HarpMan Freeman
112 posts
Jun 18, 2010
12:26 AM
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I saw this discussed on the "Show us your combs" thread. But I felt the question posted by Todd Parrot there should be a thread on it's own.
... has anyone tried it that can give feedback?
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bigd
169 posts
Jun 18, 2010
8:36 AM
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That's the old Meisterclasse case. Is it a Hohner? d
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nacoran
2169 posts
Jun 18, 2010
10:31 AM
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Bigd, yeah, it's a Hohner. The reed plates are 2.25 mm. A normal Hohner reed plate is .9 mm.
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Nate
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barbequebob
940 posts
Jun 18, 2010
12:29 PM
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That is one harp I'd NEVER let a newbie play because 98% of them have no breath control and they'd blow them out in less than a week. The next thickest set of reed plates on any stock diatonic are on the Hering Vintage Harp, Hering Delta Blues, and Hohner Blues Bender at 1.20mm.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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MP
480 posts
Jun 18, 2010
12:33 PM
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hey bob,
blues benders sound thin to my ears. aren't they made in china?
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barbequebob
943 posts
Jun 18, 2010
12:38 PM
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They sure are!!!
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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MP
481 posts
Jun 18, 2010
12:54 PM
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sad.
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barbequebob
946 posts
Jun 18, 2010
12:59 PM
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If it wan't made in China, that same harp would be a lot more expensive and they were looking at basically "budget line upgrade" for a lack of a better description AKA still cheapo, slightly upbraded, but still cheap.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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MP
484 posts
Jun 18, 2010
1:12 PM
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the covers have side vents. i opened the backs and put the b-bender covers on a SP20. makes the 20 slightly brighter.
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nacoran
2177 posts
Jun 18, 2010
1:13 PM
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"Featuring special heavy duty chrome reed plates that spec out to 2.25 mm thick, the new 225 Deuce and a Quarter harp produces thick rich tones that will stand up to abuse longer than most any other harmonicas. This heavy duty harp feels great in your hand and has a loud voice that really projects making it perfect for Blues and Rock. The “Deuce” is a custom harp designed for players that are ready to rock and who want to look really good while doing it. It is available in a limited quantities and only in the key of A (to accompany jams in the key of E, which is most guitar players favorite key). This harp features special black cover plates and a black plastic carrying case with custom Deuce & a Quarter graphics. Available while limited supplies last."
I think it's technically stock, just limited edition stock. They are $60.
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Nate
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barbequebob
948 posts
Jun 18, 2010
1:16 PM
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Nate, you've got that correct. As far as abuse and ability to withstand it, with reed plates at 2.25mm thick, I wouldn't bet on that any time soon.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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Dusty Dave
2 posts
Jun 18, 2010
1:26 PM
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How would thicker reed plates affect it's ability to withstand abuse?
Thanks
Dusty Dave
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nacoran
2179 posts
Jun 18, 2010
1:40 PM
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Dusty, from what I've read on the forum it might actually make it less durable, at least from playing stand point, although it would make a great stool! Your reed, as it swings, is going through the gap in the reed plate and the gap in the comb. The gap in the reed plate is much tighter. A thicker plate means that for more of it's swing the reed is in a much tighter channel. That means if you blow too hard there is nowhere for that extra air to go except to hit the reed. You'll end up worrying the reed, bending it to far to fast unless you play gently. On the bright side, since more of air hits the reed you need less breath force to get the same sound.
Reed thickness, I've been told, goes the other way. A thinner reed lasts longer. The best I can figure it works kind of like two guys doing sit-ups. One fat, one thin. Even if they both have strong stomach muscles, the fat one's fat gets in the way, which is half the reason I can't do 75 sit-ups in 3 minutes anymore. More precisely, I suspect it is that the thickness on one side means that the other side of the reed has to travel farther in it's arc to complete a swing, which creates more worrying. Or at least that's my theory. Someone with actual metallurgical experience may have a much more informed opinion. :)
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Nate
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barbequebob
950 posts
Jun 18, 2010
1:45 PM
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He's telling you the truth here and the biggest X-factor in how long any harp lasts is the person playing it and a player with bad playing technique who always plays far too hard all the time will ruin ANY harp real quick, but with thicker plates, they'll ruin them often as much as ten times FASTER, and so harps with a thicker plate is NOT for a newbie and even for a lot of intermediate players as well.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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Dusty Dave
3 posts
Jun 18, 2010
1:45 PM
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That makes sense, Guys. I appreciate the explanation.
Dusty Dave
Last Edited by on Jun 18, 2010 1:47 PM
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MP
486 posts
Jun 18, 2010
1:48 PM
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interesting nacoran.
if i ever find the time, i might try replacing every single reed on a blues bender with MB reeds and see what happens.
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nacoran
2190 posts
Jun 18, 2010
4:05 PM
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That's an interesting plan MP, but I'm not sure how it's going to help me get back to doing 75 sit-ups in 3 minutes.
Oh, you mean for reed longevity. Yeah, that might be an easier experiment, and I won't have to sweat as much!
I keep wondering about titanium. It has a fatigue limit, which means below a certain point it doesn't worry at all. If that limit is below the threshold for a reed swing a reed would never wear out! Of course, titanium is also a pain in the butt to work with. If I ever hit the lottery I'll pay someone to look into it!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_fatigue
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Nate
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MP
494 posts
Jun 18, 2010
5:09 PM
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nac,
i think, in fact i'm sure, that sit ups are less painful than popping 40 reeds and gettin' all them ducks in a row. i have new respect for Buddha and Spiers.
on the other hand; once it's done it's done, as opposed to the cruel and unusual punishment of timed sit-ups.
PS. sorry i am of no help whatsoever.
Last Edited by on Jun 18, 2010 5:11 PM
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