Adam Hamil
84 posts
Jul 19, 2013
12:58 PM
|
Hello fellow Harpers,
I'm very proud to introduce a new service offered by Hohner USA: ARTIST SETUP SERVICE
When Hohner Artists order harps from Hohner, I, or one of our Other World Class Techs, setup their harps to be optimized for that Artist's specific playing style.
These six new options cover a wide range of syles and uses. The best part of this program (IMHO) is that any setup, can be applied to any Hohner 10 hole diatonic. Do you want an ET Sepecial 20? A Pre-war Tuned Golden Melody? A Modern Compromise tuned 1896 Marine Band? Well, now you can get them all.
Also you have the option of buying the harp pre-setup directly from Hohner, Or sending in any Hohner 10 hole harp within 60 days of purchase and having it setup.
I'm very excited to be offering this service and I'm looking forward to putting the Royal treament on many new harps.
----------
C. Adam Hamil
HOHNER CERTIFIED Free Reed Instrument Technician
|
florida-trader
339 posts
Jul 19, 2013
1:24 PM
|
Very cool. I have had Adam work a few harps for me and he does fantastic work!
----------
Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
|
Stevelegh
815 posts
Jul 19, 2013
3:32 PM
|
Only thing I'd say is that the system is rather ambiguous with names like Troubadour etc.
Make it simple. Offer a Jerry Portnoy setup or Rod Piazza setup.
I don't see there's any issue with copyright or trademarks. If you set up Portnoy's harps before you ship to him, you're simply offering that setup to the public.
If artists get really whiney, Up the price and give them a couple bucks for the name drop. I'd pay $5 for a 'Portnoy' over a 'Troudabour' any day of the week.
|
GMaj7
249 posts
Jul 19, 2013
6:43 PM
|
Hey great job Adam.
For those who haven't dealt with him, Adam knows his stuff.
He's a tremendous resource with the other guys working there.
Hohner does a lot at SPAH and their booth is pretty neat.
Good stuff Adam.
----------
Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
|
Sherwin
71 posts
Jul 19, 2013
7:40 PM
|
That's pretty cool, does anyone, I mean anyone qualify?
And so what is the: cost, minimum order, lead time.....?
So for example an 1896 'biscuit' setup, I'd like to know the price for that.
Thanks.....Sherwin
|
nacoran
6957 posts
Jul 19, 2013
9:43 PM
|
It's nice that you are offering this. I already saw a post on Facebook. The only problem is with the names you've chosen you may be introducing some confusion to the market. Lee Oskar labels their minor harps in 2nd position, and it confuses everyone because they have to try to remember which models and makers use each convention. Names will make it easier to convey the idea of intonations to new players, but it would be nice if you included a little small print for easy reference. From the description I can figure out which one was Equal Temperament, but figuring out which Compromise Tuning is which is tougher. Even just a link to a chart of the tunings on the page would go a long way to helping keep things straight.
Again, a small thing, but the boxes for choose your harmonica and choose your setup seem to display so they look like they are going underneath the sidebar display, they do work though (I get the issue using Google Chrome, don't know about other browsers) and the audio autoplays and requires Quicktime, which lots of people have on their computer, but which I had to reinstall to listen (at which point, it autoplayed!) I personally hate Quicktime. It's one of those pieces of software that invade your computer and tries to install itself anywhere it can, like RealAudio, putting icons and shortcuts everywhere. And the play boxes are ugly. But that's just me. I'm only picky because I care! I'm always torn between Sp20's and L.O.s and having a setup option is definitely an incentive towards Sp20.
----------
Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
|
Kingley
2920 posts
Jul 20, 2013
12:50 AM
|
Sounds like a great idea to me. I wonder if Hohner will roll out the same idea in Europe.
Still to this day it mystifies why Hohner, now that they have a full Marine Band line, don't do them in different tunings. To my mind it should be as follows.
1. Marine Band Classic - 7 Limit JI
2. Marine Band Deluxe - 19 Limit JI
3. Marine Band Crossover - Steve Baker compromised.
To me it just seems silly to call the 1896 the Marine Band Classic and then not tune it to 7 Limit JI. The way the old "classic" Marine Bands were tuned.
Last Edited by Kingley on Jul 20, 2013 12:51 AM
|
jim
1457 posts
Jul 20, 2013
2:00 AM
|
How does Hohner half-valve MBs?
Did they change the combs?
----------
Free Harp Learning Center
|
Kingley
2921 posts
Jul 20, 2013
2:05 AM
|
Jim - The combs are pearwood on the Classic and Deluxe and are fully sealed. The Crossover is bamboo. I haven't seen any of the Hohner ones, but I'd imagine that they half valve the same as everyone else. Valves on the 1-6 draw reeds and the 7-10 blow reeds. That's the way I've always seen it done. Is there any other way of half valving?
Last Edited by Kingley on Jul 20, 2013 2:06 AM
|
jim
1458 posts
Jul 20, 2013
2:09 AM
|
They have zero room for gluing valves:
----------
Free Harp Learning Center
|
Kingley
2922 posts
Jul 20, 2013
2:14 AM
|
Ah I see what you mean. They must have a workaround then. It'd be interesting to know what it is.
|
jim
1459 posts
Jul 20, 2013
2:42 AM
|
And GM combs are absolutely impossible to valve, because they are not a flat surface where you can carve extra slots for the valve
----------
Free Harp Learning Center
|
arzajac
1107 posts
Jul 20, 2013
4:24 AM
|
Sure you can half-valve a MB even with a stock comb. I do it all the time. I cut my own valves out of Ultrasuede.
