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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Hybrid harps
Hybrid harps
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the_happy_honker
130 posts
Aug 17, 2012
3:50 PM
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Most harp manufacturers make harps with parts that are interchangeable. As a man with a craving for new harps but of modest means, I often try making a hybrid harp to get a novel sound. Often the result is disappointing and I wind up switching things back, but occasionally I find a gem.
A few days ago I dug out my Harpmasters in G, A, C and D and switched the cover plates with the corresponding Hammonds. The "Harmond" (Harpmaster covers / Hammond reed plates and comb) still had a solid, full tone, but a bit brighter and more malleable. Pleasant, but unremarkable.
The big surprise was the "Hammaster" (Hammond cover plates / Harpmaster reed plates and comb). It has the bassiest, phattest acoustic sound I have ever heard. No mud! Each note is clearly defined without sounding enclosed or compressed. The 2 draw double bend is fantastic.
Until now, I've favored brighter, open harps like Marine Band or Manji, because bassier ones (think Hohner MS Pro Harp) strike me as boring (Seydel's Favorite is an exception in this regard. I think it has a nice, bassy tone without killing the higher overtones.). Treble adds life. But somehow the Hammaster manages to be bassy and a lot of fun.
The only caveat is that there can be a fair-sized gap between the coverplate the the front lip of the Harpmaster comb, which can be a source of air leak. Pressing the two edges together a bit solves the problem.
If anyone has any hybrid harps of note, please share your experience!
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BrokenComputerBlues
4 posts
Aug 17, 2012
7:58 PM
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I put Sp20 covers on a Piedmont, and vice versa. I know people think I'm crazy, but I love the feel of the plastic covers on my lips. Unfortunately, it makes the Sp20 reeds sound muted and yucky (that's the scientific term). I actually wrote Hohner and told them they should experiment with coating a metal comb with a plastic cover (on the theory that the surface of the inside of the comb is what is 'echoing' sound out and making something bright or muted). I also have a harp with really cheap reeds- a Piedmont or a Bluesharp i think with an insanely thin unstamped cover my brother found on a busted harp at a garage sale. My guess is maybe it was a sample for one of those novelty harps for special events you can get stamped with your company logo. The thing dented like crazy, but there was something about only having a little more than a sheet of tinfoil between your hands and the music that was really nice. You could feel the notes in your hands.
I'm still waiting for someone to experiment with making custom covers. I'm convinced that's got more to do with sound than combs, or at least our conception of what a comb is supposed to be. I won't rule out some crazy comb idea as yet unconcieved.
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