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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Alternative covers for Easttop T008S?
Alternative covers for Easttop T008S?
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Rontana
432 posts
Sep 13, 2017
6:51 PM
I've been having fun messing with Easttops for melody stuff, but the covers feel pretty steep when I switch off from my Marine Bands.

I seem to recall reading (someplace) that Big River covers are a good fit for Easttops. Before I buy a used one on Ebay to cannibalize, I wanted to check and see if anyone has a first-hand experience.

Thanks
1847
4434 posts
Sep 13, 2017
7:17 PM
i always considered the covers to be the best thing about the east top.

i look at it like this... it is not a cover plate.

it is a mouthpiece.... try this...

adjust your embouchure, you can tilt the harp slightly, play off the top of the mouth piece. that is where the power comes in to play.

this is a very beneficial technique. they made it that way for a reason. peace 47.
dougharps
1564 posts
Sep 13, 2017
10:23 PM
I used old Big River covers because the powder coat black seemed to drag on my lips during fast playing, not due to them being too steep. The MS Hohner covers fit Easttops if you slightly bend in the back support tabs. Easttops are narrower front to back than Big Rivers or other MS Hohners.

If the powder coat isn't the problem I would suggest trying the stock covers longer and follow 1847's suggestions.

My BR covers were in a spare parts box, so I didn't spend money on them. They are not similar to Marine Band covers in how they feel.

EDIT:If Big Rivers feel OK to you it is worth trying.
----------

Doug S.

Last Edited by dougharps on Sep 14, 2017 7:22 AM
Littoral
1526 posts
Sep 14, 2017
6:37 AM
Rontana, yeah, I have the exact same issue. It's the steepness of the covers that's uncomfortable and, like you, especially when I switch (from most any of my other harps). I seem to adjust ok but it's still awkward, especially with TB.
LevelUp
27 posts
Sep 14, 2017
12:07 PM
I had the same experience. I didn't like the thickness initially, so I threw some special 20 plates on. You have to stretch it out a little to do so.

But I got to thinking about the benefits of a steeper plate, and switched it back.

By that time I noticed it didn't play as well as my other A harps. So it sits.

But I keep thinking of putting the plates on some other harps.
Rontana
433 posts
Sep 14, 2017
12:45 PM
Yeah, this isn't a new annoyance; I've had them about 6 months, and though they aren't my go-to harp, I work in a bit of practice on them pretty much daily. I do change my embouchure to play them - but they still feel awkward.

Not awkward enough to stop . . . just enough to bug me a little (the powder coat does seem to create a hint of drag as well, but it's not so big a deal)

Had a similar irritation with GMs. Liked the tone for melody playing, but in that case the shape/feel just wasn't for me.

Different strokes and all that. Will probably do some experimenting with other covers just to see if I find something that satisfies my admitted quirks.

Any further suggestions are welcomed (my suggestion to myself would be . . ."why don't you just stick with MBs?").

I've just an inescapable need to tinker, I reckon.

Last Edited by Rontana on Sep 14, 2017 12:48 PM
Philosofy
849 posts
Sep 14, 2017
1:51 PM
You can always strip the powder coating away. Just soak them in acetone for a day or two. (Just the cover plates: not the combs!)
ME.HarpDoc
264 posts
Sep 14, 2017
5:13 PM
I received an Easttop with a bent tab on one end of the cover plate and the whole harp was leaky. Rather than try to fix the cover plate, I tried dougharp's tip using the cover plates from an old, destroyed Big River. Bent in the support tabs and now much more airtight. I was fine with the shape as I have a lot of different brands and models. Generally love the Easttops for their OOTB sound and price.
fahall
3 posts
Sep 18, 2017
5:49 PM
@philosphy

Have you tried stripping an Easttop cover with acetone? If so, what did the underlying metal feel like?

I bought the silver 008k from Amazon because I prefer the slickness of the polished metal over the paint, but the silver cover plates do not have side vents, which I would like. If the coverplates end up nice and smooth, I'll get and strip the black ones next time I need a new key.


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