. I am getting used to it but I would put crossover cover plates on if it were an option.
I think your approach is a smart move as I do not like curing problems but enjoy playing.
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Well, I’ve always flattened, sanded and gapped my own harps, so locating combs I didn’t have to pay a fortune for was the next step. I’ve found that although the aluminum combs look great the sound I think is a little darker which I love, so I will be keeping at least two plastic bodied harps ( I have 3 harps per key) in my keys for variety of sound, but I am looking at opening the backs up on these too. I’ve made my own clamps for straightening out the reed plates, I’ve a piece of glass I check them on. I’ve ordered a really sharp clipping tool for sheet metal and a bending tool. I’m going to have a go at my back ups which are all East Tops see if I can improve those. But I am planning to get a couple of combs a month til they’re done. Then when ever I need a new harp, I’ll just get the reed plates.
Who makes the aluminum comb?
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A company in Belgium haven’t got the details at hand but they are very good and very reasonable priced.
Hi @scott4
I’ve noticed on Amazon there are combs very similar to these from what looks like China? Mine come from Belgium the company logo is inside the harp. But I think these Chinese ones may be knock offs but they are charging twice as much for them. But there are good reviews for them.
I used to open the backs of all my harps. I stopped at some point. But flat combs are great and make a huge difference in playability. I also found that doing reed work taught me a lot about the instrument.
My roadwork was always just Ok. But light years ahead of the factory!
I like the open backs especially with the aluminum combs they just lend something to the sound. I experimented on old harps for my tunings, using a tuner getting the pitch of the bends in particular where I want them. Not many people can spot the difference but I can I know when it feels right? Gapping is another thing I learned on those old harps. Just recently done a Marine band deluxe, wasn’t a fan of the wooden combs the aluminum one makes all the difference barely any tuning necessary on that or gapping. Hohner seem to take more care of that process before sending them out.
I agree that Hohner is higher quality. Competition from countries like China will squeeze profit margins and going forward corners will be cut. I get every harp checked out by a good tech. I enjoy playing a good harmonica much more than working on them. I got two Crossovers back that HARPSMITH went through. These harps play great and everything is post on.
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Is that Kinya? He’s a damn good harp player. I’ve heard of him over here in the UK. I do all my own harps it a case of you have to as there are really no customizers of note ( not ones I’d trust with my money anyway, I looked into this there’s a couple but they are hit and miss when it comes to the exchange of money for a product) that’s why I was forced to learn. Hohner really need to get their act together I had my first JDR arrive yesterday I bought it from a site based on Shanghai. It’s really like driving a luxury car when compared to SP 20’s it’s sleek open at the back. It’s got those sleeve screws which are so much better than those horrible little nut and screws and it overblows, the quality of this harp is amazing. However if you buy them here you’ll pay upwards of £55 if you get them straight from China they are half that plus a couple of quid import duty. ( We are the land of the Rip off here, most Brits call our country rip off Britain.)
Andy
Yes he is great and easy going. Got two crossovers back and they play fantastic. You will not get a one day turnaround but same can be said for a good surgeon.
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