Todd Parrott
37 posts
May 28, 2010
9:55 PM
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Just curious to see if anyone besides me would be interested in custom cover plates? I'm not talking about cover plates that are already available from the manufacturers - that would be moot.
I'm talking about:
- cover plates that are designed to fit existing harps, but have different shapes and curves to them to change or improve the tone.
- cover plates that have custom engravings on them, like a Marine Band plate with your name on it, etc.
- cover plates for harps that are no longer available. (For instance, the old Meisterklasse cover plates aren't available anywhere anymore. I think it would be nice if there was a way to clone them.)
I know that custom cover plates are possible, because some guys have made them in the past, like Joe Filisko and this guy - http://www.yushing.jp/photo.htm
However, before a customizer goes through the trouble of designing and making custom cover plates, there would have to be somewhat of a demand for them. So, what are your thoughts?
Last Edited by on May 28, 2010 9:57 PM
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MichaelAndrewLo
412 posts
May 28, 2010
9:58 PM
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Hey that's a good niche market. If there isn't a need, advertising will surely convince otherwise.
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Buddha
1885 posts
May 28, 2010
10:07 PM
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I;ve been slowly working on a die that I can use to stamp my own cover plates. I have no idea when it will be ready but at that point, I would have the ability to engrave any design or picture into the covers.
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Rubes
37 posts
May 28, 2010
10:20 PM
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Yes please!
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Todd Parrott
38 posts
May 28, 2010
10:24 PM
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Buddha,
I think it would be cool if the Golden Melody plates could be made to fan out to more of a 45 degree angle in the back, not so wide that they look like a trumpet or a duck's bill, but you get the idea. I think we've talked about this before. If you look at the top and side view of a Golden Melody cover plate, it already sort of has this feature. (On top you can see the fake-like angling indentions beside the cover screws.) If this could be more accented I think it would look way cooler. Not sure what it would do for the tone. It's kinda hard to explain in writing without being able to point to the harp.
There are also cool things that could be done with Special 20 plates as well as others, but this is an opportunity for experimenting with different shapes to see how it affects the tone. After all, isn't part of the reason that Jason and Howard use Special 20 plates on Marine Bands partly due to the way the plates shape the tone? I think I remember Jason telling me something like that at SPAH.
Last Edited by on May 28, 2010 10:27 PM
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Kyzer Sosa
602 posts
May 28, 2010
10:27 PM
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i think theres a market for it for artistic implications if nothing else. ive put opened up Sp20 plates on a MB and like it, possibly due to the lack of vents on the side, i dont know. but it DOES make a difference in the way it projects sound...
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Todd Parrott
40 posts
May 28, 2010
10:36 PM
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I've even thought about getting a custom Marine Band and putting Huang Silvertone Deluxe covers on it. To me, these are the most comfortable covers to use because of the way the mouthpiece is made, though I'm not sure what they would do for the tone either. It's kinda hard to tell on a Huang since the quality is inferior, but on a Marine Band it would be interesting to try. But if custom cover plates were an option, a cover plate similar to the Huang Silvertone covers could be designed.
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Kyzer Sosa
603 posts
May 28, 2010
10:40 PM
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for my tastes, the manji covers are smooth as silk. i prefer full covers like the GM or the promaster, but that manji is like buttah!
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nacoran
1956 posts
May 29, 2010
11:19 AM
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I think it would depend a lot on how much it would cost and how custom it could be. Turbo harp does their own covers. I know there are jewelry engravers out there that can put photos on a piece of jewelry. They usually do it on a flat surface. On a harmonica you might get some skewing, but their might be a software solution that could fit that onto covers.
Different shapes, thicknesses, material, sizes, if the person set up their shop right could people send in models and get them scanned in and manufactured? I've wondered if you could slant the covers so that you could slim down a harp a bit. If you figure that it's the end of the reed swinging you don't need much room at the rivet end. If you didn't assume your top and bottom cover had to be identical I wonder what you could do. (And on a personal note, I've always, for some strange reason, wanted a harmonica that looks like a Snickers bar that I could decoupage a wrapper onto and seal up.) There was a great tradition of novelty covers back in the day. They wouldn't all have to be silly like bananas. You could do some real art if you figured out where you could add material without it impacting tone.
A computer assisted milling machine or a 3D printer could do some crazy stuff, even if it was just making the template for a press.
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Nate
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Kyzer Sosa
604 posts
May 29, 2010
11:57 AM
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no software solution for the skewing, youd have to press the plates and engrave them afterwards for pictures, etc. the only thing the press could do is put pre determined stuff on there you already see. i.e marine band. engraving at most places looks shoddy at best. it would be a huge undertaking to keep producing quality unique pieces... thus priced out of range of most who'd be interested...
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barbequebob
871 posts
May 29, 2010
12:07 PM
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I got a set of custom cover plates for MS harps from Joe Filisko made of stainless steel and the same thickness as those of the Suzuki Manji. It made those harps play a lot louder and brighter, a tad too bright for my taste and this was a clear cut example of why cover plate design has a far bigger effect on the overall sound of the instrument than comb material does.
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Todd Parrott
45 posts
May 29, 2010
12:57 PM
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You are right, Bob. The covers are a huge part of what shapes the tone, which is why more options for cover plates sounds like a good idea for someone to offer.
