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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Is this still a MB issue?
Is this still a MB issue?
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hot4blues
62 posts
Jul 24, 2017
6:23 PM
I have a great music teacher (music theory as well as playing chromatic harmonica). He was showing me his collection of various Hohners. As we were looking through his collection of Marine Bands (average age of each is 25 to 30 years old each) as well as Blues Harps, he showed me some unusual things about the harps. It seems on the wooden combs, some holes were actually different sizes. Was this due to each comb individually made? And also, is this still true on the wooden combs that Hohner makes? I found it actually fascinating, even very appealing.
SuperBee
4829 posts
Jul 24, 2017
7:06 PM
That sounds like old combs where the tines had moved.
20- 30 year old marine bands and blues harps are generally bad stuff. I've got lots of these.
The ms blues harps also can have this problem of the tines moving.
Different issues though, maybe.
The old pear wood combs were not sealed and would swell and shrink with changes in moisture content which could eventually result in the tines moving. The doussie wood combs of modern (MS) blues harps are quite brittle and sometimes break, allowing the tines to move.

Modern (2012 on) marine bands have sealed combs so don't swell. If you see uneven chambers, it means the tine is broken.
dchurch
142 posts
Jul 24, 2017
7:51 PM
Yes, it is fascinating how wood is subject to movement. It's primarily based on the wood species, grain direction and the effects of moisture. But no, the holes should look darn near exactly the same. I have repaired a few problems using Titebond II glue and some sanding...

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It's about time I got around to this.
groyster1
2974 posts
Jul 26, 2017
4:15 PM
thats very true superbee.....tines moving and those marine bands and blues harps were done.....for a period of about 15-20 years.....loved SP20s and changed......but marine bands that play.....the best


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