MP
1646 posts
Apr 27, 2011
3:49 PM
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received hoodoo MB 1896 from kevin baker the other day after some amusing mix-up.
he sent 2 SP/20s and my harp to a friend of mine and my friend was to give me my A MB. my friend thought all three harps were for him so he took my harp to work with him because he dug it so much. when he figured out it was mine he had already bent the covers a bit. we had a good laugh and i bent the covers back w/ a sheet metal tool.
it's all good. and i mean really good. there is a lot of the usual; open backs, all screw assembly etc. but quite a bit more. i know kevin spent time w/ sleigh and it was well spent but he's definately come into his own.
my MB is one of his personal stash. the plates are dated aug 07 so it's not brand spanking new but sounds like it is.
some people don't care for the brightness of a custom harp. this harp kevin has made to sound warm like a stock MB but it's loud and extremely responsive like it should be. i can't divulge what he did to the reed seats but he tweaked them good. now i own what i call a super stock
and it's my go to harp.
things that may or may not matter are the 7 090? slotted screws he used for each reed plate. (normally customizers will send the screws through the comb to secure both reed plates) these screws don't go through the comb. i haven't taken them out to see if he used anchors. you can tell kevin is used to trouble shooting and working w/ tools and has been useing them a long time. i swear i even saw embossing lines on the reverse sides of the reed slots.
his three draw bends are smooth as silk, as are the 10 blow bends. hell, all the bends and OBs are smooth and effortless. chords, being as he got rid of the bightness are super warm.-
well, i gotta run but i heartily endorse hoodoo harps if one is in the market for a satisfying custom job.
more later....---------
MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
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Zadozica
100 posts
Apr 27, 2011
4:36 PM
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Just put a harp in the mail to Kevin today.
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groyster1
1015 posts
Apr 27, 2011
11:09 PM
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kevin does a great job on harps so do you and also harvey from the big easy I have them from all of you
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MP
1647 posts
Apr 27, 2011
11:26 PM
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-nice!---------
MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
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chromaticblues
797 posts
Apr 28, 2011
9:36 AM
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I'm glad you like it MP!
I would just like to add that the harp MP is talking about was in fact my personnal harp not one I built for someone. It has full slot embossing, but another step after that to make it even more air tight and makes it sound more like the tone qaulity of a stock harp (just without the airyness of a stock MB). I practice with alittle 3 watt amp I built. So its not a baseman and with a custom harp in a smallish bedroom. It can be alittle tinny! So about three years ago I started looking for a way to make fullblown butter smooth customs that aren't so bright. Well I had an old Marine Band from the fifties that had been used alot! So I cleaned it up pretty good and started my embossing ritual at our dinning room table. When I held it up to the light I noticed that about 20% of the reed at the rivet end there wasn't any light coming thru the slot. That was after I cleaned it. I just did'nt get all of it off thats all, but at that moment it hit me. I remembered something Richard Sliegh had said and I though I got to try this on one of my bright annoying harps.
It works! This is the first time I have mentioned this to anyone and no I'm not saying how I do it!
I'm not trying to keep secrets as someone on another post mentioned. I've been playing for 25 years and it took 22 years to even think of this! Its taken alittle while to perfect the concept because I didn't know if it was even a good idea or not. All it does is cut the highend overtones alittle without taking away from its playabilty. If anything it makes the bends and overblows easier. People that like the custom harp feel and sound with the slightly brighter sustain wouldn't like this. I'm going to call it the HooDoo Mellow Tone. I'm going to offer this on Marine Bands only. I haven't tried this on a crossover yet, but I'm sure it make the crossover less bright.
Last Edited by on Apr 28, 2011 9:43 AM
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Zadozica
101 posts
Apr 28, 2011
9:42 AM
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Chrom, I have the schematics for the 1 watt Ruby amp and was planning on building that but if you have the schematics for the 3 watt amp you built, would you be willing to share that?
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chromaticblues
798 posts
Apr 28, 2011
9:48 AM
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Yes not a problem. I don't have time now. I'm at work, but It's simple and the power tube is very inexpensive! 6DG6 its similiar to a 6W6GT. I use the 6DG6 RCA becuase in this circiut it is maxed out on voltage and the 6W6GT can take the voltage of this amp without winking. Anyway I'll get back.
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chromaticblues
799 posts
Apr 28, 2011
10:33 AM
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@Zadozica Can you read schematics? Where do you live? If you live in the US I can mail you some hand drawn schematics and all the info you'll need. Or If your familiar with single ended amps I can just tell you what to do starting with a champ F1 as the starting point. Different transformers and voltages. Actually the output T. is the same. Mine has a Kalamazoo output T
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Reverblow
48 posts
Apr 28, 2011
12:30 PM
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I just sent out a handful of harps to get the 'Hoodoo'treatment, plus ordered one of his Hoodoo'ed Special 20s. From all the kudos I've read on this forum I have a feeling I'll be back on this thread in roughly six weeks adding to the positive hype 'chromaticblues' is getting. Stay tuned.
