SmokeJS
45 posts
Jan 19, 2013
8:07 AM
|
The other day HarpNinja suggested gasketing a stock Special 20 comb with Micropore tape. Wondering if anyone has a link to instructions that might explain a procedure to follow?
|
ReedSqueal
347 posts
Jan 19, 2013
9:54 AM
|
In no particular order:
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/373752.htm
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/373752.htm
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/419614.htm
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/484480.htm
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/3089539.htm
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/4359241.htm
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/419560.htm
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/1214205.htm
http://www.google.com/cse?cx=016469647235914350511%3Anief0p3aauu&ie=UTF-8&q=micropore+tape&sa=Search#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=micropore%20tape&gsc.page=2
----------
Go ahead and play the blues if it'll make you happy.
-Dan Castellaneta
Last Edited by on Jan 19, 2013 9:59 AM
|
MP
2651 posts
Jan 19, 2013
2:40 PM
|
make sure you have a very sharp exacto knife. the pointed type so you can score your cuts. it is easy to slip and ruin a cut so take your time.
being a recessed comb w/ a forward lip, there are a lot more angles to cut as opposed to a sandwich style MB type. even so, it's not hard to do at all.
----------
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
|
tookatooka
3176 posts
Jan 19, 2013
2:46 PM
|
Why would you want to gasket a Sp20?
|
jiceblues
189 posts
Jan 19, 2013
11:32 PM
|
Good question .
|
oldwailer
1941 posts
Jan 20, 2013
9:33 AM
|
This got fairly popular about five years ago--for a short time. I think it might have been the first mod I ever tried on a harp.
It does work--the harp will be a lot more airtight when you do it. The downside, for me, was that the tape will eventually absorb moisture and dirt and gunk. Of course, this just makes it all the more airtight--but it gets messy after a while. I finally just went with flat sanding on a custom comb to achieve the same thing. . .
----------
Oldwailer's Web Site
"Too Pretty for the Blues."
|
SmokeJS
47 posts
Jan 20, 2013
9:49 AM
|
Originally asked the question as gasketing came up in another thread so I wanted to learn more about the process as the concept didn't seem to get much mention from harp optimizers and customizers. I'm planning to work on my less used harps myself but to purchase custom harps in keys more often used. I'll do that at least until I have confidence in my skill set. So looking for information and tips. But in the end decided to purchase Richard Sleigh's book.
Last Edited by on Jan 20, 2013 9:50 AM
|
jiceblues
190 posts
Jan 20, 2013
10:05 AM
|
I am not a customizer , but i think a better way to go would be to flatten the reedplates .
But i don't know how to flatten the reedplates...
|
MP
2654 posts
Jan 20, 2013
3:08 PM
|
the only reason i can see for gasketing a stock SP is if somehow the plates got bowed causing leakage that was actually noticeable. for the most part, even bowed plates can be corrected a bit by proper screw tension.
once brass bows it you are pretty much stuck w/ it. trying to bend it back causes more problems than it solves. you can flat sand the surface of a plate but it merely evens out the surface.
flat sanding the top reed plate means popping out the reeds, sanding, then putting all ten reeds right back in.
----------
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
|
HarveyHarp
450 posts
Jan 20, 2013
4:28 PM
|
In the late 90s I used to gasket(Micropore) my harps, because everyone on Harp-l said it was the thing to do. As it turne out, the reason the harp got more air tight was not the fact that you put a gasket in, but because you took it apart and torqued the plates down correctly, rather than the factory zip zip zip with the air gun. So normally, gaskets are not needed, however, there could be a few exceptions, such as MS Meisterklasses, etc.
----------
HarveyHarp
|
Greg Heumann
1957 posts
Jan 20, 2013
4:39 PM
|
I tried it once, didn't see the point. I wouldn't bother micropore OR sanding reed plates. Why not just use some automotive gasket goo (Permatex Form-a-Gasket #1 or similar.) Put a thin bead on both sides of the comb. Wax the reed plates. Put it together to squash out any excess goo and let is cure. Remove plates and trim the excess. THAT will be airtight, won't absorb anything, and will take all of 5 minutes. This stuff is pretty inert once cured - I wouldn't worry about any health risks.
Look I'm NOT a customizer so take this with a grain of salt. But I AM a mechanic.
----------
/Greg
|
