SuperBee
1143 posts
May 27, 2013
6:34 AM
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I just replaced a couple of standard MS blues harp combs with hetrick bamboo. Also a special 20 with hetrick bamboo.
All these harps were well-playing harps already, but the combs have lifted them to another level. The MS combs are a little thicker than the standard and smooth, rounded times, and flat...those blues harps are really very nice now.
And the special 20... Oh boy! I hadn't dreamed it would make such a difference. I was spewing about losing my favourite crossover but a special 20 with a bamboo comb is so good I really am not feeling like I'm missing out at all. I'm gonna repair my crossover but I'd say this sp20 is now among the very best in my case. I use a D more than any other key for gigs, and the loss of my favourite crossover was hard to take. But now I'd say the sp20 is at least as good. I hadn't imagined the comb would make such a difference.
I really hope these bamboo combs will be available for a while but I've got a bad feeling I read somewhere they are not being made anymore...
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Last Edited by SuperBee on May 27, 2013 6:35 AM
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Kingley
2682 posts
May 27, 2013
6:48 AM
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I seem to recall hearing the same thing. Maybe you should buy as many as you can afford now, just in case.
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arzajac
1056 posts
May 27, 2013
7:21 AM
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Matthew Smart told me that Hohner has a patent on (laminated) bamboo combs and enforce it. That wasn't a big reason why he left the business but it was a hassle.
I bought some combs from Matthew a few weeks ago to tide me over until I am up and running making my own combs.
There probably won't be a steady source of bamboo combs any more. But don't worry about finding quality combs. The substance the combs are made of has very little to do with tone, comfort and performance. The Hetrick combs effect is probably due to flatness more than anything else.
Don't interpret this as "dissing" because it may sound that way, but I will not be making combs out of bamboo - there are a lot of advantages to bamboo, but there are better materials out there.
Basically, cheaper, better and easier (therefore even cheaper). Not to mention even more environmentally friendly.
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harp-er
395 posts
May 27, 2013
7:22 AM
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My understanding is that these hetrick bamboo combs are no longer being made, and that the only ones available might be from rockinron's who may have a few left in stock. I'd be interested in knowing where you (recently) got yours. I'm also a fan of these bamboos, and have put them on several of my GM's already.
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Gibbo
16 posts
May 27, 2013
8:09 AM
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I think I may have bought the last Hetrick Marine Band bamboo comb from Rockin Ron's. I'm still trying to find some reed plates worthy of the honor of encasing it.
Doesn't Blue Moon Harmonicas make a bamboo comb?
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Gibbo
Harp Player in Training
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Littoral
884 posts
May 27, 2013
8:10 AM
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"Basically, cheaper, better and easier (therefore even cheaper). Not to mention even more environmentally friendly."
Intrigued about the environmental angle. Bamboo?
Otherwise, crazy Hohner could patent it. Crap is a better word. I assume they don't sell the combs.
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Kingley
2683 posts
May 27, 2013
8:23 AM
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"I assume they don't sell the combs."
Yes they do. You can buy bamboo combs (Crossover and Thunderbird combs )direct from Hohner at the www.hohner-cshop.de
You can also buy every other part of the harp. The combs are currently €25.38 each. which for Superbee would be approx $34 AUS each, plus shipping.
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arzajac
1057 posts
May 27, 2013
8:40 AM
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Littoral: Hohner patented the Laminated Bamboo comb when they designed the Crossover.
Bamboo can be a "green" (eco-friendly, environmentally-friendly, low carbon-footprint) substance, but it's hard to find. Laminating it means processing it and gluing layers of it together. That process adds to the ecological impact.
The only source of laminated bamboo I could find that that would ensure that the bamboo came from renewable sources and that would tell me what was used to laminate it (including a material data safety sheet) was obscenely expensive - prohibitive to my using it in combs by a long shot.
The stuff I am prototyping is affordable and the company encourages the use of off-cuts just so that they can reduce waste and keep the environmental impact low.
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harp-er
396 posts
May 27, 2013
9:15 AM
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I have never seen bamboo combs on Tom's (Bluemoon) website. He makes other wood combs, which are slightly thinner in profile (.22-.23") than the standard .25" GM combs any way, and the hetrick bamboo combs, which I personally prefer. I'd be willing to try one if he decided to make bamboo in standard profile thickness, for a reasonable price, of course.
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SuperBee
1145 posts
May 27, 2013
2:03 PM
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I got mine from RR. I'm happy with my crossover harps with stock comb. I recently put a crossover comb on a deluxe and it improved it noticeably, which started me thinking about installing aftermarket combs on my BH and Sp20. I expected the BH would be improved but the Sp20 is a revelation.
Hetrick bamboo from RR was $26, plus postage to me is about the cost of another comb. If I had the setup to modify my 1896 MB harps I'd be upgrading those also. I have a couple of MB harps with Corian and I like those too, but something about the 'woodiness' of bamboo appeals. I've no doubt the material is relatively insignificant and the engineering is key.
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florida-trader
306 posts
May 27, 2013
5:52 PM
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I do make wood combs. Harp-er, the Padauk GM comb that you got from me in Jan. 2012 might have been, as you say, .22” - .23”. Since then, I have adopted the stock thicknesses of Hohner combs. I make the Marine Band combs .235” and the rest .250”. Presently I use maple, cherry and Jatoba (which is a dark brown Brazilian cherry). I do have a handful of bamboo combs for Marine Band Crossovers and Deluxes.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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SuperBee
1151 posts
May 27, 2013
6:57 PM
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I should add, that postage I quote above was for a bunch of stuff besides the combs, and its halfway around the world. I didn't mean to give an impression I think it's expensive. I keep doing business at Rockin' Ron's because as far as I'm concerned he sets the standard for service and price. I'm super-satisfied every time.
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GMaj7
215 posts
May 27, 2013
7:00 PM
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Blue Moon's stuff is 3/100 thinner... really????????????
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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harp-er
399 posts
May 27, 2013
9:42 PM
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Hey Tom,that's good to know. I wasn't aware of that. I've found that paduak comb to be beautiful, and I've gotten used to it's thinner profile, but I do prefer the standard thickness. I can tell the difference, believe it or not. I'll have to have another look at your site.
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