SuperBee
2631 posts
Jun 01, 2015
11:31 PM
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I currently have a harp on the bench which was built by Tim Moyer. I think he has been out of the business for a while.
The harps I’ve seen are Marine Band reed plates and covers, fitted to special 20 combs.
First off, I’m not really sure why. I understand the covers make for a different sound, but I’m interested if the view is that MB reed plates make for a superior result over Sp20 plates.
This one has a broken reed but the other 19 reeds play extremely well. It’s a D harp with great response from end to end, all the high end bends are very easily obtained, even tongue-blocked, and the thing plays very easily, no hint of stuffiness.
I have seen a couple of other examples of his work and I can see the reed work looks consistent with those. Quite distinctive in my small experience.
Is anyone here familiar with his work?
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The Iceman
2470 posts
Jun 02, 2015
5:37 AM
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Back in the late 90's, Tom was a great contributor on Harp-L. His work was always highly praised.
Last I knew, he was working in Texas for Dell Computers.
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The Iceman
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SuperBee
2632 posts
Jun 02, 2015
7:17 AM
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How strange: PT Gazell posted a photo of Tim just now on Facebook. so now we have actually met on line, the same day I posted this question.
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GMaj7
697 posts
Jun 02, 2015
9:44 AM
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Yeah.. SuperBee,
I think Tim is at the Kerville Folk Music Festival which is going on this week.
PT is a presenter/seminar guy/performer
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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TetonJohn
245 posts
Jun 02, 2015
11:58 AM
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I actually won a harp (10 years ago maybe?) from Tim in a naming contest. I think his business was Workingman's Harps or something very close to that; he was coming out with a mid-level customization -- seemed pretty obvious (and not all that clever) that it should be the Journeyman.
Last Edited by TetonJohn on Jun 02, 2015 11:59 AM
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Roverharp
46 posts
Jun 02, 2015
12:13 PM
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I had also wondered about the seeming inefficient method of drilling MB plates to fit SP20 combs. Turns out it had more to do with parts availability than performance.
Sourcing just MB covers to fit SP20 comb and plates was more difficult or not cost effective in comparison to getting stand alone ABS combs.
I don't know if Tim had a supply line of SP20 combs or maybe used the combs from the cheap Hohner harps. Are SP20 combs of better quality than the same design combs used in Hot Metals, Blue Midnights etc?
As Iceman noted Tim was a regular on Harp-L but I've not seen anything from him for some years now.
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1847
2396 posts
Jun 02, 2015
1:03 PM
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i bought a special 20 it did not say hohner on the back
it makes one wonder?
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indigo
118 posts
Jun 02, 2015
3:11 PM
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I bought one from him around 15? years ago when he was on Harp L as Journeyman harps.
It was the best harp i've ever owned.Thing was back then he was using micropore tape as a gasket so the harps were incredibly airtight.A lot easier than flat sanding everything.But there was some question re the stability of the tape over time.Personally i never had a problem with mine but Tim did stop using it because of his concerns re this issue.
I used to airtight my Marine bands back in the days when they were often poor OOB.I would coat the combs in a fishsafe flexible liquid pond rubber ,that made a fantastic gasket.
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SuperBee
2633 posts
Jun 02, 2015
5:27 PM
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Thanks Roverharp. they look like Sp20 combs. he has cut the lug out (the post which fits the hole in the sp 20 plate) and also the plastic cover support (which fits the notch in sp20 plate).
Tim told me he suffered a stroke a few years ago, which has left him unable to do delicate reed work. I'm happy to be able to maintain these harps for my customer. it amazes me how many players consider that when a harp breaks it is not worth repairing. This customer on the other hand is happy to keep getting these harps mended for as long as i can keep them playable at something close to the original standard. they
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Gus
25 posts
Jun 02, 2015
6:24 PM
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I still have two of Tim's harps ; Bb and A. Still play and sound great. Wish I had a whole set
Last Edited by Gus on Jun 02, 2015 6:25 PM
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