Harmonica Lewinskey
30 posts
Jul 17, 2015
2:24 PM
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So I was taking a blown Special 20 apart last night to salvage some screws and I noticed something interesting about their comb, which you might be able to see in this picture
In between the teeth of the comb is a black strip of plastic that seems to act as some sort of "partition", almost as if to guide the airstream up or down into the reeds.. I have not seen this on any of the other combs I have taken apart (mostly MS stuff and Seydel session steel), and it seems like it would be way too much of a pain in the ass to add this to the mold if it didn't do something significant to the sound. Special 20 harps do seem noticeably easier to bend than any other harps, and switching between a "bent" and "unbent" note in the same stream of air also seems much easier and I wonder if this little strip of plastic has something to do with it?
Watchu guys think?
-LeWin$key
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arzajac
1662 posts
Jul 17, 2015
2:51 PM
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They are called sprues.
They are there because of the injection moulding process, not because they are a design feature. As for airflow, some folks swear that it's best to cut them out.
But if I gave you two full custom special 20s, one with the sprues cut out and one with the sprues still there, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference (other than looking).
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica Combs and Tools.
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Harmonica Lewinskey
31 posts
Jul 17, 2015
3:24 PM
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Hm, crazy, I wonder why none of the other injection molded combs have them then?
-LeWin$key
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arzajac
1663 posts
Jul 17, 2015
3:29 PM
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The Golden Melody does...
But other manufacturer's don't.... I dunno...
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica Combs and Tools.
Last Edited by arzajac on Jul 17, 2015 3:30 PM
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Harp Study
111 posts
Jul 17, 2015
5:04 PM
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I've heard of people cutting them out, but I've never spent the time to mess with it. They don't seem to bother me; so I just leave them there for better or worse.
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Meaux Jeaux
92 posts
Jul 17, 2015
5:11 PM
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Yeah, the sprules are there to prevent the injection molded unit from warping as it cools, after that they serve no purpose other than being in the way if you want adjust gaps without completely disassembling the harp. As for sound projection, I too hear no discernible difference. On the GM if you wish to remove the sprules, I find it best to saw them out as opposed to using snippers, because the acrylic is brittle and can crack when pressure is applied.
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1847
2584 posts
Jul 17, 2015
6:24 PM
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does it say hohner on the back
or is it blank?
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Harmonica Lewinskey
32 posts
Jul 17, 2015
7:03 PM
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its blank
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mlefree
338 posts
Jul 21, 2015
9:24 AM
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Rick Epping, inventor of the Special 20, removes the sprues in the combs of his personal 20s.
That says enough for me.
Michelle
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SilverWingLeather.com
email: mlefree@silverwingleather.com
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shakeylee
321 posts
Jul 21, 2015
12:58 PM
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"Hm, crazy, I wonder why none of the other injection molded combs have them then?"
-LeWin$key
i think most do.you have just been taking apart more expensive harps :)
almost all cheaper harps have this
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www.shakeylee.com
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WinslowYerxa
927 posts
Jul 21, 2015
5:55 PM
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Did Rick Epping "invent" the Special 20? They've been around since about 1972, which I think is before Rick started working for Hohner
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Harmonica Lewinskey
43 posts
Jul 21, 2015
7:26 PM
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Even the Blue Midnight Hohner is "sprue-less", and I have gotten those new for 15 dollars off ebay before.. If anything I would consider the special 20 to be in a nicer category than most of the MS stuff. Thats why when I saw them in there I figured they where significant/purposeful.. I have an old comb and some tiny files sitting literally right in front of me right now just by chance soooooooooo I'm gonna see how this goes, lol. I'll let you know in a couple days if I like it better without 'em.
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-LeWin$key
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shakeylee
322 posts
Jul 21, 2015
9:28 PM
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yes,if you want a blue midnight,you can get an F for 12.95 to your door. they are indeed "sprueless" .
however,i believe the big river,GLH,scout,old standby,etc. had sprues.
suzuki harpmaster,bluesmaster and folkmaster,bushman delta frost,huang,and all those cheap jambones and johnson blues kings,i think,have sprues.
someone correct me where i am wrong.
interestingly,hering plastic combs do not have sprues
nor does LO,as far as i can tell
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www.shakeylee.com
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SuperBee
2741 posts
Jul 21, 2015
10:14 PM
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yeah for sure loads of them have sprues. i think you are right about jambones and folkmasters. i have a bluesmaster apart recently but i dont recall...the session doesn't? but the whole session comb is like a network of sprues...the sp20 comb has those locator pins and cover supports moulded in...big river comb isnt as good...or at least the big river isnt as good...the old MS sp 20 was a stinker...i dunno how much blame is with comb or plates. sprues...i only notice them when they get in the way. if you were in the know you could probably work out which plant the combs come from, if you cared.
sp20 combs are pretty good for stock plastic combs. the sprue may be important to the manufacture of the comb but its not important to how the harp plays. the sp20 is just a winning formula of reedplate, comb and covers. personally i prefer sandwich-type construction and i've put sp20 plates on solid combs of a couple different types and been pleased with results. but original comb is fine if you like that kinda thing.
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SuperBee
2742 posts
Jul 21, 2015
10:16 PM
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oh...yeah the OP...
nope, whether a harp is easy to play the bent notes on has sfa to do with sprue and a lot to do with reed shape and gaps and airtighness
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mlefree
342 posts
Jul 22, 2015
10:23 AM
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Right again, Perfessor Yerxa. I have been operating on the understanding that Rick Epping actually developed the injection mold for the Special 20 comb. But what I read must have referred to an Epping improvement because it seems he went to work for Hohner in 1987.
At any rate I do know that he removes the sprues from his Special 20 combs.
Thanks again,
Michelle
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SilverWingLeather.com
email: mlefree@silverwingleather.com
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