rogonzab
65 posts
Jun 19, 2012
7:21 AM
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Hi,
Yesterday the mail man give my long expected Manji. Great harp! Out of the box I don't feel that I have to tweak anything.
Except the cover plates.
The cover plates are to soft (or maybe it is me) and I think they are not going to last too long in their normal position.
I know that I need to put something to support the cover plates making a hole trough the reedplate and the comb, but, What should I put in that hole??
A screw?
A wire?
A piece of wood?
What do you use?
Thks!!
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HarveyHarp
360 posts
Jun 19, 2012
7:42 AM
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This is the way I do it. I replace the 2mm x 10mm screws that hold the reed plates on with 2mm X 12 mm screws. The two outer screws get screwed in like normal from the blow plate. These support the bottom cover. The center screw, I screw in from the draw plate side, which just grabs the threads in the draw plate, and I attach the blow plate with a 2mm nut. This screw supports the top cover. Its easy, and cheap, and it works.
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HarveyHarp
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barbequebob
1942 posts
Jun 19, 2012
8:24 AM
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The reason for the thin cover plates is because it will make the harp play louder and brighter, and the first time I ever ran across this was when I got a set of cover plates made by Joe Filisko for the Hohner MS series in the late 90's thru the long defunct harp store Kevin's Harps.
It did exactly what it was supposed to do, but on those harps, I didn't care for the drastic tone change because of it.
Rogonzab, what you have is a problem that's very typical of the average player in that you definitely tend to grip your harps far too hard and that always spells danger to the covers and you really don't need to be doling that. In fact, in the literature Suzuki provides with that harp, (something often times the average player NEVER reads at all), it tells you front and center NOT to grip them hard at all.
What the thin cover plate is doing is damned close to when one plays harps without any cover plates, the harp is actually playing at its loudest.
Bottom line: don't grip your harps so damned hard. Even with cover plates with thicker metal and sometimes even with something to hold them up from crushing, many players are guilty of gripping them far too hard and the only stock cover plates I know of that doesn't need the support at all are the ones on the Seydel 1847's because they use the thickest, heaviest stainless steel covers out of any maker, and the thicker covers also darken the tone of the harps and if you're able to crush those covers, you are obviously guilty of gripping them way too hard.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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GMaj7
41 posts
Jun 19, 2012
9:05 AM
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I have a system I use to support Manji and the occasional 1847, Marine Band.. I use 0-80 threaded standoffs. You can see some samples on my web site. You can also just use a 0-80 screw and nut on each side. I have wondered why I see so many crushed covers.. Thinking folks must drive over them with their motorcycles...But I guess it is possible angry family members (Or guitar players) bash them with a hammar hoping they won't play so loud.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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MP
2298 posts
Jun 19, 2012
12:31 PM
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Manji covers are awfully thin, but to me, that is a good thing. Ditto what Bob says about tone.
now these are all great suggestions for supporting cover plates.
Even so, if you grip too hard you can still crunch the covers and create dimples where the support screws are and the covers will look like hell. it is even harder to straighten covers with dimples in them.
just a thought..
it is good to be aware of that possibility.
just don't squeeze down as a rule.
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name for info-
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groyster1
1919 posts
Jun 19, 2012
7:39 PM
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dont understand the gripthing,just hold the harp and blow the damn thing and if you are tense,try single malt scotch and lighten up.....relaxation is key!!!!!
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Tuckster
1079 posts
Jun 19, 2012
9:19 PM
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I have a couple of Manjis that are played a bunch. Never had any crushed covers. I have to wonder what kind of grip you use to crush them. What force I do apply is on the ends of the comb.
Last Edited by on Jun 19, 2012 9:20 PM
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JInx
226 posts
Jun 20, 2012
5:43 AM
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Thanks for the thread. My harp rack is starting to put the squash on my beloved crossover.
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Sun, sun, sun
Burn, burn, burn
Soon, soon, soon
Moon, moon, moon
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rogonzab
66 posts
Jun 20, 2012
6:25 AM
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Thxs to all of you for your kind responses.
Yes, I know that the main factor in the bending of the cover is not in te covers per se. I know that it is me, and I am going to try to relax (One of the most dificult thing to do, I think)
HarveyHarp,
Can you please put some picutres of how you do this? I don realy get it.
Txs a lot for all your help!
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