rockem
1 post
Sep 29, 2011
5:08 AM
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Hello everyone,
I bought a new Manji from a local store,
and when I got home I notice some discoloration in the reed plates in both side.
Does this means that this harp has been fixed/used ?
thanx
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tookatooka
2511 posts
Sep 29, 2011
5:37 AM
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Seems rather odd to me.
Although the brass reedplates are open to the air, it's usually the handling of the reedplates that cause them to oxidise and discolor.
Could you go back to the store and ask to examine a new one to see how different it may be to the one you bought. If the new one is bright, clean and shiny, I'd kick up a fuss and insist on an exchange.
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HarpNinja
1717 posts
Sep 29, 2011
5:59 AM
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THERE IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT!
I am not a scientist, so I can't explain the "why", but this is totally normal.
You see it all the time on reedplates regardless of material (as I don't *think* the Manji is just brass). At any rate, if you take it apart, you'll see that on the reeds too).
You can get this funky coloring on other harps too depending on how they are manufactured or customized.
Even if it isn't noticeable on other harps, that doesn't mean anything is wrong. As a side bar, I've noticed it on some Hohners too. If you order a harp from me, it would arrive with a "discoloration" too...which is totally intentional.
Sometimes, an Ultrasonic Cleaner can remove some of it. On regular brass plates, something like Bar Keeper's Friend might help a bit too, but honestly, it isn't worth the effort.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
Last Edited by on Sep 29, 2011 5:59 AM
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toddlgreene
3357 posts
Sep 29, 2011
6:16 AM
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The law is on your side. That law being the one that prohibits the sale of used harmonicas as 'new' harps. Like Mike says, there's a lot going on metallurgy-wise there...quite possibly some dissimilar metal reaction as well. It takes NOTHING from anyone for this process to start. If in doubt of your harp being unplayed, get some isopropyl alcohol, put it in a spray bottle, and give that harp a good spritzing. Thne, feel free to slobber all over it.
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Todd L. Greene
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rockem
2 posts
Sep 29, 2011
6:19 AM
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Why is this intentional with your harps ?
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toddlgreene
3358 posts
Sep 29, 2011
6:22 AM
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What do you mean by 'intentional'?
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Todd L. Greene
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harpwrench
529 posts
Sep 29, 2011
6:33 AM
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The cover plate surfaces are scratched. Maybe it's been washed and the screws inside are rusting? I've handled a bunch of Manjis and never seen the reed plates rust.
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HarpNinja
1718 posts
Sep 29, 2011
6:59 AM
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Oh, crap, I thought you meant the whole reedplate...I first looked at this on my phone. Now I am realizing your talking about what looks like a spot of rust by the coverplate.
Everything I said above was related to how sometimes there is an "oil slick" appearance to the brass. My apologies!
I have no input on what appears to be a rust spot. I haven't seen that before. However, I have seen rusty screws on harps before.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
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toddlgreene
3359 posts
Sep 29, 2011
7:03 AM
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Joe, I have a Manji that has rust or something that sure looks like it on the reed plates. This was after me playing it for a while.
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Todd L. Greene
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rockem
3 posts
Sep 29, 2011
10:38 AM
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So, I guess I need to go to the store and ask for replacement. We'll see how that goes
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harpwrench
530 posts
Sep 29, 2011
10:43 AM
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Yeah I'd say this one's been played too just going by the images.
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groyster1
1442 posts
Sep 29, 2011
10:50 AM
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It is really discouraging to buy an ootb harp with problems when you buy it-I tried to take back to the store a marine band 1896 100 year commemorative that was a dog-the very sympathetic salesman told me it was against the law to take back a harp that has been played-I certainly will not ask anybody to break the law for my sake
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chromaticblues
1020 posts
Sep 29, 2011
11:54 AM
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Something is not right here! the reedplates are chromed (I think). Chrom can rust over a long period of time, but the scratchs on the covers are of a used harp! RED LIGHT!!
Bring it back and ask about it.
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Fingers
104 posts
Sep 29, 2011
12:09 PM
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I have just checked my 2 Manji's and there is nothing like that the reed plates on mine look almost silver!!..take it back and tell them you want the new one you paid for.
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Matzen
345 posts
Sep 29, 2011
12:24 PM
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The cover plates look a little scatched as well?
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nacoran
4691 posts
Sep 30, 2011
1:42 AM
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Maybe it was somewhere where it got wet?
For the record, is the law that they can't take a harmonica back or that they can't resell a harmonica they took back? I always take my harps out right at the counter and usually remember to get them to give me the bellows to check with too (depending on how excited I am to get a new harp sometimes I forget!)
Someone told a story about a shop owner who would stomp on any harmonicas he took back so everyone knew he wasn't reselling.
Knowing the wording of the law (and whether it's the same everywhere) would be useful. It's designed to protect us from germy harps, not protect the shop owners from providing service. If they want to act tough about it tell them they can just give you a new harp. You won't force them to take the germy one back if they don't want it.
edit: And if they give you a hard time about returning it and try to tell you they don't take returns on harps tell them someone seems to have and that if they don't correct it you'll call the local health department to look at all their harps!
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Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
Last Edited by on Sep 30, 2011 1:43 AM
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sammyharp
129 posts
Sep 30, 2011
2:09 AM
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The fact that a store cannot by law resell a used harmonica has nothing to do with taking a return due to low quality. If a harmonica isn't up to standard, any respectable retailer should and would return it to the dealer for a refund or replacement. If they don't offer this directly as an option, you should inform them of it. If they will not accomadate you, I would contact Suzuki directly. From what I have heard, their customer service is great.