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MP
1649 posts
Apr 28, 2011
12:33 PM
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hey grosyster,
i can find no fault w/ a man that uses few words, plays harp, and enjoys good scotch. thanks for the kudos.
one day i'd like to try a harvey berman. i run across custom harps in need of repair often. got two dude harps ready to go now. i seen filiskos, sleighs, gordons,oyslers, own a hoodoo mellow tone, and i'm sure i'll see more. customs are a bit more delicate in so far as tight embossing may make a player blow a reed faster and corosion can sieze a reed up faster than on a stock harp.
two other hoodoo harps that rock (the ones meant for my friend) were SP/20s w/ MB plates. one had mahogany and the other a cherry wood comb.
they are gorgeous and have lightning fast response.
i've never heard an SP this good. a lot has to do
w/ the MB covers but the heart and soul of a great harp is the reed work. i may have to change my mind about comb material.
i have made a SP/20 w/ a maple comb
and the tone is slightly different. most probably the reed work i did and the vented sides of the stock covers.
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
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MP
1650 posts
Apr 28, 2011
12:48 PM
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zadozica and reverblow, you guys won't be disappointed.
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
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Zadozica
102 posts
Apr 28, 2011
3:58 PM
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Chrom, sent you an e-mail.
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jimjam
18 posts
May 13, 2011
7:18 AM
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I got 4 harps from Kevin then promptly broke my wrist in an unrelated event. Sorry it took a while to post but Percocet made me disinterested in music for a bit there.
I have an experiment going to replace my Lee Oskar kit. My playing had gone beyond what I could get from a stock LO, and I want to play more notes. I'm currently inspired by Howard Levy, Jason Ricci, PT Gazell, Todd Parrott, Adam Gussow and Sugar Blue.
I bought some stock harps for a baseline: Manji, Firebreath, Soloist Pro (half valved), Golden Melody and Marine Band. I also got harps from two other customizers, one of those I'm still waiting on.
Boy am I glad I did this! All of Kevin Baker's Hoo-Doo Harps blow like mad. The are loud and responsive; overblows pop right out; blow-bends, chord bends, et al. These are all his hundred dollar range harps.
Now I understand he has a Marine Band "Moon Rock" no holds-barred custom, and I need to order it asap (Kevin if you're listening: I need it)
I have more serious woodshed time before I can tell you which brand/setup is going to win my experiment, and I'm still waiting on another custom from elsewhere, but if you're on the fence about Kevin Baker's Hoo Doo Harps/chromaticblues, don't be. I'm pleasantly blown away.
PS1: The half-valved Lee Oskar is insane!
PS2: I'll sell or trade the gems that don't win when the time comes.
Best well wishes,
jimjam
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chromaticblues
827 posts
May 13, 2011
8:19 AM
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Blow Your Horn JimJam!
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groyster1
1034 posts
May 13, 2011
10:05 AM
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there has been word of suzuki and hohner prices going up-this might be a good time for harp mechanics to take advantage of this by rebuilding old harps=I have endorsed 3 of you and there may be others-I own 56 playable harps so I really dont need to buy new ones when the old ones can be rebuilt
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chromaticblues
828 posts
May 13, 2011
5:04 PM
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@ groyster A playable harp isn't the same as a new custom harp. Your harps might be playable, but reeds lose there tension with time and use. This is why I am only selling new custom harps now! This way I now I'm building something I know will be very good! I understand your situation and all the other people that are in the same boat. I'm just not working on used harps anymore.
I can't do everything! I'm just getting to busy. I have to cut back alittle bit. I don't won't to get so busy that people have to wait a year for a harp! THATS NUTS!
Goerge I'm not trying to get anyones endorsements. I just starting building harps for other people because I thouhgt people would enjoy what I've learned. Thats all! No more no less.
My distributor sells Hohner, Lee Oskar and Haung harps. So thats where I'm at. I've asked them to start selling Suzuki, but they said they would look into it.
As far as rebuilding harps. I've spoke with MP and he sounds like he is more than capable to help with rebuilding harps!
I thank You for your past business George, but I agree with you. With 56 harps you don't need anymore! Damn your as bad as I am.
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groyster1
1036 posts
May 13, 2011
11:02 PM
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@chromatic
I understand-your quality control is better if you are customizing new harps instead of some that are older than methsula like the ones I have-I have actually sold all my golden melodys that came with the white cases and had nails
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