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Todd Parrott
46 posts
May 29, 2010
10:33 PM
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Anyone ever tried these harps?
www.brodur.com
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nacoran
1961 posts
May 29, 2010
11:23 PM
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Kyzer, I was thinking you'd have to correct for it after the pressing, before you actually did the engraving. I know there is a place in the local mall that will engrave pre-made designs into things for $20 or so. Have you ever seen the pictures of old art deco harps on Flikr? The is a guy there, I think his handle is mouthorgan. He has some great pics.
Todd, no, I don't think I've seen those before. Really cool.
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Nate
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Kyzer Sosa
608 posts
May 30, 2010
12:19 AM
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you could, but it would be hit or miss. pressing would flatten whatever image that you did beforehand and would diminish the quality of it considerably. its a good idea in theory, but what i would think would ring more true with harp geeks would lie more in what the covers would do for the sound or the individuality of the harp, not so much in making it unique to the player...
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boris_plotnikov
123 posts
May 30, 2010
12:22 AM
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When I was poor student I play cheapest Hohner Silver Star. In C they have lowly cowerplates, in other keys - more fatter. For C 1-st draw reed touches coverplates very easy. For other keys they were a bit fatter than I need. And I loved to mix lowly coverplate from C for upper coverplate and fatter coverplate from another key for lower coverplate it was great in the mouth.
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OzarkRich
224 posts
May 30, 2010
6:17 AM
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Full length SS covers for MBs with no numbers would be nice.
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nacoran
1962 posts
May 30, 2010
1:06 PM
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I always wanted the circle of fifths stamped on mine, and I second Ozark on full length covers!
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Nate
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Todd Parrott
47 posts
May 30, 2010
1:14 PM
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Are you talking about plates similar to the old Meisterklasse plates?
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nacoran
1963 posts
May 30, 2010
1:20 PM
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I think that's what I'm endorsing, I can't speak for Rich. I've got a Seydel Blues Favorite with covers like that. It's the most comfortable harp in my hands. (I've tried regular shaped harmonicas, and GM's. I haven't tried a Turbo Lid yet though.)
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Nate
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Todd Parrott
48 posts
May 30, 2010
1:36 PM
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I personally prefer full length covers as they seem to give the harmonica a warmer tone. I think if enough people show an interest in custom cover plates, the customizers may begin to offer them. There are plenty of guys making combs, but no cover plates.
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OzarkRich
227 posts
May 30, 2010
1:54 PM
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I like the new Meisterklasse and the older Promaster covers (the later ones I purchased are taller and not as comfortable). Haven't tried any other full lengths.
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nacoran
1964 posts
May 30, 2010
2:09 PM
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Another idea I've had for a while for a cover is something that is one piece, top and bottom, with holes punched and smoothed for playing. If you had something sort of C shaped with the open part of the C being the back of the harp... it seems the part of my harps that gets gunked up the most is right inside the holes. If the whole front was part of a plate you could take it off and clean it without having to mess with your reed plates like you do to clean a comb.
Someone with a shop set up for covers could also play around with things like that megaphone that Seydel has for their one tremolo. Or the tiny holes in the top of some of those really flat tremolos. Or even some finger holes to shape the sound a bit.
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Nate
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nacoran
3294 posts
Nov 24, 2010
9:34 AM
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Todd, any word on this? :)
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Nate
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Todd Parrott
190 posts
Nov 24, 2010
10:03 AM
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I've talked to a few guys who have said this is very possible in terms of creating the plates, but I get the impression that it seems to be something that would require more of a demand before they would venture into this. I think this would be an incredible way to experiment with and improve tone.
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Stickman
554 posts
Nov 24, 2010
11:33 AM
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I would love to have some coverplate options. Problem would be coming up with a design that sounds good AND people like. Personally I'm less interested in sound than feel. I love the feel and look of the Manji plates but they crush sooooo easily.
What I would look for in a coverplate
1. I like mine on the narrow side
2. No big numbers that act like a speed bump
3. Does not catch facial hairs
4. Has smooth curves without sharp edges or corners
5. Is open in the back
6. Is open on the sides
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chromaticblues
323 posts
Nov 24, 2010
8:30 PM
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Boris thats a good idea! I never thought about it, but sence we tilt the harp up a little having a lower profile coverplate on top would allow you to get more harp in your mouth. A deep plate on the bottom is a very good idea so you don't get that annoying 1 draw rattle! Damm Boris I've got to try that!
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nacoran
3300 posts
Nov 25, 2010
9:58 AM
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Emailed them at the Seydel site about full length covers-
Hi Nathan!
Yes it is possible, just place an order for the regular covers and point out in the order comment, that you like the Session-like full length covers - do not forget the appropriate screws which are a liitle longer than with the regular 1847 covers!
Covers:
http://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=214182&Locale=en_GB&Currency=USD
large screws:
http://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=11248&Locale=en_GB&Currency=USD
Musically,
Bertram
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Nate
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7LimitJI
211 posts
Nov 26, 2010
3:29 AM
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Got a tip from the archives of the MelBay harmonica sessions site.
Fit Suzuki Promaster cover plates onto a Special 20.
Have to drill the Special 20 comb, but the originals will still fit.
Gives a richer,fuller tone.
I like it on higher key harps like D and F.
Not so much on the lower keys though.
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Last Edited by on Nov 26, 2010 3:29 AM
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