Just to clarify, any salesperson that doesn't understand the difference between returning an instrument for personal reasons, and returning an instrument for quality control reasons, is either misinformed, confused, or just trying to pull one over on the costomer. A quality control return has absolutely nothing to do with reselling an instrument. If they choose to give you a replacement instrument, directly, or wait until suzuki decides what to do about it, is their decision.
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Last Edited by on Sep 30, 2011 2:20 AM
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groyster1
1443 posts
Sep 30, 2011
9:57 AM
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the mb 1896 I took back to the dealer he would not take back but instead gave me hohners address but I never bothered with it
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SuzukiDaron
16 posts
Sep 30, 2011
12:03 PM
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Rockem-
It's possible that what you're looking at is simply a result of the manufacturing process, as it is highly unlikely that this dealer sold you a used harmonica.
Just to be sure, can you tell me the name and location of the shop where you purchased this harp?
If you would rather discuss this off-list, you are welcome to send me an e-mail at harmonicas@suzukicorp.com.
Hopefully, we can get this cleared up for you.
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-Daron Stinton
SUZUKI MUSIC USA
Got a question about a Suzuki Harp?
Call (800) 854-1594, or e-mail harmonicas@suzukicorp.com
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rbeetsme
427 posts
Sep 30, 2011
12:14 PM
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A mystery for sure. What you need to do is ship that Manji to me for further investigation. What key is it?
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rbeetsme
428 posts
Sep 30, 2011
12:19 PM
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BTW: I have photographed a lot of new harmonicas for websites, brochures, posters, etc. They were all new. When you shoot close-up like that you'd be surprised how many little scratches and discoloring etc., there is. Takes a lot of post-production to make them look "purty".
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rockem
4 posts
Sep 30, 2011
1:52 PM
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The store is located in Israel, shipping outside of the country is not worth the trouble for me.
@SuzukiDaron, Should I go back to the store ?
The harp is in the key of C
thanx
Eli
Last Edited by on Sep 30, 2011 1:55 PM
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SuzukiDaron
17 posts
Sep 30, 2011
2:22 PM
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@Rockem:
I'm not sure if Suzuki has a factory shop set up in Israel yet or not. I would take the harmonica back to the store and see what your options are there, or if they can refer you to a Suzuki Service Center there in Israel.
And again, just the discoloration of the reed plates does not mean that the harmonica is not new.
Did you notice any other evidence of the instrument having been played before? Dried saliva on the covers or reed plates...or maybe a lot of fingerprints?
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-Daron Stinton
SUZUKI MUSIC USA
Got a question about a Suzuki Harp?
Call (800) 854-1594, or e-mail harmonicas@suzukicorp.com
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rockem
5 posts
Oct 01, 2011
2:29 AM
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@SuzukiDoran
If you say that this discoloration doesn't indicates that the harp is not new and I haven't seen any other evident of this.
So it might be best to just use it as it is ?
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SuzukiDaron
18 posts
Oct 03, 2011
1:10 PM
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@ Rockem:
Absolutely. If the harp plays well and you're happy with it, just play it! The markings and discoloration should have no effect on the playability of the instrument.
I say, if it plays OK, keep it.
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-Daron Stinton
SUZUKI MUSIC USA
Got a question about a Suzuki Harp?
Call (800) 854-1594, or e-mail harmonicas@suzukicorp.com
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tookatooka
2521 posts
Oct 03, 2011
1:22 PM
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@SuzukiDaron.
"If the harp plays well and you're happy with it, just play it! The markings and discoloration should have no effect on the playability of the instrument".
I'm surprised with your response SuzukiDaron. If I buy a new harp, I'm sorry but I want it to look new, not marked and discolored like you suggest as being perfectly acceptable, just so long as it plays OK.
What if that harp had previously been played by someone with TB?
I hope an Official Suzuki response would be a little more considered?
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JInx
81 posts
Oct 03, 2011
2:17 PM
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It looks to me like,someone has taken you for a schnook. Good luck with the return.
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rockem
8 posts
Oct 03, 2011
2:33 PM
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Yesterday I went to the store and they replaced it with another one.
They didn't ask any questions and I think that mine went back to the same drawer.
I don't think I will buy harps from them anymore
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SuzukiDaron
19 posts
Oct 06, 2011
3:28 PM
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@tookatooka
As I stated in my first post on this subject, the scratched appearance of the reed plates (not cover plates) could be part of the manufacturing process, and it's something we see here in the US on new harps.
Now, I can not vouch for the reliability of non-US dealers, and I was not made aware of rockem's location until after my initial response.
Now, in light of his final post on the subject, I think it's fair to say he may be dealing with an unscrupulous dealer. This is something that, if it were in my jurisdiction, would not be tolerated. Forgive me for assuming off the bat that the OP was located in the US where I could do something about it.
Given his location and circumstances, it's a moot point now.
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-Daron Stinton
SUZUKI MUSIC USA
Got a question about a Suzuki Harp?
Call (800) 854-1594, or e-mail harmonicas@suzukicorp.com
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
729 posts
Oct 06, 2011
4:17 PM
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I really wasn't too concerned about the reedplate brass. What does concern me is the wear on the coverplate. That comes from an actual player carrying a harmonica around.
Tooka, Daron's "official" Suzuki response is legit, don't take it the wrong way. He probably didn't notice the coverplate wear.
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David
Elk River Harmonicas
Elk River Harmonicas on Facebook
"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato." - Lewis Grizzard
"Also, drinking homemade beer." - David Payne
Last Edited by on Oct 06, 2011 4:19 PM
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