Owen Evans
62 posts
Jul 20, 2015
2:49 PM
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I can imagine that one or two of you have tried this harp and I am looking for your opinions on it:
http://www.antonydannecker.com/product/dannecker-centurion-chrome/
It's fitted with Marine Band Deluxe reed plates and I like the sound of these in my Crossovers.
Or would I be just as well served by buying a brass comb from Tom at Blue Moon harmonicas and swapping it out in one of my Crossovers?
Inquiring minds need to know. Thanks.
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Meaux Jeaux
93 posts
Jul 20, 2015
3:13 PM
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I have an older model (3 years) Dannecker Blues, with Miesterclass reed plates, on a chrome plated brass comb of Anthony's design, the harmonica weighs 247gms.
It plays wonderfully, everything offered is there, pricey$$ but if you are looking for a superb instrument a Dannecker is a good choice. I have built harmonicas on Tom's Blue Moon combs too, one of my favorites is one I built using Suzuki Fabulous reed plates tuned to 7LJI, matched with a Blue anodized BMH Promaster comb, with promaster mouthcovers. Tom's combs are Flat! After a quick sand on the bottom plate I have one very tight, very responsive instrument.
My total investment was a hell of a lot less than the price of a Suzuki Fabulous.
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Gnarly
1431 posts
Jul 20, 2015
6:09 PM
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Christelle is playing these, they must be good.
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mlefree
339 posts
Jul 21, 2015
9:25 AM
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I'd play 'em too if Antony would give a few to me.
Michelle
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SilverWingLeather.com
email: mlefree@silverwingleather.com
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mlefree
340 posts
Jul 21, 2015
9:40 AM
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Hey, Meaux -
I've been wondering about Tom's anodized aluminum plates. I have a full set of Suzuki Promasters which also have anodized aluminum combs. I love the harps but I cannot play them using a tongue block embouchure because of the difference in electric potentials of aluminum comb and brass reed plates. The Galvalanic reaction between the two metals when they come in contact with my saliva causes an uncomfortable feeling on my lips and tongue and an unpleasant taste when I play TB'ed.
So I wonder if Tom, the comb genius who has really turned my stubborn head about his customs combs, has figured out an anodizing process that effectively insulates the aluminum from coming into electrical contact with the brass reed plates? In other words, when you (or others) play your Fabulous can you detect any signs of that unwanted Galvanic reaction?
Thanks!
Michelle
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SilverWingLeather.com
email: mlefree@silverwingleather.com
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Meaux Jeaux
94 posts
Jul 21, 2015
10:14 AM
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I haven't noticed any sort of unpleasantness from any of Tom's BMH anodized aluminum combs that I own. I have built a Plunz from a kit from BMH, also on an anodized aluminum comb.
However, my old man body chemistry stops most wristwatches I try to wear, cold, after a couple days,
so perhaps I have developed some sort of immunity to Galvanic Reaction.
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STME58
1382 posts
Jul 21, 2015
11:18 AM
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I have a ProMaster with one of Tom's anodized aluminum combs and it does not have the galvanic problem I had with the stock comb. The anodize coat is not an electrical conductor and if it is thick enough, and intact, there will be no reaction between the brass and aluminum. I only had the problem with the original come in one area where the anodizing was scratched off. Anodize thickness can be controlled and specified. My original Promaster comb had very noticeable saw marks and was hard to bend on holes 2 and 3. With the new comb it is a very much improved instrument.
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STME58
1383 posts
Jul 21, 2015
11:22 AM
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Meau Jeaux writes "However, my old man body chemistry stops most wristwatches I try to wear, cold, after a couple days,"
The song goes "and the clock, stopped never to run again when the old man died". There is a clock on my wall that stopped the night the woman who gave it to us died, and it has not run since!
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Popculture Chameleon
86 posts
Jul 21, 2015
2:29 PM
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I only heard about these after watching Berthon playing them online. I love the sound on the harps that she is able to produce but they are insanely expensive. the ceapest models are 210 in British pounds. its even more translated into American money. I too have only heard good things abut the harp though.
