|
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Recessed Coverplates
Recessed Coverplates
Page:
1
CJames
93 posts
Dec 31, 2009
1:59 AM
|
I think recessed coverplates is the right word for it...either way, plastic combed harmonicas like SP20 and bluesmasters etc. have them, where the comb protrudes past the coverplats. I think they're the most comfortably designed harps as my experience with non-recessed cover harps often cut slightly, or pull facial hair (especially hohners). The only thing is there's not a lot more harps like this out there, besides the seydel session and perhaps one/two more.
I think even after trying promasters and bluesmasters, I always come back to my self custom SP20s. What I basically want is a really comfortable harp that is of high quality, so even if there's non-recessed models that are really comfortable still, maybe you can suggest them to me.
I've heard the Manji feels similar to a SP20 playability wise - can anyone yey or ney this theory.
Cheers guys
|
Kyzer Sosa
66 posts
Dec 31, 2009
2:05 AM
|
not really. I hear that too, but the fact is, the comb doesnt protrude like the 20's do. the manji is much more like a MB or any other harp like it in that regard. the teeth of the combs do go flush with the reed plates, but as far as other peoples comparisons of the manji to the 20, i can only guess they speak of the way the comb feels in their mouth. ie, both are plastic based, the manji having a composite of plastic and wood, but they both have a distinct difference once in the mouth.
|
mickil
792 posts
Dec 31, 2009
3:04 AM
|
Firstly, I would say that the Hering 1923 seems pretty easy on the lips to me.
As for harps with recessed reed plates - it is those that are recessed, not the covers - being easier to play, I'm not sure if that's the case. Though, at one time I would've agreed with you in a blink.
A few days ago, I put up a thread about this topic, the first post of which outlined my problem, and the last post its final solution, which is still working, thank goodness!
In a word, I suppose that the ease with which, or not, as the case may be, that you can adjust to any given harp is just 'relaxation'. Of course, it's exact opposite can creep in over time and make things harder than they need to be.
Anyway, I'm going a bit off your topic.
Other wood combed MB style harps that are easier on the mouth than MBs themselves are: Seydel Soloists (the newer one withouth the black painted comb), Soloist Pros, MB Dlx, MB Xovr, and - I can't think of any others.
One thing I would say, and I'd really like to hear others' thoughts on this, is that those easier harps can give you a false sense of achievement: when you learn to play the torture device that is a stock MB without shedding buckets of blood you are really getting the hang of a semi-pro, decent embouchure.
I hope I'm not hijacking your thread too much, hence my other harp suggestions.
----------
YouTube SlimHarpMick a.k.a. HarmonicaMick
Last Edited by on Dec 31, 2009 3:10 AM
|
barbequebob
272 posts
Dec 31, 2009
5:16 AM
|
First of all, the correct terminology is recessed reedplates and NOT recessed coverplates (which there`s no such thing). With recessed reedplates, just like any other harp, you DO need to be very vigilant about keeping them clean because if saliva and/or layers of dead skin are allowed to build up and dry, that can and WILL eventually cut the living crap out of your lips. When I used to have a moustache, hairs would also get caught on these harps as well and outside of shaving it off, the only way to truly prevent that is to ALWAYS keep it neat and trimmed and NEVER let it get bushy and messy EVER. These plastic combs CAN warp if left out for extended periods of time in extreme heat or if you`re foolish enough to boil it in order to clean it. These combs can also crack if left in extremely cold conditions for an extended period of time or if you drop it. I`m sure this sounds like I`m "peeing in your Wheaties," but this is a bit of a reality check if you think that there is ANY such thing as a "perfect" comb set up.
----------
Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
|
jawbone
192 posts
Dec 31, 2009
6:15 AM
|
"NEVER let it get bushy and messy EVER."
But BBQ, that's what I call Flowing and Luxurious, you don't want me to get rid of my trademark, do you?? I won't do it, I won't do it!!!;-)
----------
If it ain't got harp - it ain't really blues!!!!
|
barbequebob
273 posts
Dec 31, 2009
9:06 AM
|
Then you gotta realize that you're gonna have to deal with that, like it or not, and if you lay a chromatic, the hairs often get caught in the slide and I've personally experienced all of that and keeping moustaches and beards neatly trimmed at all times is the only REAL solution.
----------
Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
|
nacoran
625 posts
Dec 31, 2009
10:27 AM
|
Lee Oskars are the only harps I really have problems with my mustache with. I prefer recessed reeds, but I've heard that can be a feature of how well the reed plate edge is smoothed down. I just got a Seydel Favorite. It's plates aren't recessed, but it's also got a different style cover, which I find is much easier on the lips.
With my sandwich style harps I actually like to bend the lip out a little bit so it lines up with the front of the comb, although if you don't get it just right it makes things worse.
As to your theory of high quality harps being easier on your lips, I say some harps certainly are easier. My Golden Melody chews my lip up (although the half-moon shape feels great in my hand.) The Seydel Favorite is the most comfortable harp I've held, even without recessed reeds. (Better than L.O.s, G.M.s, Special 20's, BluesHarps, Blues Bands (the least comfortable), Piedmonts (terrible taste at first, but pretty comfortable to play), Pucks, etc.)
|
blueswannabe
5 posts
Dec 31, 2009
10:50 AM
|
Try a Bushman Delta Frost. They are very playable harps, great sounding, and smooth. They have a plastic comb and recessed reed plates.
|
barbequebob
276 posts
Dec 31, 2009
11:39 AM
|
Many harps often come out of the factory with minute burrs on the cover plates and the reed plates, and there is no one single parrticular brand that doesn't have this problem from time to time. What you may want to do is remove both the cover plates as well as the reed plates and then get a high quality ultra fine sandpaper (1000 grit or better) and gently sand down the edges. Only custom harps will be the ones that never have problems with that.
----------
Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
|
Gwood420
84 posts
Dec 31, 2009
11:43 AM
|
i think the seydel silver + has recessed plates..
i like the bluesmasters(promaster dosnt have em) recessed plates, but now that i have played the manji and the silver(not +) i dont think it matters that much.. just needed a better made harp.. i think if you just round the corners of the mb harp just a LITTLE bit, you realy wouldnt notice it on there either...
|
barbequebob
278 posts
Dec 31, 2009
12:02 PM
|
If you ever get to fork out the dough for a custom harp, regardless of which customer and which model you want, one of the very first things they do is eliminate all of the sharp edges and any burrs that are on the cover plates as well as the reed plates. As long as you're gonna buy stock harps, no matter what the price point, burrs are still gonna happen and all of the hand labor that's done on a custom and asking maufacturers to do that would make it very cost prohibitive to the average player because that would take a considerable abount of time and a lot of people to take off the production lines and for them, it would be very, very expensive, and if you really want them to do that, reality says, you're gonna have to pay for it because the costs ar ALWAYS gonna be passed on to you, the consumer and the player.
----------
Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
|
mickil
793 posts
Dec 31, 2009
12:18 PM
|
As for myself, I don't recall ever having noticeable burrs on any cover plates.
The 1847s are pressed - if that's the right word - at the front corners, as are all - I think - the MS harps. Well, Big Rivers and Blues Harps, for sure.
Perhaps I've been fortunate, but I can't recall any such problems, not with cover plates, anyway.
----------
YouTube SlimHarpMick a.k.a. HarmonicaMick
Last Edited by on Dec 31, 2009 12:20 PM
|
Post a Message
|
