Todd Parrott
622 posts
Aug 09, 2011
9:20 AM
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Looks like Chris has updated his site with some amazing new low prices on combs! Check it out:
brass $25
aluminum $15
dymondwood $20
bamboo $15
acrylic $10
fantasy marble $40
Blow Your Brass Off
Chris makes some of the most amazing combs in the world!!! VERY high quality combs and workmanship.
Last Edited by on Aug 09, 2011 9:21 AM
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Miles Dewar
1055 posts
Aug 09, 2011
1:59 PM
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Those are affordable. Nice.
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REM
97 posts
Aug 09, 2011
3:07 PM
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Wow, that's incredible. I hope these aren't just temporary sale prices (although I would understand if that's the case) because I could only afford to buy a coupl right now. But I definately want to get more in the near future. What's great about Chris's combs (and Randy Sandoval's) is that he understands the importance of precision flatness. I've bought some other lower priced combs only to find that they weren't perfectly flat, so I had to flat sand them myself. Personally I find it pretty difficult to flatt sand combs to pefect flattness by hand, so I'd rather just get combs that I know are already perfectly flat.
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Todd Parrott
623 posts
Aug 09, 2011
5:38 PM
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It's my understanding that these are the new prices, not sale prices.
And they really are great comnbs... I've got tons of Randy's and Chris' combs.
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hvyj
1654 posts
Aug 09, 2011
5:45 PM
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Well, you know, I'd be a lot more excited if I hadn't already ordered one about a month ago at the old price, which was something like 3 times higher.
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apskarp
525 posts
Aug 09, 2011
8:32 PM
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Hmmm,
I was looking at those prices yesterday on his page and now that I was about to place the order the prices were shifted - a lot! Yesterday the prices were those that Todd put up, now the comb was 55$+6$ for shipping.
What happened?
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REM
98 posts
Aug 09, 2011
8:41 PM
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I just checked and I still see the reduced prices. Are you sure you're not looking at the exotic hardwood combs instead? Those are the only ones I see that are in the $55(and up) range.
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MP
1798 posts
Aug 09, 2011
10:33 PM
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i counted 68 color choices of dymondwood.
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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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apskarp
527 posts
Aug 09, 2011
11:39 PM
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Now it's back to what it was yesterday. Odd..
Edit:
I've been thinking to upgrade my SP20 harps for awhile. That is my favorite harp and I've customized all my SP20's. They play and OB very nicely, but I think that better comb might make it more airtight. So I just ordered few aluminiun & bamboo combs.. Let's see how they work...
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Youtube
Hoodoo Sauna
Last Edited by on Aug 10, 2011 2:07 AM
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HarpNinja
1573 posts
Aug 10, 2011
5:16 AM
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Imo, non-recessed Sp20 combs defeats the purpose. I've tried several, but with no reedplate groove it is easier to put Sp20 covers on a MB.
For many, the recessed plates is why they like the harp. I am not discouraging you, just sharing a different perspective.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
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Seven.Oh.Three.
143 posts
Aug 10, 2011
5:52 AM
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If you got his reed plates with rounded tines wouldn't that basically be the same thing as what's on a special 20 now? Or at least close
7.o.3.
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Todd Parrott
624 posts
Aug 10, 2011
6:20 AM
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The rounded tines are my favorite. You could always try one of the lesser expensive acrylic combs with rounded tines first to see if you like them and to see what they would do for a Special 20. I hate recessed combs, so to me, placing the Special 20 on a regular comb is an improvement.
Randy Sandoval made me a Special 20 but cut a groove in the reed plate for the cover plates to fit into. So it can be done, though it's a little extra work. But, it's also extra work to put Special 20 covers on a Marine Band comb, because they hang over in the back unless you cut the corners off.
Last Edited by on Aug 10, 2011 6:28 AM
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HarpNinja
1574 posts
Aug 10, 2011
7:51 AM
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By rounded are we talking about portruding tines? I like rounded but flush with the plates.
I really like sp20 covers on MBs. If the covers are open, the minute overhang isn't an issue. You can reshape them if need be, but I don't.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
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Blowyourbrassoff
37 posts
Aug 10, 2011
10:09 AM
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Thank you for the compliments guys. I'm planning on leaving those prices the way they are. We'll see how it goes. Up until recently I hadn't really planned to reduce the prices but with all the competition these days I really had no choice.
Another change that I'm making is that I'm only going to be taking so many orders at a time for custom harps in an effort to reduce the amount of time people have to wait for them. Having lots of harps and long lead times can sometimes cause you to want to rush and that's just not fair to customers. So I'm going to still offer customs, I'm just going to limit how many I have at any one time.
