belfast_harper
410 posts
Nov 23, 2016
3:48 AM
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Have Hohner stoped doing low keys for Crossovers, MBDs and and the MB classics?
It looks like Hohner want to force me to buy a Thunderbird when I would be happy with a Low Key marine band at 1/3 the price. I prefer the classic comb over the bamboo combs and I am quite happy dealing with nails so the Thunderbird isn't for me.
Does anyone know where I can get my hand on some NOS Low key marine band classics?
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PropMan
91 posts
Nov 23, 2016
4:21 AM
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There were some low Eb marine bands floating around recently on line- I picked one up at the Eagle Music Shop when I was in the U.K. earlier this year. I think it was about 25 pounds.
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belfast_harper
411 posts
Nov 23, 2016
4:49 AM
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I think I have missed them, Hohner can build them as a special order custom harp, but they charge 80 euro.
I think I will probably end up building my own as Hohner still sell the low key reed plates as spare parts, so it is possible to build my own for around 43 euro.
http://www.hohner-cshop.de/en/Harmonica/Richter-Diatonic/Marine-Band/Marine-Band-Classic/
Last Edited by belfast_harper on Nov 23, 2016 4:49 AM
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florida-trader
1033 posts
Nov 23, 2016
6:17 AM
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belfast_harpster asked, "Does anyone know where I can get my hand on some NOS Low key marine band classics?"
If you knew the answer to that question, you could make some money. Hohner discontinued the low keys several years ago in all the models - Marine Bands, Golden Melodys, Special 20's and MS-Series - when they introduced the Thunderbird. Their strategy was obvioulsy to force customers to buy the much more expensive T-birds, which retailed for $125-$150. That decision has kinda sorta backfired on them. The T-birds get good reviews, but Seydel and Suzuki offer low tuned Session Steels and Manjis for much less money so it is safe to assume that a lot of interested buyers opted for the less expensive alternative.
Give Hohner a little credit in that they have recently introduced low keys in The Rocket. They just came out this summer. They are good harps and are less expensive than the T-birds. I have 15 of the low key Rockets in stock. I have been experimenting with the set up and I am about ready to start offering them for sale on my website.
I also have a fairly substantial inventory of low keyed MS Cross Harp reed plates. When Hohner discontimued them about 4 years ago, I pretty much bought up their entire inventory of reed plates. I've been building and selling them here and there and was almost completely out of them until recently I stumbled across a treasure trove of them. A local customizer who had been in business for 12 years passed away and I bought everything in his shop from his widow. He had an affinity for the MS harps and so his inventory included a bunch of the low key Cross Harp reed plates. So if anyone is interested, I can either build you a harp or if you are a do it yourselfer, I can make you a good deal on plates, comb and covers or any combination. Just let me know.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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belfast_harper
413 posts
Nov 24, 2016
1:01 PM
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I have ordered the bits to make 5 low key marine band harps, it works out £40 a harp with the poor exchange rate.
They should be easy enough to build, I just need to figure how to punch the holes in the cover plates for the nails
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florida-trader
1037 posts
Nov 24, 2016
4:02 PM
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Don't punch holes and use nails. Drill them out and use screws.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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SuperBee
4300 posts
Nov 24, 2016
4:03 PM
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I'd build them with screws.
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belfast_harper
414 posts
Nov 25, 2016
3:36 AM
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I have used screws in the past, but I prefer nails, it is much quicker to get the cover plates on and off.
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SuperBee
4301 posts
Nov 25, 2016
4:42 AM
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That's true about cover plates. I often leave mine nailed if I'm using a stock comb. Aren't the reed plates already drilled though? The cover pins go straight into the comb through large clearance holes in the reedplates
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SuperBee
4302 posts
Nov 25, 2016
4:44 AM
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Oh. I see, it's the cover plates you need to punch.
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