Littoral
304 posts
Jul 02, 2011
2:17 PM
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I'm starting to resurrect a graveyard of old MB's and I'm looking at Hetrick combs -but they're not pre-drilled. Is this to allow for the drilling I would do for switching to screws?
Or...?
Also, what's the advantage of replacing MB's with Special 20 coverplates?
I have plenty of those too.
Thanks!
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MrVerylongusername
1738 posts
Jul 02, 2011
3:00 PM
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1. I guess so you can use nails if you prefer. Some people do.
2. Mellower tone without the side vents
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MP
1758 posts
Jul 02, 2011
10:44 PM
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people have different ideas as to where they will drill their holes. also the number of screws they will use. i use 3 but some people will use twice as many or more.
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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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chromaticblues
904 posts
Jul 03, 2011
6:19 PM
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I have never drilled out a Marine Band. I have built many Marine Bands with the original nails and they have come out pretty darn well! I love Marine Bands.
You know Hohner has fucked everything up! Listen to Majic Dick. That was a Marine Band from Hohner!
SP 20 coverplates do have a very bluesy type sound.
I played SP 20's for 10 years because they had that coverplate sound and didn't have the wooden comb pain in the ass that MB's did. Whats cool now is people are making good souding wooden combs for Sp20's. Now we can blend the best of both harps.
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Littoral
308 posts
Jul 03, 2011
7:19 PM
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I haven't drilled either but given my collection that needs another life it'll be worth it.
This is about half.
Last Edited by on Jul 03, 2011 7:24 PM
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Rubes
359 posts
Jul 03, 2011
9:32 PM
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.................@Littoral..........
:~O .........O...M......G!!!!!!!!
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Baker
134 posts
Jul 04, 2011
5:30 AM
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I think the MB combs are not drilled as the 1896 classic is constructed with nails. If you want drilled ones I think you need to get the MB Deluxe combs.
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chromaticblues
905 posts
Jul 04, 2011
7:30 AM
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@Littoral
Man you have enough harps to last you a life time!
You still don't have to drill. You don't need new combs either.
This is something you could do that would keep you going for a while and not cost much(I'm cheap and I like to teach other people how to so effectively).
Go thru all your harps and figure out what reeds are bad. Use a sharpie and mark every reedplate which key it is, top or bottom and good or bad. I use to do this. I would use T for top B for bottom and the same for good and bad. Ok now I would drill out the holes for the coverplates. I use 2-56 7/16" with 2-56 nuts. Then take them apart and soak the combs in mineral oil for a few days. You don't have to keep track of the combs because they are all the same. If you have any Marine Bands with 6 instaed of 7 nails in the reedplate just throw those harps in the garbage! They are not worth your effort!
After they have soaked dry them off and let them sit on a paper plate for a couple days. If you see the mineral oil wipe it off. It takes a couple days for the excess to weap out. Then lightly sand each side flat with 400 grit sand paper. Then reassemble useing only the good reedplates.
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Littoral
309 posts
Jul 04, 2011
8:24 AM
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Chromatic:
Thanks a lot, a few questions. I'll reply per item -your points are in parentheses.
(I'm cheap and I like to teach other people how to so effectively).
*Absolutely!
(Go thru all your harps and figure out what reeds are bad. Use a sharpie and mark every reedplate which key it is, top or bottom and good or bad.)
Most should be 7 nails but what's "good"? They all need standard mods, cleaning, gapping and usually some tuning. I haven't accomplished any other techniques yet (yet!).
(I would use T for top B for bottom and the same for good and bad.)
Great idea for attacking this on a larger simpler efficient cheaper scale.
(Ok now I would drill out the holes for the coverplates. I use 2-56 7/16" with 2-56 nuts.)
Got it.
(Then take them apart and soak the combs in mineral oil for a few days. You don't have to keep track of the combs because they are all the same.)
This seals enough to stop swelling -mostly at least?
(If you have any Marine Bands with 6 instaed of 7 nails in the reedplate just throw those harps in the garbage!)
Are those are middle/late 90's?
(Then lightly sand each side flat with 400 grit sand paper. Then reassemble useing only the good reedplates.)
Nails for the plates? I've done this plenty of times and would rather not drill the plates, covers, yes, but not the plates if the return is minimal.
I don’t mind this kind of work but my real interest is getting better harps.
Last Edited by on Jul 04, 2011 8:27 AM
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toddlgreene
3100 posts
Jul 04, 2011
10:04 AM
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Damn, I saw all those harps going to that vanishing point, and I started singing O-Wee O-We-Ooooooooh Oh.
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Todd L. Greene
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chromaticblues
906 posts
Jul 04, 2011
1:49 PM
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Yes Littoral the harps with 6 nails in the draw plate are from the eighties. I for got to mention some of the real old ones have eight nials in the drawplate.
OK I'm betting most of those harps can be better! You have to straighten out the reeds. No banana reeds! Then set the gap.
The Mineral oil does a couple things. It will make the combs last longer than your harp will and once the comb is saturated with mineral oil your saliva won't make it sweel.
You have so many and it sounds like you haven't done this before so I would do one at a time. Don't be in a hurry. I would start with whatever key I need now and just take your time.
If you have any questions you can Email me and I'd be glad to offer whatever advice I can.
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Rubes
360 posts
Jul 04, 2011
2:52 PM
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Gotta ask............how come you have so MANY???????????????????????
O O
@
(_______)
(Maybe you could trade in a few to Chrom blues for some ready to go......)
Last Edited by on Jul 04, 2011 2:53 PM
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Littoral
310 posts
Jul 04, 2011
3:17 PM
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So many?
I started playing around 77 and MB was about it. I played some 20's and GM's too. I had no idea they could be fixed so I threw them in a box when they weren't good enough. I went to blues harps after they switched from the old crappy ones.
When I had a decent MB it was great but that was few and far between. They were a lot cheaper back then too.
Now I want a box of Marine Bands that really work.
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Rubes
361 posts
Jul 04, 2011
3:20 PM
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Wow mate that's passion for ya' in that photo alone! Priceless
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