Chris
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nacoran
4437 posts
Aug 10, 2011
10:44 AM
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Chris, not to encourage a price hike, but if you are getting a backlog of orders for the customs, maybe you need to hike the prices in small increments until it balances out. :)
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Nate
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MP
1799 posts
Aug 10, 2011
11:13 AM
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nac,
shhhhh! :)
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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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Blowyourbrassoff
38 posts
Aug 10, 2011
11:18 AM
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It's not really a backlog, it's more of wanting to be able to dedicate more time to the work while reducing the wait time for customers. Some harps take longer than others and that slows the whole process down. Plus this year I'd really like to have a life outside my shop and business. Being a one man shop and trying to offer as many different things as I do it really requires a lot of time on my part, much more so than a regular 9 to 5 job. So really the limitation isn't to discourage orders I'm just trying to limit the amount of time from when person separates with their hard earned money and when they get the harp they paid for. Plus I don't really want to increase the prices. I think the prices are reasonable for what I do, but what good is my work if no one can afford it. Lets face it right now the economy is really tough, there are still a LOT of people out of work, money is tighter because of gas prices. I guess in a way I'm just trying to help out while still making a living doing this.
Chris
Chris
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Seven.Oh.Three.
144 posts
Aug 10, 2011
3:23 PM
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Based on his post Chris sounds like a stand up guy. Will have to throw some business his way in the future.
HarpNinja- Yes, by rounded I'm referring to protruding Tines that are rounded. I got a harp from genesis like this. The verdict is still out for me on this. It's awesome for tounge blocking (my opinion) but takes some getting use to when LP. It has progressed my TBing because its more comfortable on that style comb. Chris also offers combs in this style. Genesis combs are protruding all the way around the harp. Where as Chris's are flush around the reed plates but protruding in the front.
But I'd imagine this may be as close as you can get to an aftermarket special 20 comb. Not exactly but somewhat close.
7.o.3.
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HarpNinja
1575 posts
Aug 10, 2011
5:00 PM
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Some italian guy makes Sp20 recessed combs. Forgot the name but they were $70ish...I think. Made of a metal maybe?
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
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apskarp
528 posts
Aug 10, 2011
10:24 PM
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Now you are using technical vocabulary that is hard to follow for me.. :) What exactly is tine? Tried to look from dictionary but I don't get it. I suppose recessed means that the reedplate will be embedded to the comb so that the edges of the reedplate are hidden?
I didn't actually thought about that. I was just thinking about the air-tightness of the harps. So perhaps those non-recessed combs aren't so cool afterall.. Well, I already ordered them so let's see how I like it.
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Todd Parrott
640 posts
Aug 19, 2011
12:22 PM
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@apskarp - Recessed combs don't necessarily help with airtightness. It's mainly dependent on the flatness of the comb.
I personally think recessed combs (like Special 20 combs) look cheap.
Btw, tines are simply the dividers (teeth) in the combs.
Last Edited by on Aug 19, 2011 3:30 PM
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REM
104 posts
Aug 19, 2011
12:35 PM
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Hey Todd,
Have you seen these awesome custom Sp20 recessed combs?
Custom Sp20 Comb
I'd really like to get at least one. They make them out of a couple different types of material. You can check out more of them here:
More Bluexlab Combs
Last Edited by on Aug 19, 2011 12:39 PM
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nacoran
4475 posts
Aug 19, 2011
12:46 PM
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REM, I've seen those before, but they sure are some pretty combs.
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Nate
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Todd Parrott
641 posts
Aug 19, 2011
3:42 PM
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@REM - The links aren't working for me, but I do remember seeing those. The only thing I would be leery of is what IF the combs weren't flat and you needed to sand them a little bit. This isn't really possible with a recessed comb, or with combs like the B-Radical comb, and others.
I know everyone claims their combs are perfectly flat, but in all honesty, no one makes combs perfectly flat 100% of the time. Every now and then one slips through the process and may need to be flat sanded, at least a little bit. This of course is no big deal, and is no major problem with non-recessed combs.
For the record, I do know that Chris Reynolds and Randy Sandoval spend time to ensure that their combs are flat before shipping. Chris hand sands his combs - not sure how Randy does it. This is not to imply that others don't do this - but I say this about these two guys simply because I've used many of their combs. There are many good comb makers out there, but at the end of the day, flatness is what matters most.
Last Edited by on Dec 13, 2011 5:30 PM
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REM
105 posts
Aug 19, 2011
4:27 PM
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I'm pretty sure that Randy uses a lapping machine to flatten his combs. I don't understand why there aren't any other custom comb makers using lapping machines to flat sand their combs. Lapping machines are made for the specific purpose of creating extreme precision flat surfaces. Flat sanding to a precision flattness by hand isn't easy to do, and takes a lot of work. A lapping machine would greatly reduce the amount of work you need to do, and it'll do a much better job at creating precision flatness than you'll ever be able to do by hand. And you can do multiple combs at a time.
