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MP Harp Repair
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SuperBee
572 posts
Sep 12, 2012
1:19 AM
Just received a package from Mark Prados in Hawaii. 10 repaired harps. Mark has done great work at very good rates.

All these harps play very well, better than new i'd say. nice and even across the range...(did you gap them Mark? or were they already good like that?) and in tune!
I mailed of a box containing a mix of broken and out of tune 1896 Marine bands, Sp20s, a Crossover and even my old MS harps. and some bread of course 8^)... he sent me back 10 repaired, tuned and shiny harps.

Mark opened the covers on these sp20s too. Nice job.


Knows his stuff, and..he is a top bloke to deal with. I'm very happy; couldn't ask for better.

Thanks Mark. all the best to you

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Last Edited by on Sep 12, 2012 7:20 AM
orphan
171 posts
Sep 12, 2012
6:47 AM
@ MP: Everything SuperBee said.
@ SuperBee: You are right. They do sound better than new.
HawkeyeKane
1170 posts
Sep 12, 2012
7:01 AM
I agree with both you boys. Mark repaired fifteen harps for me earlier this year, including my Blue Midnight. I've blown some out since then, but one harp he rebuilt for me in particular was a SP20 in C with open backs. That harp has taken months of gig time now, and is still going strong! I'm wondering if he used titanium reeds!
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Hawkeye Kane
MP
2448 posts
Sep 12, 2012
1:39 PM
My pleasure! Morning all!

@Hawk,
Yeah, i remember that huge order! at $10 a pop, the economic practicality of it is absolutely indisputable. i'm completely amazed that more folks do not take advantage. Buuut, that means faster turn-a-round for those who do, and it keeps the stress level at zero.

@ orphan,
your harps and nails are in the post my friend.
oh, in response to your e-mail. i have used Micro Mark 080 and occaisionaly 090 reed and cover plate screws of various designs.
i try to avoid brass(it strips too easily) and slotted screws for reed plates. i only use slotted screws on cover plates.
But,i'm not buying from Micro Mark lately. i prefer 1/72 stainless from Hawaii Nut and Bolt. not too small, not too big.
Hetrick sent me a prototype set of post type screws ala GMs for cover plates.
(they don't fit GMs) . you may want to ask Matt about them. i like 'em.

@ Bee,
yes, gaping and tuning go hand in hand.
i'd never seen a MS SP/20. certain harps weren't available for yank consumption. i actually tried to order a MS (i keep wanting to write 'an') Marine Band once but was sent an-there we go- Marine Band 1896 (low F) instead.
i'm glad it worked out that way. one of these days i'll tune it. it lives on my work bench.
the Hetrick Cobalt blue Corian MB and pre-MS Blues Harp are gorgeous. i'm making another one for a friend.

are you keeping the MB cover plates i installed on the corian pre-MS Blues Harp?

i've never been called a 'top bloke' before either. i kinda like it. cheers, Mark

EDIT: okay, i've had enough coffee. i can barely understand my own post:-)
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.

"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"

click user name [MP] for info-

Last Edited by on Sep 12, 2012 1:45 PM
SuperBee
575 posts
Sep 12, 2012
2:15 PM
Yes, I wondered whether I would refit the old blues harp covers. Maybe I will just to discover the difference.
That is the only MS Special 20 I can remember seeing too. Of course there were more in the shop when i bought it 8^]. Plays better than it ever did now. Or is that me? It broke 5 years ago. Shouldn't whine I guess, I had 11 years use from it the 1st time around.
The G with the Corian comb is too good, I had to make room for it in my gig kit.
"Top bloke": I did hope that was an Australian idiom. Its a good title to hold.

cheers mate. I love your work. 8^)
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Last Edited by on Sep 12, 2012 2:20 PM
1847
192 posts
Sep 12, 2012
2:28 PM
do you work on seydel stainless
i have a few bends juke harmonicas
that need a reed or two
pretty much the same as a marine band
Chickenthief
293 posts
Sep 13, 2012
7:42 AM
Hi 1847,

I think that Mark is a hohner man for the most part, but I don't know for sure what else he is willing to work on. Best to e mail him.

He does super work. I just got a thunderbird that he retuned to melody maker in Bb. It really has quite a beautiful, arresting sound to it.
MP
2449 posts
Sep 13, 2012
12:13 PM
Howzit Chicken and 1847,
i only have Hohner and LO parts. well, a couple of dead Seydels i can't bring myself to buy reeds for. i'd rather spend money on my dubious sartorial tastes. Sorry. there are several Seydel guys and anything yah got guys right here on the board. off the top of my head..jim, and i think adam hamil. i think dave payne retired but please don't quote me. doh! JOE SPIERS...

@ Bee. its' better now. even though it's the first i've ever seen, its still a Modular System harp.:-) Top Bloke? yes!

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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.

