Martin
421 posts
Jul 22, 2013
3:07 PM
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This last year I´ve bought four Hering harmonicas (all of them at somewhat reduced prices, which is what enticed me).
Three of them are apallingly bad; a "Black blues" plays OK.
But what baffles me is that these three -- two Vintage 1923, supposedly a bit of a prestige instrument; one Master Blues, less expensive -- all have screws that are seriously untightened. And I don´t mean one or two screws, but all of them: cover plate screws as well as reed plate screws are totally loose. (Tightening the screws increased playability to some extent, but not enough.)
This indicates some sort of problem in their QAS, and I wonder, is this generally what is to be expected of Hering, or just a temporary slackening of screws and standards?
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9000
165 posts
Jul 22, 2013
7:07 PM
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The loose screws was an ongoing issue with the Vintage 1923 harps. I was using some from my backup box today. I had to open one up and was forced to remember that I used to always open them up when I received them and use locktite or similar when reassembling them. I found that tightening was not enough. I had to secure them or they would simply vibrate loose. The upside is that they were pretty nice playing harps and had great tone. Love their coverplates and adapt them to other harps when I find extras. I was playing an A and a C this morning and I could hit the 6 overblows on both without any adjustment. YMMV
All the best on the journey,
Jay
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Music speaks where words fail.
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jbone
1306 posts
Jul 22, 2013
7:47 PM
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Sorry to say, i love the looks of the vintage 23's but the love stops there for reasons already stated. Plus the tuning leaves me less than thrilled. I don't recall even if you can get reed plates for them but the turnaround time from Brazil always took too long.
I just won't bother with a harp that acts up that much.
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Gnarly
644 posts
Jul 22, 2013
8:30 PM
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Winslow says the first thing he does when he gets a harp is to disassemble and reassemble it--and he says it makes a difference.
I was sure the thread was about Hering reeds being vulnerable to breakage--that is the trouble I have come across in repairing people's harps. Because the reeds are responsive, you can damage the reeds by playing wrong.
Supply is also a concern but I am hoping Brendan's new relationship with Hering will change that.
I like the way Hering harps play!
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Sarge
333 posts
Jul 22, 2013
9:13 PM
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I really liked the vintage 23 when I got a good one and they were the only harp with 7 limit JI tuning which I prefer. The problem was that I'd get just as many that were bad as I did that were good.
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Wisdom does not always come with old age. Sometimes old age arrives alone.
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S-harp
149 posts
Jul 23, 2013
2:01 AM
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My first Hering Vintage were quite good ootb and at a deacent price. Now the price's gone up and the quality down.
Still, I really like the Vintage's tone with it's thicker reedplates and good coverplates. But they're not worth it. Flatsanding the draw plate for example is ... let's say ... interresting.
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The tone, the tone ... and the Tone
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Martin
425 posts
Jul 23, 2013
5:01 AM
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Thanks guys. The thing with them, apart from the screws (an issue even a technophobe like I can handle with some confidence) is that they´re impossibly leaky. Actually even to the point where it´s tough to determine the quality of the tone.
Many years ago I got replacement reedplates for another Hering harmonica, and after assembling them the harp was completely unplayable. It hardly made a sound.
My confidence in that company has not increased with recent experiences.
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MP
2843 posts
Jul 23, 2013
12:12 PM
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I've owned and worked on enough Herings to say they are of inconsistent quality no matter the model.
Some are sweet and others pretty messed up and some in between. These problems can be fixed but i really don't think a player should have to work on a new harp period.... in a perfect world....:-)
From Gnarly-
"Winslow says the first thing he does when he gets a harp is to disassemble and reassemble it--and he says it makes a difference."
i do this too and believe it makes a difference. I was at a players house last week and he pulled out a rotten Suzuki Olive. One of the problems was not Suzukis fault; there was gunk that seized some reeds.
But, the both reed plates were bowed and the action was set too low here and too high over there.
After cleaning, reassembly with proper screw tension, and a little gaping, the thing wasn't a leaky unfriendly nightmare.
the reason i mention all this is because you will find problems no matter what make or model harp you choose.
I find Hohners to be very consistent,save the MB 1896.
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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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Martin
428 posts
Jul 24, 2013
5:15 AM
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"i really don't think a player should have to work on a new harp period."
Very much agree there, but then: "in a perfect world".
Well, I´d say "period".
I don´t buy a new guitar and then have start to messing around with it in order to make it playable. Shouldn´t something similar be expected of harps?
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MP
2847 posts
Jul 24, 2013
11:53 AM
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Martin,
I used to work in a music store. Often, the first thing a guitar buyer would do is spend another $40 on a set-up. The strings were extra if he wanted half wound, mixed gauges, etc. like us, they want lower, faster action and not have to work hard. Of course there are guitarists who do the 'set-up' themselves.
Even so...you are right. I should have stopped at "period". :-)
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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 MP on Jul 24, 2013 11:55 AM
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