EDIT: If the links didn't work for anyone else, here are the addresses (you can copy and paste them into the address bar):
http://www.harpelite.com/catalog/lang-en/combs/241-bluexlab-comb-for-hohner-special-20.html
http://www.harpelite.com/catalog/lang-en/18_bluexlab
Last Edited by on Aug 19, 2011 4:30 PM
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Todd Parrott
644 posts
Aug 19, 2011
7:30 PM
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"Chris Reynolds does awesome work and is a man of absolute moral integrity."
And the same is true about you, Randy. I love my Spiers harps that are on Randy's awesome combs. And, I love my 2 Sandoval custom Special 20 harps!
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REM
106 posts
Aug 19, 2011
8:02 PM
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Randy,
Can you explain your process for checking flatness? Do you just use the precision straight edge with the monochromatic light? If so, what exactly is your process?
Or do you use an optical flat with your monochromatic light? That seems like it might be a bit over the top, you want a very flat comb but I wouldn't think it needs to be flattened/polished to an extreme glass like finish. Or do you think an optical flat could be useful?
Any info you could give would be really appreciated.
Thanks.
Last Edited by on Aug 19, 2011 8:14 PM
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BigBlindRay
128 posts
Aug 19, 2011
11:37 PM
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Hi MBHers,
I'll second Todd on that one. I dont think it is humanly possible to go wrong with either Chris or Randy.
Quality dudes. Quality Products. Now fellas, can you make a harp that pulls hot babes to gigs?
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Blowyourbrassoff
39 posts
Aug 21, 2011
12:44 PM
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Thank you for the kind words guys, it means a lot.
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HawkeyeKane
553 posts
Dec 13, 2011
7:43 AM
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I just got two aluminum combs from Chris this past week. A SP20 and an MS. I love them both! Not only do they make the harp look classy and beautiful, but I think they give them a slightly more resonant tone when I play them. Great work Chris!
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Hawkeye Kane
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FreeWilly
108 posts
Dec 13, 2011
8:34 AM
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I saw those prices the other day. Stunned me. Plus: shipping to Europe only 10 bucks? Wow. So.. if I get money, I might turn my deluxes in deluxes with pluses ;)
Question about the diamondwood: is that lacqered or just flatsanded? Cause you don't need to lacquer them? That what I read Buddha typing once? He just sanded the shit out of them? I don't like lacquered combs. Just got the new MBD and it's smells and tastes like your licking a sour, foul, ehhh. Yeah. don't like 'em.
And they are not available in the natural color? I don't like paint either? That would taste bad, no?
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FreeWilly
109 posts
Dec 13, 2011
8:44 AM
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Mister Genesis?
It might be my dumbness or lack of English knowledge, but when I went looking on your website the other day (after seeing Todd's vid), I couldn't find comb prizes on it... Nor a clear assortment. That might be on purpose, but it might be hurting business? I thought: perhaps better get the Reynolds, although I do not have a preference for either one of you guys and would love to try both your work one day!
Just trying to be helpful!
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chromaticblues
1089 posts
Dec 13, 2011
9:31 AM
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I have some Sp-20 bamboo combs and they work great. As far as the recessed stock combs go. One way or the other doesn't matter to much, but I seem to notice a fuller tone with the bamboo comb. I don't know weather its the material or the fact that the cambers are bigger, but whatever they sound really nice!
As far the reedplate groove. I look at like this: With a Marine Band the end of the coverplate hangs down into the groove so when you look into the back of the harp with the front facing a light sorce you can't see any light. Does that mean its air tight? NO! that means you can't see the gap because its hidden. When you put SP 20 covers on a harp with one of these custom nonrecessed combs you can see the gap when holding the harp up to a light sorce.
The coverplates a VERY bendable and you can lightly bend them with your fingers untill you see there are no gapps. Ofcourse you have to remove the coverplates bend them alittle and put them back on. Then just keep at it untill the covers fit the the reedplates.
IMHO a custom SP-20 is better than a MB, but what do I know? Remember the reeds and reedplate are the same!
Last Edited by on Dec 14, 2011 12:23 PM
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KingBiscuit
135 posts
Dec 14, 2011
11:45 AM
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@blowyourbrassoff - Are the seydel blues soloist combs blues soloist standard model or the blues soloist pro? In your opinion, what makes the best comb material?
Thanks
Dan
Last Edited by on Dec 14, 2011 11:56 AM
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Todd Parrott
794 posts
Dec 15, 2011
9:07 AM
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With this being an older thread, I doubt that you'll find the answers to your questions via a response from Randy and Chris in this thread. You might have better luck e-mailing them at this point. Though they are members and do respond from time to time, I don't think they are very active on this forum. Chances are they aren't aware that this thread has resurfaced.
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Blowyourbrassoff
166 posts
Nov 01, 2014
4:38 PM
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I got out of the comb business a while back but just happened to see this pop up on my traffic info for the site. I'll be making up some combs in the future from materials that I have left over, but I've quit taking orders for them.
Chris
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