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bigd
588 posts
Jul 21, 2015
4:02 PM
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I bought one of his MS Meisterklasse's in G a couple of years ago for a very decent price: It came quick (a week or 2) and i liked it but there was a reed sticking intermittently. I know this can happen when the reeds settle post set-up. I contacted him and he sent a replacement out within a few days telling me to keep the original sent as well. His service was impeccable, polite, generous, and expeditious! Great guy...
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shakeylee
323 posts
Jul 21, 2015
9:35 PM
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michelle,i have a proharp set up with one of the bluemoon anodized combs.i don't taste anything funny,but i have the recessed reed plate style comb.
i have them in brass and acrylic too. very nice!!
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www.shakeylee.com
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mlefree
343 posts
Jul 22, 2015
10:32 AM
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Thanks, fellas. That's what I was hoping to hear about Tom's anodized aluminum combs. I have a couple of his Marine Band combs and they are stellar. That's why I am thinking of converting as many of my other harps to BMH combs one by one as I can afford them. Maybe I'll check to see if he has any at the SPAH swap meet.
Michelle
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SilverWingLeather.com
email: mlefree@silverwingleather.com
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nacoran
8594 posts
Jul 22, 2015
11:45 AM
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mlfree, that wouldn't be an issue with the brass ones, would it? I've only tried his acrylics. His recessed acrylics are amazing.
I've never played a Danneker. I know at one point he was focusing more on the aesthetics of it but heard that he'd gotten into more customization. Since I haven't played one I can only comment on the aesthetics. They are really beautiful looking harps. (Also, they've been around a while and I've never heard any complaints, so they seem to be good to do business with.)
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Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
First Post- May 8, 2009
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harmonicanick
2276 posts
Jul 22, 2015
2:52 PM
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I was ripped off by Danneker many years ago, I wouldent touch anything from him with a barge pole
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florida-trader
731 posts
Jul 22, 2015
5:48 PM
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Thanks to all who have posted flattering comments about my combs. I appreciate it.
Michelle - the comments echoed here about my anodized aluminum combs are entirely consistent with the feedback I have received whenever the subject of galvanic reaction has popped up.
STME58 - I have a bunch of the stock ProMaster combs on which you can clearly see saw marks. It is obvious that they are made by cutting slots into a long brick of aluminum and then slicing off individual combs from the brick like cutting slices of bread from a loaf. The other clue is the squared corners on the inside of the slots.
I'm not sure why some folks get that electrical jolt from the ProMaster combs but not the Blue Moon combs. I suppose my anodizer just keeps them in the vat a little longer.
But to address the question posed by the POP, that's a tough one to call. Danneker harps are works of art. If you have the $$$$ and want to own one then I say go for it. 240 Pounds = about $375 US. You could get about 3 Crossovers with Brass Blue Moon combs for that much. It's up to you. It would be my pleasure to help you if you come my way.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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STME58
1384 posts
Jul 22, 2015
6:52 PM
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Tom, you wrote, "they are made by cutting slots into a long brick of aluminum and then slicing off individual combs from the brick like cutting slices of bread from a loaf.", and I agree with that but what kind of process do you think they cut the slots with? Note that the center tine has a bulge around the screw hole that could not have been done with a rotary cutter. Was the "loaf" broached, extruded or what?
Do you specify the annodize process and or thickness? I would hate to have you change vendors or have your vendor change processes and end up with thinner coatings that might not be dielectic.
Last Edited by STME58 on Jul 22, 2015 6:52 PM
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Owen Evans
64 posts
Jul 22, 2015
9:26 PM
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Thanks to everyone who enlightened me herein, I really appreciate it. I believe that a status symbol isn't what I want nor would I be comfortable playing it. This winter, I'll order a brass combs from Tom, see how it plays for me and decide where I go thereafter. It's a lot less expensive for me to order while living in Florida than paying duties, taxes & shipping into Canada especially with a 76 cent dollar right now.
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mlefree
345 posts
Jul 23, 2015
9:36 AM
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Tom, I've had my problems with that ProMaster Galvanic reaction issue. The endorsements I've heard speak volumes to the fact that BMH combs don't have the same problem. On to the piggy bank!
