MP
2013 posts
Feb 09, 2012
7:12 PM
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hi everybody, mark here.
Matthew Smart of Hetrick Harmonicas asked me to do him a favor since he can't post here. also because he doesn't know the name of the person he wants to make amends to. he just really wants to set things right.
apparently there is a Forum member whom claims to have received defective Hetrick harmonica combs and has said as much on some other threads.
Matt told me he would be happy to replace these combs or make some other arrangement with the unsatisfied customer.
also he would very much appreciate apologizing to this person if they would simply contact him by phone or e-mail.
Matt has been very kind to me personally after i suffered a great loss this past july.
he's a good guy and i'll vouch for him.
that's all, mark
MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
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Greg Heumann
1470 posts
Feb 09, 2012
8:33 PM
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I can also say I got a few Hetrick combs from Matt at SPAH, and ordered more afterward. They are all perfectly flat and smooth. The material he used is impregnated with resin and does not require any further sealing.
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/Greg
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Ant138
1151 posts
Feb 09, 2012
11:06 PM
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I received my third Hetrick Comb(Blue Dymond wood) yesterday. One for a Seydel Solist pro and it fits like a glove and its very smooth.
Personally i'm very happy with it:o)
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http://www.youtube.com/user/fiendant?feature=mhum
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Chickenthief
225 posts
Feb 10, 2012
4:18 AM
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I've had nothing but good dealings with Mathew Smart of Hetrick Harmonicas and he has my unqualified recommendation for sure. He has been helpful and gone out of his way to make certain that I was satisfied with the quality of the products that he sold to me.
I completely missed out on whatever kind of dustup there was back there awhile ago on the internet so I don't know anything about that, but I would be surprised if there were some kind of mistake or problem on Mathew's end that he wouldn't be willing to redress. Just call him and he'll probably get you squared.
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Frank
170 posts
Feb 10, 2012
5:05 AM
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I agree with the good customer relations from Matthew Smart of Hetrick Harmonicas. Call him and he will seek a solution to make you a happy camper - that's my experience!
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arzajac
743 posts
Feb 10, 2012
6:56 AM
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I've been meaning to order one. I just did. Bamboo for a Big River... Can't wait...
Here is the site.
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tmf714
976 posts
Feb 10, 2012
7:07 AM
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I bartered with Matt -I traded Golden Melody coverplates for Bamboo combs-Matt was very polite and timely with the trade-the combs are magnificent!!!
Outstanding quality on the combs,and nothing less than the utmost professionalism and courtesy on the business end.
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logansays
71 posts
Feb 10, 2012
10:24 PM
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I think this is a cool tool!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JhSvHdMF6KI
Last Edited by on Feb 10, 2012 10:25 PM
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hvyj
2106 posts
Feb 11, 2012
11:13 AM
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FWIW, I think the Hetrick BAMBOO MBD/Crossover combs are very, very impressive. Compared to other Hetrick combs I've tried, IMHO, their Bamboo combs are in a class by themselves. Superior performance. The compression is excellent.
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MP
2018 posts
Feb 11, 2012
1:09 PM
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hvyj,
i have one of those bamboo combs but it's for your fav (the MB 1896 :o) AWESOME!
btw, i spent decades playing oob marine bands and i can get a great sound out of them. even so, i agree w/ you and think they are still first place as the worst oob harp in its price range. ( i customized four brand new ones for a fellow over christmas so i don't think i'm exagerating).
i spent years working hard on making the harp work for me. i don't need a harp that plays itself but why lift weights if you don't have to?
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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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hvyj
2107 posts
Feb 11, 2012
3:24 PM
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MP,
Yeah. The worst part, IMHO, is the poor compression (lack of air tightness) and the comb that swells. Then the use of nails in the construction. All of which is bad enough even if you happen to LIKE the MB tone.
I've always thought that dymondwood composite is inherently superior to wood as a material for combs. I still feel that way, but the Hetrick bamboo combs for the MBD/Crossover are awesome. Clearly superior to the stock Crossover bamboo comb, and better than any other Hetrick comb I've tried. Dunno why that is.
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groyster1
1792 posts
Mar 02, 2012
11:41 AM
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it looks like I could possibly be the culprit here-the hetrick walnut comb I got through rockinron did create a leak when I installed it-mark graciously agreed to help and now the sp20 plays great-matt sent me a free bamboo comb which I installed successfully-so easy even I can do it-appreciate matts customer service the hetrick combs are beautiful combs
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MP
2066 posts
Mar 02, 2012
12:12 PM
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groyster,
what did you put the bamboo comb on? one of your SPs?
hvyj
my favorite Hetricks are the dymonwood. my A Bb C D Eb F and G are all different colors so i don't fumble grabbing at the wrong key at the gig. i don't like to put huge key labels on my cover plates because it looks... tacky? to me.
it may sound strange but if a harp is a real looker, i play better.
one thing people might want to consider, especially if the comb is an MB type, is to flat sand your bottom reed plate.
richard sleigh has a video where he uses 320 grit and sands in a figure eight pattern.
it really doesn't take very long and you don't feel like it's an arts and crafts project....hyvj:) thought you might appreciate this last sentence.
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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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groyster1
1793 posts
Mar 02, 2012
2:25 PM
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@MP
sure did even after my second shot of scotch-sp20 still tight as a tick-the first sp20 I opened up had nails in the comb so I abandoned that operation but the second one had screws-no sanding done matt came through with flying colors
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MP
2075 posts
Mar 02, 2012
2:34 PM
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groyster, i haven't owned a SP/20 w/ nails since i owned a GM w/ nails.
i loved them as the 1896s of the time were a leaky,toothy, weight lifting operation to play.
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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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hvyj
2228 posts
Mar 02, 2012
3:11 PM
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@MP,
Yes, I agree that flat sanding the draw plate is a must if you are using custom combs on a Hohner. Suzukis have welded reeds so it's not necessary on Suzukis.
I like Suzukis. But my main performing set of harps are custom GMs. All the customizers flat sand the draw plates anyway. HarpNinja was building some harps for me when i got the Hohner MBDs and Crossovers I have and I talked him into sanding the reedplates for me since, as you know, I'm not into arts and crafts projects.
I use the old David Barrett key labels on my harps and I think they look fine and are easy to see on stage. I think of my instrument as my entire set of harps, so i prefer that they all look the same. We each have our own perspective, but I do agree that one gets in a frame of mind to play better if the instruments look professional.
Btw, i tried a couple of Hetrick Dymondwood combs and I didn't think they were anywhere near as good as the bamboo--not necessarily saying the Hetrick Dymondwood combs were bad. It's just that the Hetrick bamboo combs are so much better. Really exceptional, IMHO. I'm only using Hetrick combs on the little set of MBDs and Crossovers I have in guitar keys.
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MP
2077 posts
Mar 02, 2012
4:13 PM
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hvyj,
hadn't really thought about one material being superior to another. i do know that i don't like metals or acrylics.
my best Bb has bamboo and it is edgy and wonderful.
also, if i swap combs on a crossover with a MBD pearwood, the crossover isn't as good, but.. the MBD improves with bamboo. i dunno? go figure.
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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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hvyj
2229 posts
Mar 03, 2012
6:21 AM
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MP,
It may have to do with relative flatness or maybe the relative density of the comb material. I dunno either. I buy custom combs to improve performance of the harp, not for appearance (although a quality custom comb is usually finished nicely, too).
Now, comb THICKNESS definitely affects tone and response. I think the Hetrick bamboo MBD combs are slightly thicker than the other Hetrick MBD combs I've tried--but only very slightly, so, I dunno how much that has to do with it.
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