MP
1771 posts
Jul 15, 2011
1:48 PM
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being as my girlfriend/ common law wife is in her last stages of terminal cancer i got about seven hetrick combs to mess with as a distraction lest i go crazy.
i have mahagony, bamboo, yellow heart, and various dymond wood SP and GM combs. i'm won over w/ dymond wood. i notice it is a little heavier in weight compared to wood but is indistiguishable from wood unless you have a magnifying glass.
all the combs, wood or not are absolutely gorgeous. all are a glossy finish. all edges are rounded including a slight beveling on the teeth.
all fit very flush w/ the reed plates. i've had almost zero problem with leaks. when i do, it is the fault of a bottom reed plate or SP/20 cover plate. these i remedy by flat sanding the reed plate and dicking w/ a hand seamer and coarse file on the covers of the SPs. industrious types may want to cut a groove ala MBs in the SP reed plates. i've never tried it, but i'm lazy.
you won't run into minor mods with the GM and MB types though. the GM combs are the shit dude! i have a mahagany and a dymond wood that is reddish and the red one knocks me out. they fit like a glove. the stock GM comb is right up (or down there) with the stock MB comb. the GMs chip.( i had one that was turning to dust) and the MB 1896 faults are well known. i have an undrilled bamboo 1896 comb( actually it is drilled now) and it gives an 1896 a crossover look w/ out that hohner logo. i use 4 1/72 pan head slotted screws and nuts on 1896 covers.
tone: this is so subjective i'm not even gonna attempt to go there.
comfort: excellent
now, the sps are drilled with extra screw holes. if you want to use these you absolutely have to tap your plates on those two rear holes because they are not tapped.
i like stock sp combs as far as how well they function but that abs plastic looks toyish. actually the stock GM combs look toyish to me too. whatever...
i must mention that i have no personal interest in this company. actually i've had a minor disagreement w/one of the guys but we got over it. life is too short.
more later. hope you are in health. see yah, mark.
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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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Todd Parrott
563 posts
Jul 15, 2011
1:55 PM
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Mark, I'm very sorry to hear about your girlfriend. I just lost a very dear friend today to cancer. She was only 36.
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Joe_L
1356 posts
Jul 15, 2011
1:56 PM
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MP - Sorry to hear about your lady. Thoughts and prayers with with you.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
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toddlgreene
3131 posts
Jul 15, 2011
2:04 PM
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Good review, Mark, and I will include you and your special lady in my prayers.
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Todd L. Greene
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Big Al
9 posts
Jul 15, 2011
2:32 PM
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Same here regarding Hetrick combs. Over the years, I have purchased close to 20 of 'em. They all are very beautiful, especially the Dymondwoods.
They all fit extremely tight and the tines are sanded so not to be hard on the lips.
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groyster1
1171 posts
Jul 15, 2011
2:40 PM
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thoughts and prayers with you mark cancer has been a monster to my relations and Ive had prostate ca myself you have been a big help to me as had many others in this great blues harp forum
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shanester
393 posts
Jul 15, 2011
3:16 PM
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Mark, I want to acknowledge you for the ongoing contribution that you are here. I always appreciate your sharp wit, and your personal insights.
I'd wish I could say something wise but all I can say is I feel you Brother, love to you both.
Shane
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Shane,
"The Possum Whisperer"
1shanester
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MP
1772 posts
Jul 15, 2011
9:11 PM
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thanks all. i'm sorry todd and groyster. and shane, i'm pretty dull witted but i learn a lot in this purty cool place. again, my best to everyone.
so, i used older GM plates on the GMs courtesy of Shredder. he tapped them to 080 screws. well, new GM plates and combs have forward screw holes for the middle tooth. hetrick drilled for these on his combs. nice feature but if you have older plates you don;t need to drill and tap for it. i did anyway cuz i'm odd about symetry.
one thing i'd like to see (i replace a lot of reeds)is MB type combs - this includes the Crossover and the MBD- is deeper reed slots in the combs. we're talking SP/20, Gm, and Seydel deep. then they would accept screws and nuts on the bottom reed plate and be flush. at present, no hohner MB type works with screws on the bottom plate without modifications of a rather dubious sort in regards to practicality.
comb makers?
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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
1773 posts
Jul 15, 2011
9:37 PM
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EDIT:
scratch last idea. you'll run out of MB reed plate and leak like a sieve as the lower reeds butt up flush to the rear of the reed plate.
the only thing i can think of is a recess ending at the rear of the comb. but then it's not an MB comb anymore is it?
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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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