Michelle
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SilverWingLeather.com
email: mlefree@silverwingleather.com
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florida-trader
734 posts
Jul 23, 2015
10:57 AM
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One more thing STME58. I forgot to answer your other question about whether or not I specify a certain thickness. The answer is no, I don't. I have used two different vendors over the years and have not had any issues with the thickness of the anodizing. And it isn't about the thickness per se. It is about the insulating and non-conductive properties. Perhaps they go hand in hand. It makes me wonder why some people have an issue with other anodized aluminum combs - and it is a very real issue because it has been brought to my attention many times. I hate to throw stones but it just seems like the cause is sloppy workmanship. I'll be doing a workshop about combs (what else?) at SPAH in a few weeks. I did a similar workshop at The Harmonica Collective in Indianapolis back at the beginning of May. I did point out the saw marks on ProMaster and Marine Band combs as evidence of the quality (or lack thereof) of stock combs. If you have a few ProMaster combs that you can test, measure the thickness of them. It is very inconsistent. It isn't how thick they are that matters to me so much as the lack of consistency. All of this just tells me that the major manufacturers more or less take the comb for granted and their goal is to produce them as cheaply as they can. If this is true then it would not surprise me if they skimp a little on the anodizing too. I have no evidence of this but I'm just connecting the dots.
Michelle - I'll see you at SPAH.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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Owen Evans
65 posts
Jul 23, 2015
9:43 PM
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Hey Tom, I took this off line on e-mail
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STME58
1385 posts
Jul 23, 2015
10:29 PM
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Tom, did you notice that the word specify in my previous post was a link to one of the best descriptions that I have found of what anodize is, and how to specify it? A quick check recommended to test for the presence of clear anodize is to use an ohm meter. If the resistance between two points and the part is low, the part is not anodized. Also, the anodize both grows into the part and swells out from the part. If you were to carefully measure the thickness of part before and after anodizing, you could estimate the thickness of the coating.
On the cutting of Promaster slots. I had thought of a vertical axis milling cutter with a notch around the waist but that would leave a bump on both sides of the slot, unless the slot was done in two passes with cutters much narrower than the slot. I don't have the comb handy, but I remember not seeing marks inside the comb tines typical of vertical end milling. I figured if the did not bother to polish out the saw mark where they are critical and easy to reach, they sure would not polish out marks inside the teeth where they are hard to reach and don't matter. If you get a chance to look closely at one of these combs, I would live to hear further thoughts from you on how you think they were produced.
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florida-trader
735 posts
Jul 24, 2015
11:08 AM
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STME58. Thanks for the article on anodizing. I did not notice it in your previous post. I found it very interesting and informative, although some of the other readers might find it a bit boring. I know that we are using Type II anodizing. I do not specify a thickness. It is possible that my machine shop does. They make parts for the military and airline industry and frequently my "parts" are mixed in with a batch of their "parts" and done at the same time. I plan to forward this article to them and ask about their SOP.
As for the bulge in the center tine it would seem to me that there would have to be two different cutters with different lengths to make the bulge symmetric but the depth of the chamber different lengths. I would speculate that the undesired bump on the 4th and 6th tines (teeth) are removed with a single pass of an End Mill with a smaller diameter. I don't think it would require polishing per se.
Finally, I was having a bit of deja vu about this conversation. I checked my notes and found that you and I exchanged several emails on this subject about two years ago. I do have some new news on some of the other things we discussed, such as fine blanking.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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mlefree
348 posts
Jul 25, 2015
9:59 AM
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Suzuki just says "Satin anodized," whatever that means.
FWIW, my set of Promasters are about 10 years old but I've not noticed any saw marks on their combs. I've also not noticed any leakage issues. They are superb harmonicas. I've never had to replace a reed (yet...).
Michelle
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SilverWingLeather.com
email: mlefree@silverwingleather.com
Last Edited by mlefree on Jul 25, 2015 9:59 AM
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STME58
1389 posts
Jul 25, 2015
1:17 PM
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I wonder if Suzuki went though a cost cutting period on these combs and Michelle's date from before this. Mine is about 4 years old and I replaced the comb about 2 years ago (when I had the discussion Tom mentioned about about comb manufacture). I have not bought a Promaster lately but I recall talking to the Suzuki Tech at Harpfest a couple of years ago and hearing they had corrected the saw marks. If Gnarly sees this perhaps he will comment further.
