florida-trader
1125 posts
May 01, 2017
11:40 AM
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Important Announcement Regarding
The Suzuki SUB-30 Ultrabend Harmonica
The SUB-30 is Alive and Well!
The SUB-30 was introduced by Suzuki in 2012 at the SPAH Convention. That is also when and where I met Brendan Powder, inventor of the SUB-30. Within days, Brendan commissioned Blue Moon Harmonicas to manufacture a custom comb for the SUB-30. The result of our efforts was the BMH30 Comb by Brendan Power, which converted the SUB-30 from a recessed comb style harmonica to a “Tin Sandwich” design with the edges of the reed plates exposed like a traditional harmonica. About a year later, Blue Moon developed the “External Valve Plate” which added 10 extra valves to the SUB-30.
Both the BMH30 Comb and the External Valve Plate significantly improved the playability of the SUB-30. Over the past 4+ years, I have built over 100 Custom SUB-30s and that experience has helped me learn the subtleties and unlock the hidden potential of the SUB-30. I have also identified some changes that could be made to the comb and valve plate that would make them better. And so, for the past several months, I have been working on upgrading both components. I am happy to say that I have finished that project and am now ready to introduce the New and Improved Custom SUB-30 by Blue Moon Harmonicas. The combination of the upgraded components and meticulous reed work will make the SUB-30 more responsive that ever and will help make it become what the inventors envisioned it could be.
I won’t bore you with all the details of the changes that were made, but there is one significant change that must be mentioned. Within the past 2+ years, Blue Moon has introduced a line of CNC Milled Recessed Combs for several popular harmonicas that utilize that design – such as the Hohner Special 20 and Rocket, the Seydel Blues Session, Lee Oskar and the Suzuki HarpMaster. Fortunately, all the Suzuki diatonic reed plates have the same “footprint” meaning that they will all fit into a HarpMaster comb. And so, the newly redesigned custom comb for the SUB-30 will be a CNC Milled Recessed Comb. This means that rather than use Manji or ProMaster Covers like we did with the BMH30 Tin Sandwich style comb, the new SUB-30 Comb will use the stock SUB-30 Covers.
As is my standard practice, the new SUB-30 Combs will be available in a wide variety of materials and colors, as follows:
Aluminum:
Clear Anodized Aluminum
Black Anodized Aluminum
Corian:
Black
Graphic Blue
Hot Red
Hunter Green
Glacier White
Fancy Acrylic:
Blue Topaz Water
Citrine Water
Lava
Margarita Swirl
Orange Tuscan Sun
Patriot
I now have all the components in stock with which to build Custom SUB-30s – Reed Plates, Covers, Combs and External Valve Plates. The Custom SUB-30 Combs and External Valve Plates are available separately or together as a SUB-30 Customization Kit.
You can find everything on my website here:
Blue Moon SUB-30 Custom Harmonicas and Components
https://bluemoonharmonicas.com/collections/suzuki-sub-30-harmonicas-and-components
If you are into looking at pictures of pretty harmonicas you can visit a photo album I posted on Photobucket.com
Blue Moon Custom SUB-30 Harmonicas and Components
http://s1089.photobucket.com/user/bluemoonharmonicas/library/New%20SUB-30%20Comb%20and%20EVP
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
Last Edited by florida-trader on May 01, 2017 11:46 AM
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Resonator
53 posts
May 02, 2017
8:30 AM
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Hi Tom. Great looking harmonicas. Is there anywhere to listen to a sound clip of this improved Sub 30 configuration? I'm interested but I'd really like to hear someone putting it to use. Thanks.
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florida-trader
1126 posts
May 02, 2017
2:10 PM
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There are some video demonstrations of the SUB-30 on youtube, but nothing featuring the new comb and valve plate (yet). I just finished the beta testing of them so I am in the process of filling some orders as we speak.
I have been somewhat remiss with regard to posting some videos. I really need to do some. I get a lot of the same questions from customers over and over so it would be a good idea to record some information that would address those questions.
Thanks for your interest. Stay tuned.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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MP
3441 posts
May 03, 2017
2:13 PM
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OT re- combs- The Graphic Blue and the Red are a bit more mellow looking up close in natural light. I like the Graphic Blue in Corian for MB type harps.
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Reasonably priced Reed Replacement and tech support on Hand Made Series Hohner Diatonic Harmonicas.
'Making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time.
Click MP for more info. Aloha Mark
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Last Edited by MP on May 03, 2017 2:13 PM
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Komuso
686 posts
May 03, 2017
4:05 PM
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Hey Tom,
Is the valve plate unchanged?
I have one already, and wouldn't mind trying out one of the new combs. Or has the valve plate been modified too?
Best,
Paul
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Paul Cohen aka Komuso Tokugawa
HarpNinja - Learn Harmonica Faster
Komuso's Music Website
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florida-trader
1129 posts
May 03, 2017
9:09 PM
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Komuso - I didn't make a huge change in the valve plate. I made the chambers over the 7 - 10 Sympathetic Reeds longer and I also made the slot longer. This allowed me to install valves that are longer. The longer valves are more flexible so it improves the action on the draw bends at the top end of the harp. If your SUB-30 is behaving, I wouldn't worry about it too much. But if you feel like the action could be improved on the 7 - 10 draw bends then you might want to try the new valve plate. Your call.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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Komuso
687 posts
May 04, 2017
4:19 PM
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aok, ty
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Paul Cohen aka Komuso Tokugawa
HarpNinja - Learn Harmonica Faster
Komuso's Music Website
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