----------
Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
|
jim
1460 posts
Jul 20, 2013
4:55 AM
|
tell me one simple thing. Look at my photo and tell me WHERE you glue them.
I used an acrylic comb (cut by the dimensions of MB classic combs) to show in translucency that the back side of the rivet is covered by the comb. No, there's no extra room at the back.
----------
Free Harp Learning Center
|
arzajac
1108 posts
Jul 20, 2013
5:08 AM
|
Jim, Hohner Marine Band stock combs come in two slot lengths. It looks like you have a short slot comb on a long slot reed plate in the photo. Which is weird since most aftermarket combs are long-slot.
Also, the reedplate protrudes a little on stock MBs.
But there is plenty of length for half-valving.
----------
Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
|
jim
1461 posts
Jul 20, 2013
5:15 AM
|
hm... wonder if I have another comb for MBs
----------
Free Harp Learning Center
|
Kingley
2924 posts
Jul 20, 2013
5:42 AM
|
Arzajac - Now you mention it Andrew, I'm fairly sure that when I messed with half valving it was on Marine Bands. It's been many years since I did though, so I can't be certain.
|
Adam Hamil
85 posts
Jul 22, 2013
9:52 AM
|
@Sherwin The setup cost is $20 and the turnaround time is 48 hours.
@jim In the picture above you have a GM long slot reed plate paired up with a short slot MB deluxe/XO comb. There is room to valve them. All harps will use stock combs.
As far as details and specs go, we will be adding more to the website in the coming week.
----------
C. Adam Hamil
HOHNER CERTIFIED Free Reed Instrument Technician
Last Edited by Adam Hamil on Jul 22, 2013 9:54 AM
|
jim
1462 posts
Jul 23, 2013
5:07 AM
|
it's strange that Tom's comb is short-slot
----------
Free Harp Learning Center
|
SergZZZ
74 posts
Jul 23, 2013
8:29 AM
|
Comb can be a little caught using a Dremel and will have space for valve
----------
www.ermonica.com
|
Sherwin
72 posts
Jul 24, 2013
3:06 AM
|
@ Adam, thanks ill be contacting you
Sherwin
|
Baker
314 posts
Jul 24, 2013
4:43 AM
|
Just wondering if these setups include reed work, gapping, embossing etc or is it just the tuning.
|
arzajac
1112 posts
Jul 24, 2013
5:10 AM
|
The site seems to have been changed and the descriptions are much better. Much better! By the descriptions, I would think the service they provide is just tuning and gapping.
----------
Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
|
jim
1463 posts
Jul 24, 2013
7:17 AM
|
Looks like it's intonation only + gapping (fine-tuning)
And optional valving
quite expensive, I must say
----------
Free Harp Learning Center
|
Adam Hamil
88 posts
Jul 24, 2013
9:56 AM
|
The Setup charge is $20
If you wish to purchase a new harmonica from Hohner, it will be at MSRP price, and the $20 will be added.
All of the harmonicas for sale on the HohnerShop website are sold at MSRP prices.
You also have the option of buying your harp at any store and sending it in for the $20 charge. The only requirment is that the harmonica must still be within the warranty period. (60 days from time of purchase)
----------
C. Adam Hamil
HOHNER CERTIFIED Free Reed Instrument Technician
Last Edited by Adam Hamil on Jul 24, 2013 9:58 AM
|
MP
2848 posts
Jul 24, 2013
12:01 PM
|
From Adam-
"@jim In the picture above you have a GM long slot reed plate paired up with a short slot MB deluxe/XO comb."
i also noticed that anomaly. Jim, is your photo some sort of Slavic humor? Were you trying to trick Adam H. ? :-)
----------
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
|
Adam Hamil
90 posts
Jul 26, 2013
8:45 AM
|
@MP: I'm sure he wasn't trying to trick me. Perhaps we just don't understand Slavic humor lol :-)
FYI for anyone attending SPAH:
There will be DEMO models of each one of the Setups for people to try and compare. Just come by the Hohner Booth and Try them for yourself. The will all be 1896MBs in the key of C.
---------
C. Adam Hamil
HOHNER CERTIFIED Free Reed Instrument Technician
|
Pistolcat
468 posts
Jul 26, 2013
12:42 PM
|
I want to go to SPAH :(. 'Tis not fair!
----------
Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
|
Scoltx
107 posts
Dec 29, 2013
5:45 AM
|
So I missed this thread when it was posted but recently noticed the link to the service on the MBH landing page. Anyone tried out the service? Comments?
@Adam H. So I could get a Golden Melody with "The Juke Joint" MB tuning, nicely gapped and ready to go for another $20? That would be cool. I like my GM's but want smoother chords on the bottom end more like my MBD's or Crossovers.
Last Edited by Scoltx on Dec 29, 2013 5:47 AM
|
sonny3
103 posts
Dec 29, 2013
7:28 AM
|
Oh yes! I got a Marine Band 1896 with the just tuning.Awesome harp, love it.one of the best harps I've ever played.Thanks hohner! I just ordered another biscuit C harp.They are also on sale now .
|
Adam Hamil
119 posts
Dec 31, 2013
8:02 AM
|
@Scoltx Yes Indeed!!! that's the whole point of this program. Get the tuning and setup you want on the harp you want. And YES It's only $20!! You can either Buy the harp directly of the Hohner website, or send in your newly purchased harp (within 60 days) and it's only an additional $20. IMO one of the best deals around.
----------
C. Adam Hamil
HOHNER CERTIFIED Free Reed Instrument Technician
|
