HawkeyeKane
736 posts
Feb 26, 2012
8:49 AM
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So Friday evening I got home from a very hectic day at work, and lo and behold, when I opened my mailbox I had ten rebuilt Hohners from Mark waiting for me. A MB, a BM, and 8 SP20s.
It was a sight for sore eyes as I was scraping the bottom of my backup harp barrel, and I had a gig the following night. All I can say, as many before me have said, is BANG ON JOB MARK! They're all clean, in tune, blown reed free, and except for the Blue Midnight, the back covers are all opened up.
Guess I overexcited myself in my joy at having good harps again. So much to the point that I already blew the 6 draw out on one of the A harps. Damnation. This time I'm not all that worried about it though. I have another four A harps due in the mail tomorrow from Mark. Ha!
I wish this could be like eBay and I could give him all positive feedback and recommendations! At $10 a harp...I think I'm pretty well set for the future!
Thanks again Mark!
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Hawkeye Kane
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shanester
517 posts
Feb 26, 2012
10:49 AM
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That's awesome, congratulations! I keep hearing positive feedback about Mark's work, although I understand he is raising the cost of the overhaul to $15. Still sounds like a great deal...except for the b.m.
Is that some quirky tradition I didn't know about?
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Shane,
"The Possum Whisperer"
Shane's Cloud
1shanester
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HawkeyeKane
737 posts
Feb 27, 2012
12:10 AM
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@shanester
Mark only opens the back covers on SP20's and MB's. I wouldn't have wanted the back of the BM messed with anyways since its pretty much the same set of covers that are on a Blues Harp, and those are pretty wide open OOTB.
I just noticed his change in fee on his profile here. But you're right. It's STILL a helluva deal. I can't say I blame him for that move either. From what he's told me, performing his repair services on MS harps is more time and labor consuming than with the HM models. Fair is fair. I'm just glad he DID decide to start working on MS harps. I don't forsee any other way of getting a Blue Midnight repaired with the tuning it came with.
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by on Feb 27, 2012 12:17 AM
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groyster1
1782 posts
Feb 27, 2012
2:05 AM
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mark is the rockinron of harp repair even with his price increase great customer service
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MP
2035 posts
Feb 27, 2012
1:00 PM
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Hey! Good Morning! little blurry from irish whiskey at rehersal last night. even so, sonny stitts sonny moon for two was great and lays well in little ole second position.
thanks for the kudos! yeah, i like to hit harps w/ a hammer for how they messed up my life.:o)
i think BMs and BHs are open wide enough. i like how the SP/20s look w/ open backs. i try not to smash the crease flush because i think it has more strength to keep from crushing. some of us are crushers. that's life. contrary to what others say about breath force- i love you bbqbob- reeds die. i'll bet kudzurunner has at least a few boxes of dead guys. or one big box.
today i have eight rupert oysler GMs w/ Hetrick combs i put on to tune. all had blown reeds. i'd better get back to work.
have a good day, mark
hah! here's my second captcha try..:) it has EV and JT, interesting...
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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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Mojokane
509 posts
Feb 27, 2012
10:15 PM
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Yeah, I told him to raise it to $20!!]
But he wouldn't listen....
He lives literally next door to me.
So, I immediately get a break on shipping.
btw
I heard MP workin on Hawkeye's harp cover plates the other day. Using our stairway railing for an anvil.
He was making so much noise i had to say something. Risky...after all, he does my harps, too. So I tempered it with a question. "can't you do that somewhere else?"....
ps. I also noticed he drilled Hawks MB 1896, for screws.
Which didn't make any noise,...as I wasn't home.
It's cool to see the positive feedback from everyone.
He is a Prince.
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Why is it that we all just can't get along?<
Last Edited by on Feb 27, 2012 4:20 PM
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capnj
16 posts
Feb 27, 2012
7:30 PM
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Yes I believe Mp is deserving of the princely moniker bestowed upon him by Mojo.I hope he stays busier than a one armed chain saw juggler on a tightrope.
On one of my C sp20 he worked on,he let me know it was something special,The opened backs I never heard of,but Mp said no charge to do er,so why not.I am baby'ing that harp it is so sweet sounding even with me playing.
The Irish whiskey hurry up Saint Patrick'S,where I indulge in a secret stock Tullamore Dew.I become better looking than Brad Pitt,a better dancer than Gene Kelley,and certainly sound better on the harp than Brendan Powers.If I went on the wagon I would drink this once a year just to celebrate I quit.
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HawkeyeKane
742 posts
Feb 28, 2012
9:04 AM
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@Mojo
LOL! Gotta love it. If your neighbor isn't playing his harp too loud, he's pounding on them too loud.
Yeah, he drilled out the MB and put in screws. I really like that. I have a MB in B I'm gonna send him and have him do the same thing. Sooooo much more convenient to work on. And I think that way, if it came to it, I could also install SP20 replacement plates if I drilled matching holes in the plates.
For anyone who's curious about the open backs and the 1896 screw conversion that Mark does, here are a few pictures comparing a stock SP20/MB with one that Mark has redone.
I've recommended his services to the other two predominant Hohner players here in town. Both of whom have.......wait for it.......wait for it.......
Around 50 Hohners out of commission. Mark, you may have a busy time ahead of you. ;-)
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Hawkeye Kane
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MP
2037 posts
Feb 28, 2012
11:34 AM
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@ capnj
i can't help but like a man who drinks Tullamore Dew and plays the harmonica. yeah, even though the new hohners are great, the best they've been in decades- some are better than others. you got a better one.
Richard Sleigh is totally awesome but there are minute differences from harp to harp. once i was asked to pick the best out of three A customs to change to maj7th. it was a no brainer. all were great but one was absolutely grand.
hey Hawk! love those pics!
those are 1/72 slotted pan heads. they are small and neat looking and easy to work with.
you don't need the rear two screws but i like symmetry and don't care for rear nail holes because the harp appears unfinished..to me. oh well.
i try to avoid customizing. it's too time consuming. there are a hell of a lot of customizers on this board.
you got harpwrench, chromaticblues, deakharp, harpninja etc.
nacoran has a list somewhere. forum search?
i will flat sand your bottom reed plate and install an after market comb though.
all i really care to do is -fix, gap, tune, and bang! you're done and your harp plays good.
see yah, mark
PS yeah, i was banging away right in front of Mojos door
and you should've seen the look on his face. he said, "can you do that somewhere else? you know, someone might be taking a nap".
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
Last Edited by on Feb 28, 2012 11:56 AM
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HawkeyeKane
745 posts
Feb 28, 2012
1:44 PM
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"can you do that somewhere else? you know, someone might be taking a nap."
LOL! I gather that you're the Kramer to his Jerry?
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Hawkeye Kane
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MP
2044 posts
Feb 28, 2012
2:17 PM
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yeah, he had that expression of incredulity that Seinfeld does so well because i was hammering away like Vulcan on 13 of your harps; one after the other.
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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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Mojokane
515 posts
Feb 28, 2012
8:24 PM
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call me Jerry...
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Why is it that we all just can't get along?<
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HawkeyeKane
747 posts
Feb 28, 2012
8:44 PM
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In my best Wayne Knight voice:
"Hello Jerry...."
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Hawkeye Kane
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Mojokane
516 posts
Feb 28, 2012
9:08 PM
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that's the perfect analogy...great!
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Why is it that we all just can't get along?<
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