Sherwin
133 posts
Mar 20, 2014
5:34 AM
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I do wish the someone at the factory in Trossingen would turn some knob a little bit one way or the other.
I have run across a whole lot of current production M.B.1896s with deformed reed plates as a result of them being stamped on a toggle/arbor press to establish the groove to accommodate the leading edge of the cover plates......STOP production, turn adjustment knob, stamp a few plates, make necessary checks, turn knob, stamp a few more plates, check....and resume production!
The harp is not as airtight as it would be without this defect. The crazy saw marks on the comb are a thing of the past, thank goodness, and I do find it remarkable how well the new M.B.s play otb, even ones with this condition but when making a custom harp and the reed plate with the bend along it's length is the blow plate......well, time to: remove each and every reed, sand the plate flat, and then reattach the reeds if you want to make an airtight seal between comb and reed plate. Hello Mr. Rivet stick......
Michael
Edited to add STOP production
Last Edited by Sherwin on Mar 20, 2014 5:37 AM
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Sherwin
134 posts
Mar 20, 2014
5:57 AM
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Message to Hohner:
You are getting so many things right with the current production M.B.s, how about just one more small thing?
Sincerely........Michael S. Mitchell
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Slimharp
250 posts
Mar 20, 2014
6:42 AM
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Sherwin, it's all about profit. I dont know if the bench workers work on piece work quota or not, but doing what you suggest would stop the line, heaven forbid. I must say overall the quality is starting to get better and most people that buy their harps dont notice what you do !. I do know if you have your receipt, withing 30 days of purchase you can send the defective harp back to Hohner America and they will fix or replace. What a hassel. One day I went to Sam Ash cause I needed a G in a hurry. I went through all the MB G's they had ( 4 ) and they all had reed rattle on draw 1. Luckily I knew the sales person, played them in front of him and I wound up getting a Sp 20. Nature of the beast.
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harpwrench
800 posts
Mar 20, 2014
6:53 AM
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Are you sure that's how they do it? I've never been there and don't know. The groove may spec'd into the purchase of the brass strips, and they just stamp them. Again, I dunno. But it's nothing new and dealing with it is part of the job.
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Sherwin
135 posts
Mar 20, 2014
6:57 AM
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Yes Slim, there would be no company without the profits.
Point taken, and I don't want to cause Hohner to lose money.
BUT..........
One of the mechanics could do this work after hours, I'm sure.
Michael
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Sherwin
136 posts
Mar 20, 2014
7:17 AM
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Harpwrench no I haven't seen how it's done. Sadly the factory tour when I was there in 2013 for the Harmonica Masters Workshop was scheduled for a day that turned out to be some mandatory holiday for pretty much everyone, and the factory was closed. That's why I can't answer your question with any certainty.
Yeah, there is that 'it is what it is' thing in effect here, and if it were all so easy then everyone would be makin' wonderful custom harps, and they'd be less expensive.;)
Michael
Edited to add winky
Last Edited by Sherwin on Mar 20, 2014 7:22 AM
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JustFuya
13 posts
Mar 20, 2014
12:42 PM
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It looks cut to me. Maybe even scraped with something along the line of a keyway cutter. I'm noting the grain along the length.
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STME58
689 posts
Mar 21, 2014
3:49 PM
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I agree with JustFuya, this looks cut.I also see the slot has a secondary purpose, to collect gunk!
Last Edited by STME58 on Mar 21, 2014 4:04 PM
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