nacoran
4002 posts
Apr 13, 2011
8:54 AM
|
My friend just got a Hering 1923 in the key of G. He likes the sound, but it's got a musty smell that is bothering him. What's everyone's experience with Herings?
----------
Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
|
MrVerylongusername
1662 posts
Apr 13, 2011
9:00 AM
|
I got one to try out. I Liked the feel of the comb and the solid weight of the harp. The smell has faded a little but is still there. There's some kind of galvonic reaction going on too which was a bit unusual.
It took a bit of work to play as well as I'd like.
Last Edited by on Apr 13, 2011 9:00 AM
|
ElkRiverHarmonicas
639 posts
Apr 13, 2011
9:09 AM
|
Wipe some peppermint oil on the wood. That'll cover up the musty smell.
----------
David
Elk River Harmonicas
"There are only two things money can't buy - true love and homegrown tomatoes." - Lewis Grizzard
|
MP
1604 posts
Apr 13, 2011
9:12 AM
|
i pirated a 1923 comb for a MB i was making.
i don't know what kind of wood it is but these combs are not completely sealed. looks like they sprayed some laquer only to cover the outside and sort of into the teeth.
i vote it's the wood or the laquer. i don't notice any smell, but this comb was sitting for years airing out before i went after it.
----------
MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
|
mlefree
41 posts
Apr 13, 2011
9:38 AM
|
I think at least some of the odor may be left over from the manufacturing process (machine oil, etc.). You might try giving the hardware a good washing with warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush. [Brush the reed plates very gingerly from the roots towards tips of the reeds. Don't panic if you get a bristle caught, just depress the affected reed and remove the brush.]
Michelle
|
ElkRiverHarmonicas
641 posts
Apr 13, 2011
9:46 AM
|
When you start putting water on a 1923, remember that it is not fully sealed.
----------
David
Elk River Harmonicas
"There are only two things money can't buy - true love and homegrown tomatoes." - Lewis Grizzard
|
joshnat
136 posts
Apr 13, 2011
10:04 AM
|
They smell bad and they taste bad, until you get used to them. But they look good and they play good!
...which reminds me of a joke. But not here.
I love those harps and used to play them exclusively. The weight and the tuning were wonderful. But they leaked like crazy OOTB and the reeds were super fragile. I found myself blowing them out left and right. Switched to Hohners and have been alright since.
----------
|
nacoran
4003 posts
Apr 13, 2011
10:25 AM
|
Hmm, I have a bottle of Butcher's Block, maybe it's time to reseal. I've got a few harps of my own that need the treatment.
----------
Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
|
MP
1605 posts
Apr 13, 2011
1:13 PM
|
nac,
it appears the combs need to be sanded a bit too; if the one i used is typical- they went ham fisted with the thing and it was pretty uneven w/ gullies n stuff.
----------
MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
|
NiteCrawler .
122 posts
Apr 14, 2011
4:15 AM
|
I havn,t played the 1923,s in yrs but did like them until the reeds started blowing out in which I did purchase some replacible reed plates for them,and played them until the went out.They were a nice out of the box harp,although way back when Kevins Harps/Best Little Harp House was still in business I recall them telling me that they,re service department as well as they,re quality control was lacking.While I was in the shop,Kevins bro Bob opened up two or three that I purchased and had to open them up and tighten the reed plate screws down as they all were very loose.He had told me that they were all basically like this.After that they as i said were fine.As for smell,I always thought that it had something to do with the brassy/bronzed covers.
Last Edited by on Apr 15, 2011 3:45 AM
|