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Blues Sky
1 post
Sep 08, 2015
11:36 PM
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I have several of these world Great Harmonicas from Anthony Dannecker, and not only is his harps, of Master Quality and workmanship, the tone is outstanding, they are worth every penny, if you are looking for the best there is no other, he is a true Gentleman and a scholar to deal with, I would highly recommend his harmonicas to anyone, as we all know it all starts with the tone, feel , quality of workmanship , and communication with a master builder, and customizer,Anthony can give you most anything you are looking for in a Tune,I own his Crome Centurions harps,and Gold Centurion harps, and a Gold Optimus harps, and I love these harps so much I live on praising them, I believe Adam has some too! in comparison with other harps and builders you can't compare, everyone has there preferences, and mind you there are some swell builders and preferred masters of tuning out there.
l rate Christelle Burthon one of our true greats of the masters of the Harmonica, and if you have a decent set up wherever you are at home or in a studio to hear her play through these Dannecker Harmonicas the sound will blow your mind,also these harps just glide across your lips with the slightest of moisture, true bliss, the feel of these harps make you feel like you own something worth while owning, Dannecker has the lex combs, and brass combs the build is so micro precise, the way a harmonica should be! but don't get me wrong, I am not bashing other Harmonicas or builders, but Dannecker has been around for over 100 years,it like I once seen on (12 Blues Harmonicas) twitter account,once
There is Stradivarius instruments, and then there is Dannecker Harmonica instruments, the two pinnacles of the finest instruments in the world and there is no other, and I truly mean there is no better harmonica out there,I been playing around with harmonicas for over 30 years and have had different makes,and until I made the right move to buy the best several years ago all I was doing was piling old tin harmonica up by the dozens, mind you they a lot of them did what they were intended to do, and the tunings were of the greatest tunes by many we know who do tuning, but like I say just treat yourself once, just once ! and get a Dannecker in your most desirable key and you will hear and feel and see what many of us Dannecker Harmonica owners experience now, and if for any reason you are not satisfied with a Dannecker Harmonica purchase which I would find hard to believe just put it up for sale and it will be sold in a flash,as you can see not to many used ones come up for sale, so that should give you a bit of insite to these magnificent harmonicas, also just hop on Dannecker site and see all the Great musicians that endorse his harmonicas, and to anyone that for any reason had a alleged bad experience with Antony Dannecker that's hog wash, with all do respect! he is the most easy going understandable, up front honest communicative professional person I have ever dealt with, with over 100 years of family business dedicated to the harmonica under his belt I would find it impossible to believe he would make anyone feel uncomfortable when dealing with him,and
I stake my life on them words, and I have no stake in his business and profit nothing from saying so, it's real refreshing to find and know,that there are still people out there after 54 years of hard life, that have the high standards of ethics in business that he does.
Enough said.
Buy just one ! and see for yourself !
Love Modern Blues Harmonica and love and breathe my Dannecker Harmonicas !
And am a true dedicated supporter of Satin and Adams Documentary!
Ontario, Canada
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bigd
591 posts
Sep 09, 2015
7:12 AM
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To reiterate what I posted earlier in the thread I also had a remarkably easy and professional experience with A.D. (although I purchased his more affordable Meisterclasse custom when he offered them. The chords are mellifluous! I play Joe Spiers harps now because they are Fantastic workhorses for my shows but that Dana is a special edition to my case.
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Last Edited by bigd on Sep 09, 2015 7:13 AM
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Blues Sky
2 posts
Sep 11, 2015
9:00 PM
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Totally understandable, Joe Spiers does magnificent work on harps,it's really what works best for the application your looking to use your harps for,A acquaintance of mine uses Filisco harps , I understand he is not doing much in the custom tuning department anymore but that great man was and is another killer harp builder tuner master and teacher, I wish I had his talent just even a bit in tuning mastery, I truly admire these builders, for it is truly something one needs to have, at least one full set of there harps in there master tuning in everyones case too !
I will be working on filling a full set of harps soon, built by Joe Spiers, before he decide to hang his hat up too,and by the way you sound total awesome playing your J.S. harps and just love your music !
Many Cheers to you and all ,and I will be always spreading the word out there about all the great harp players and bands I read about on Modern Blues Harmonica every time a opportunity arises.
so swell !
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