ungar
7 posts
Sep 30, 2013
2:23 AM
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I'm pretty new to the blues harp; I've got a Special 20 and a Crossover, and want to buy a G harp. I tried a standard Marine Band, really liked the tone, even more than the Crossover's, but I found its airtightness, or rather airlooseness, to be an absolute disaster. So I'm hesitating between another CO and a MB Deluxe for the G harp. Is the former really more airtight than the latter? Thanks for any input you may provide.
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GamblersHand
457 posts
Sep 30, 2013
3:31 AM
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In my experience the Crossover is airtight, bright and responsive, so is my first choice for lower-keyed harps
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arzajac
1150 posts
Sep 30, 2013
4:22 AM
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It's hit and miss. There is no out-of-the-box harp that is as airtight as it can be. The Crossover has a laminated bamboo comb which wouldn't swell even if it wasn't sealed with varnish. But that doesn't make it any flatter than the MB classic or Deluxe combs.
All three of those harps can be made to perform equally well if worked on. You can flat sand the draw reed plate and the combs yourself (or send them to someone who can do it for, say, $15 per harp which includes extras....)
Does the Crossover get extra work done on it at the factory? I think it does, but not the kind of work that makes it more airtight than the others.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
Last Edited by arzajac on Sep 30, 2013 4:23 AM
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ungar
8 posts
Sep 30, 2013
4:27 AM
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Thanks for those answers. I'm really talking Out of the Box; at this point I'm not ready to fool around with harmonicas other than gapping. My experience so far has been that Crossovers are definitely more airtight than standard MBs, all those I've tried anyway. My only question is whether MB Deluxes are somewhere in between, or whether they as a rule are as airtight as COs. I love the MB's tone, and if I could combine that with the COs ease of play I'd be a happy vamper.
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arzajac
1151 posts
Sep 30, 2013
5:03 AM
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Ungar, yes you can but not out-of-the-box..
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
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GamblersHand
459 posts
Sep 30, 2013
5:43 AM
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My last word on the subject - while I've never played a custom harp, I never much enjoyed playing a G harp in 2nd position before I bought a Crossover.
YMMV and all that...
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groyster1
2411 posts
Sep 30, 2013
6:23 AM
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I have both crossovers and mb deluxe....the only difference to me is the comb...the deluxe plays just as well....the newer mb 1896 are now as good as ever...especially the artist setup ones
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