Kingley
2206 posts
Jan 19, 2013
1:05 PM
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I've been reading today that the Marine Band Deluxe now has a fully sealed comb. Has anyone played one of these with the new sealed combs?
How do they compare out of the box to the Hohner Crossover?
How do they compare to the Marine Band 1896 (Classic) with the sealed comb?
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MP
2652 posts
Jan 19, 2013
2:48 PM
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just fixed one the other day.
(mine are the unsealed type)
they are completely sealed as advertised. just make sure it comes in the zippered pouch and is not old stock.
they are every bit as good as the Crossover but the tuning is straight MB 1896 Compromise whereas the Crossover has its own tuning and doesn't flat the thirds fifths and sevenths as much. Crossover is -5 as opposed to Compromise -12
i like the look and feel of them too. to me, they are everything an 1896 should be. they sound great!
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info-
repair videos on YouTube.
you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados
Last Edited by on Jan 19, 2013 2:50 PM
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Kingley
2207 posts
Jan 19, 2013
2:41 PM
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Thanks for the info Mark.
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MP
2653 posts
Jan 19, 2013
2:59 PM
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no problem. i can't tell them apart from my 1896s soundwise. only my pre-war 1896s differ dramatically
but that's a different animal.
Oh and the Crossover is 443. MBD 442 like an 1896 but you probably know this already. i'll be quiet now:)
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info-
repair videos on YouTube.
you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados
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Kingley
2208 posts
Jan 19, 2013
2:51 PM
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Hahaha! Thanks Mark. I knew the Deluxe and Crossover were different tunings. I didn't know that one was 443 and the other was 442 though.
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Frank
1894 posts
Jan 19, 2013
5:26 PM
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To me, comparing the Hohners in the key of "A"... the new sealed 1896 is a dark bright, the sealed deluxe is brighter and the Crossover is brightest.
Last Edited by on Jan 19, 2013 5:27 PM
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Kingley
2209 posts
Jan 20, 2013
12:17 AM
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Thanks Frank. That's a great description. I might have to give one of those sealed Deluxe a go.
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SuperBee
849 posts
Jan 20, 2013
2:39 AM
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I have all those 3 in A also...oh except my Deluxe is 5 years old. I didn't realise it wasn't sealed actually. Anyway, all 3 are great harps. MP replaced a reed on my crossover, but otherwise they're all stock, just gapped. The deluxe is actually my very favourite harp.
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Kingley
2210 posts
Jan 20, 2013
2:36 AM
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Thanks SuperBee - I've played the old style partially sealed Deluxe and it was a good harp. I really like the 1896, but want something that's easier to work on when needed. I can't be bothered these days drilling and tapping them so I'm thinking the Deluxe might be the way to go. Plus they're about £10 cheaper than a Crossover here in the UK.
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SuperBee
850 posts
Jan 20, 2013
3:22 AM
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Same here Kingley.
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groyster1
2133 posts
Jan 20, 2013
6:08 AM
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I think the deluxe sounds as good or better than the XO....the construction of both is superior to the classic but bought a new 1896 and it plays very well...like many of you I hate the nails...
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Pistolcat
357 posts
Jan 20, 2013
8:22 AM
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I think that my mbd:s sound better than my xos and play better too. I have only one mb with sealed comb and that one is a custom and outshines all my other harps but not really a fair comparison.
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Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
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Kingley
2214 posts
Jan 20, 2013
8:47 AM
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Yeah I find the Crossover can be a little too bright sometimes.
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CarlA
241 posts
Jan 20, 2013
10:08 AM
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Just bought 2 marine bands key C D for $25.99 at guitar center. I think I am liking them as much as the sp 20
-Carl
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groyster1
2134 posts
Jan 20, 2013
1:22 PM
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bought a new one for $29 on Ebay....a real bargain....plays very well
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Sherwin
8 posts
Jan 20, 2013
3:15 PM
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I like the nails, am I the only one?
My custom MBs: arced, gapped, embossed, reed plates straightened draw reed plate sanded flat, comb flattened, teeth rounded, sealed w. lacquer, cover plates have sharp edges blunted.
No cosmetic alterations whatsoever, tight as a drum, smooth as silk, looks totally stock!
The only thing I've bought to put on my harps are some OEM nails from Hohner to replace lost nails.
I guess I just like the challenge, and also it is straightforward...no drilling etc. etc.
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Sherwin
9 posts
Jan 20, 2013
3:45 PM
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Forgot to mention return tuning to MB compromise ( i wish it was possible to leave out that step)
Back to the subject of this thread, I find the new MBs' gapping too wide but otherwise great. Haven't played a new MBD but like the old ones, Xover really nice but not necessarily worth the difference in price.
I find that they (of course) all benefit from the smallest amount of gapping work, and simply being taken apart and carefully reassembled.
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groyster1
2135 posts
Jan 20, 2013
4:51 PM
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@sherwin
the screws do not make the mb1896 play better....but screws make it more user friendly for unmechanically inclined people like me....I have had some success gapping
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SuperBee
855 posts
Jan 20, 2013
5:30 PM
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Hey Sherwin, I like the nails in the covers but not in the plates. I'm intimidated by them in the plates. Just haven't got a good method of extraction.
In the covers though, I think they are cool, faster and easier to remove and refit than bolts, although I always take the bolts out of the rear and just run with the two in front. Haven't noticed any change in performance and it makes cover removal much easier.
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HarveyHarp
451 posts
Jan 20, 2013
10:52 PM
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@SuperBee. Say What??
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HarveyHarp
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SuperBee
860 posts
Jan 20, 2013
11:52 PM
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I guess I could say it again HH, but its up above and you can just read it.
Which bit bothers you, the fact I find nailed-on covers convenient, or that I take the rear bolts out of crossover and MBD covers and don't find any difference in performance?
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SergZZZ
57 posts
Jan 21, 2013
12:03 AM
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I don't like MB classic from the not so practical. But MBD/MBC this is probably the best harmonics. Modern combs MBD varnished with all of the parties. And they have an acceptable price. MBD worth the money 100%.
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www.ermonica.com
Last Edited by on Jan 21, 2013 4:31 AM
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HarveyHarp
453 posts
Jan 21, 2013
7:01 AM
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SB, I thought you were talking about MB classic all the way.
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HarveyHarp
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1847
460 posts
Jan 21, 2013
7:56 AM
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superbee first thing i did with the crossover
was to take out the back two screws
faster to take apart that way
i am also ok with nails
i plan on using the screws from the cover plate and replacing the nails on the reed plate on a 1896
just cause i can ... pretty simple to drill a clearance hole an insert the crossover screw
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SuperBee
864 posts
Jan 21, 2013
8:21 PM
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Oh, yeah ok Harvey, yeah I see how that was unclear. Sorry.
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Kingley
2231 posts
Jan 22, 2013
9:34 AM
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I received a couple of the new fully sealed MB Deluxe harps in the post today. Very nice harps indeed and best of all, I didn't even need to do any gapping on either of them.
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