FastFourier
70 posts
Oct 30, 2018
6:21 PM
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Just bought a Crossover and it sounds great, but I don't love the feel of the sharp edges of the reed plates on my lips, especially after playing the extremely comfortable Special 20. So I'm considering either sanding the edges of the plates, or getting a custom comb which comes out as far as the plate (or both). Any suggestions on which would work better?
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SuperBee
5630 posts
Oct 30, 2018
7:21 PM
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Just smooth them with some sandpaper, reasonably fine. Very easy to do. The combs should have plenty of clearance to position how you prefer.
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FastFourier
71 posts
Oct 30, 2018
8:00 PM
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Thanks SB. Regarding your last sentence, do you mean the combs that come with the harp can be re-positioned, or that I can get custom combs that can be brought closer to the edge of the reed plates. And what's "clearance"?
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SuperBee
5631 posts
Oct 31, 2018
2:42 AM
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Yes F F, I mean the stock comb should have enough space (clearance) around the reed plate bolts to be able to line up flush with the reedplate leading edge.
Just looking at mine to confirm and they are all set flush.
I’ve not modified them. ( I haven’t bothered to fit aftermarket combs to any of my Crossovers/Thunderbird, though I understand some folk claim an improvement from doing so. I’ve fitted aftermarket combs to many 1896 Marine Bands but for me the point of Crossover is the comb so I wouldn’t have them if I wanted to change it. that’s just my trip, though)
Re flush alignment the same would be true of an aftermarket comb I’d expect. Certainly it’s the case with the Zajac combs (despite recent claim here to the contrary regarding the Zajac Manji comb...of which I’m frankly sceptical)
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FastFourier
72 posts
Nov 01, 2018
4:17 PM
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I haven't taken the reed plates off the comb, but the bolts holding them together don't appear to have any room for adjustment. So I don't see how I could make the comb flush with the reedplate.
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nacoran
9989 posts
Nov 01, 2018
8:25 PM
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Try the sanding. Just make sure you clean the dust off. Not good to inhale it. I like the Crossover but for a harp that costs as much as it does have some pretty sharp edges. The corners and front edge of the reed plates as well as the back corner of the cover plate where the metal isn't folded over are problem area. Even the cover screws have kind of rough edges as cover screws go.
The Manji has a pretty similar shape and manages to do the corners much better. (Although the Crossover looks to have more rounded tines.)
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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SuperBee
5634 posts
Nov 01, 2018
11:36 PM
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What can I tell you mang?
The holes in the comb are bigger than the holes in the reed plates. If you loosen the screws you can sit the harp ‘holes down’ on a flat surface and position the comb relative to the reedplate.
The real trick is aligning everything so that the cover bolts can pass through without binding. This means you have to get both Reedplates aligned.
I’ve done this hundreds of times.
I wouldn’t tell you mine are all set up to be flush if they weren’t.
I don’t get my thrills by leading people astray.
You’ll need to remove the Reedplates to sand them. When you do, you’ll see.
Last Edited by SuperBee on Nov 01, 2018 11:42 PM
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FastFourier
73 posts
Nov 02, 2018
6:16 AM
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@SuperBee You're right - my apologies.
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SuperBee
5636 posts
Nov 02, 2018
1:06 PM
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That’s ok, I’m glad you got it.
Nate, I guess that is true about the backcorner of the covers too. They’re stainless so much harder to smooth.
I have a Deak Harp custom which is particularly rough in that way.
I play these marine band types a lot and don’t usually notice the cover as a problem but that deak will register after a while. I wonder if it’s really rougher or if it’s the way he rounds the ends may lead me to hold it at a different angle. Those rounded ends don’t really appeal to me anyway
Worst one I ever saw was a seydel 1847 which had not been smoothed at all and had a burr on the reedplate which was knife-edge sharp. I’m glad I saw that before I played it
I reckon the sp20 cover plate screw could be improved too. I have a few sp20 practice harps and that left end bolt is rough.
One of the first custom harps I ever bought had a very long cover bolt on the left front corner. It was unusable like that so I cut it off flush. Much better but for me those front left bolts are a potential irritant. Stock 1896 is nailed and that’s good. MB deluxe has rounded bolts. Not sure if they solve the problem but maybe they do.
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nacoran
9992 posts
Nov 02, 2018
3:37 PM
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I was comparing it to the Manji today. I'm trying to figure out how they stamped them differently. Manji's covers look like artwork. Much nicer lines. (The comb is nice functionally, but man it's ugly!) In addition to just having a better stamp shape they seem to do a lot more rounding, although maybe mine was touched up a bit. Mine only Manji is a semi-custom.
I may pick up a spare set of covers and see how hard it is to bend the corners over and if that helps.
This is what bugs me about Hohner. They seem to miss tiny improvements that might take an extra minute or two. I'd kind of like a little jig that would hold the harmonica in at an angle for a grinder, just take a tiny bit off the corners. Their harps sound great but they are all sharp and pokey!
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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FastFourier
75 posts
Nov 02, 2018
4:08 PM
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Just to confirm, SuperBee, everything you said was accurate. The comb can be easily adjusted to be flush with the reed plates. I had no problem with the screws binding - I screwed them in most of the way before aligning the comb with the reed plates. I'm surprised Hohner doesn't ship the harmonica that way, given the cost. I agree with you nacoran: Hohner seems to cut some corners on quality.
I also sanded the edges of the reed plates, and the Crossover is much more comfortable to play now.. Thanks SuperBee!
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florida-trader
1380 posts
Nov 06, 2018
7:24 AM
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Just a quick FYI or FWIW.
If you have a sharp edge on a harp, be that a comb, reed plate or cover, or if you don't like the shape or the way a harp looks, don't hesitate to modify it with some fine grit sandpaper to remove the sharp edges or to re-shape the comb, etc. As long as you are not altering the reed plates where the reed slots are, you are not going to hurt the harp. Even if the holes on the Crossover comb were not big enough to provide a little wiggle room, it is a simple task to drill them out slightly larger so that they would provide the desired flexibility with regard to positioning. Just be sure to flat sand the comb after you do to remove the burrs.
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Tom Halchak
Blue Moon Harmonicas
Last Edited by florida-trader on Nov 06, 2018 8:04 AM
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