"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"

click user name [MP] for info-

Last Edited by on Sep 13, 2012 12:31 PM
1847
200 posts
Sep 13, 2012
1:09 PM
the hohner parts should
fit the bends juke
it is basically a glorified marine band
MP
2451 posts
Sep 13, 2012
1:28 PM
1847
very possibly. i don't like to discover i'm wrong after someone sends me a harp though:-)

is that Brazilian company? are they still in business? are they affiliated w/ Herring?

i have used the Brazilian Herring 1927 Comb on a Marine Band once. if you flat sand them and lacquer them beyond sense they they do the job. got a killer Eb vintage MB that way. original comb was what i call; in technical jargon - 'fookin' junk'.

one more question: how many millions makes a Brazilian? :-)
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.

"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"

click user name [MP] for info-

Last Edited by on Sep 13, 2012 1:35 PM
AZBluesHarper
1 post
Sep 14, 2012
3:49 PM
Hi everyone…Well, like a lot of you…I’ve never posted on here but have certainly been benefiting from all the information. What a great forum! Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and knowledge.

But, for my maiden post, I have to also give praise to Mark Prados! I just received in the mail, five, wonderfully repaired harps today. I had been putting off getting them repaired because I didn't know where to send them...how they'd be repaired, etc., etc. but Mark made the process so easy. He knew exactly what box to get, told me how much it would cost and even followed up with an email AND phone call during the process! So…I’m sold! Customer service seems to be all but dead these days…which is why Mark’s way of doing business is so refreshing. So…thanks Mark!

And…while I’m dishing out the praise…I have to also give Ron of Rockin Ron’s Music 4 Less a shout too! Another example of really competitive prices coupled with superb customer service.

Anyway…thanks again to all!

Steve
Goodyear, AZ
groyster1
2011 posts
Sep 14, 2012
3:57 PM
I have done business with mark & rockinron...their praise is well deserved....
MP
2455 posts
Sep 15, 2012
5:49 PM
well cool AZBluesHarper! i'm glad you recieved them fairly on time. (i think they told me thursday at the P.O.?)
Thank you so much!

howzit groyster?! thank you too! see yah, Mark.

i have a youtube video i just finished editing today.
shows-in HIGH DEF- exactly how to replace a reed the easy way so you can DIY. jim also has a good one for using screws. v. good!
----------
MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.

"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"

click user name [MP] for info-
AZBluesHarper
2 posts
Sep 16, 2012
2:04 PM
Yes Mark...I received them on Friday! Btw, you did a great job of opening up the backs...and after you tuned them, they just play better!!! So, thanks again!!
MP
2459 posts
Sep 16, 2012
8:02 PM
you're welcome AZ!

Mahalo for your business! Aloha, Mark
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.

"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"

click user name [MP] for info-
repair videos on YouTube.
you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados

Last Edited by on Sep 16, 2012 8:03 PM
SuperBee
597 posts
Sep 18, 2012
9:47 PM
i tried out the old blues harp covers. swapped them back to the marine band covers pretty quickly.

i compared the tone to my henry slim custom MB. the pre-MS blues harp covers produce a real muted sound.

when i put the MB covers back on, i compared the two harps again. if anything the corian harp is brighter than the wooden harp. i guess the corian harp is probably from the 80s. the wooden harp (Slim) started out in the early 90s i think. anyway, the covers make a huge difference to the tone, so thank you for them also Mark.

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MP
2463 posts
Sep 19, 2012
12:00 PM
hey Bee! morning.

i'm drinking away the Tasmanian Devils of last eves
revelry w/ my ubiquitous modified coffee beverages.
i assure you a good time was had by all. :-)

yes! the Corians are tuned modern Hohner Compromise and the Slims are seven limit just intonation.

though covers make a huge difference in tone, i think one must also consider that 5ths, are pitched considerably lower on the 7LJI Slim harps. the 5ths being -29 cents as opposed to Compromise which clocks in at roughly -11 or was it -12 or was it -14 ? dunno. gotta look chart. them TDs done bit mah brain.

also, the Corian is thicker than the pearwood
of the Slims.

aaaandah....90s brass sounds sounds slightly different.
and i might have embossed the Corians a liitle bit because i, "can't seem to leave well enough alone,"
as my sainted mother would say.

evidently, Mark

PS. once Corian is installed there is ZERO chance of breakage. my next door neighbor MojoKane dropped one i made for him day before yesterday. all that happened was that the one blow, one draw,, and two draw, reeds got knocked out of alignment. easy fix:-)
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.

"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"

click user name [MP] for info-
repair videos on YouTube.
you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados

Last Edited by on Sep 19, 2012 12:20 PM
MP
2464 posts
Sep 19, 2012
12:17 PM
Aha! it all comes back. -12 cents.

Television Harmonica Jeopardy. "i'll take Suzuki Manji tuning for 700, Alex." :-)
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.

"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"

click user name [MP] for info-
repair videos on YouTube.
you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados


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