nacoran
2942 posts
Oct 11, 2010
12:27 AM
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Ok, I just got an clear acrylic comb, and it's beautiful. I've got it on a Marine Band, but before I put it on that I had a set of Piedmont reeds and a Piedmont cover on it. Piedmont reeds, well, they make notes, and if you get lucky, you may get a quiet practice harp, but nothing you'd want as a gig harp. But the black covers with the gold paint (even although it wears off in about a day) really looked sharp on it. The covers are just a little too deep to fit on it. The back edge hangs off. Since it's a plastic cover there isn't even really much you could do to resize it. You can't even shave the back because it needs it's thickness to avoid crushing.
I realize I could get combs cut for a Piedmont, but that would seem to mean using Piedmont reeds. Is there a better harp with black lids? (I remember seeing pictures of a couple, but I also remember hearing someone complaining that the paint came off.) I'd love to have a set of harps with alternating lid and reed plate covers. (I know the Bends Croma has a clear comb and a black cover, with silver colored reed plates. It also has silver lettering. I wonder if it rubs off...)
This is mostly an aesthetic question but I don't want Piedmont reeds. I remember someone, (Todd Parrot?) mentioning they might know someone who might start making covers. I'd like to be able to match good harps with cool colors. Any ideas? Anyone know weird cover/comb/reed combos that actually fit?
I know what a harp looks like isn't the most important thing. Playing harp satisfies my music bug, but I don't get to satisfy the frustrated (and really bad) artist in me. :)
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Nate
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jim
409 posts
Oct 11, 2010
1:10 AM
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Suzuki Firebreath ;)
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apskarp
344 posts
Oct 11, 2010
2:33 AM
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Hohner pro harp has black covers. Although it wasn't clear to me what your actual question here was.. :)
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ricanefan
79 posts
Oct 11, 2010
3:43 AM
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Hohner also has the Cross Harp in black.
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hvyj
696 posts
Oct 11, 2010
4:46 AM
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Suzuki Hammonds, which, btw, are great harps.
You know, I've always thought that harps with painted/coated covers have a slightly darker tone.
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nacoran
2944 posts
Oct 11, 2010
10:22 AM
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Thanks guys. How does the black hold up on them?
Apskarp, the time stamp on my comment actually should be three hours later, so if I rambled it was probably sleep exhaustion. I just want some combinations of black harp covers (and either gold or silver colored reed plates) that will look snazzy with clear combs.
The whole tangent about Piedmonts was just because I was wondering if someone knew a reed plate comb combo that would fit Piedmont covers (that didn't rely on Piedmont reeds.) Well that, and it was 4 am.
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Nate
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barbequebob
1324 posts
Oct 11, 2010
10:36 AM
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The black coating on the cover plates were designed to alleviate both problems from nickel allergies as well as to darken the tone of the instrument.
The original Pro Harp (pre-MS) had that coating and was essentially the same harp as the Sp20 until it was made part of the MS series in 1992. The coating will tend to eventually wear out, and depending on the player and his habits and hygiene, can wear off quickly.
The coating on the MS Cross Harp doesn't get messed up so easily. If you're looking for covers that could fit, the only one I can think of are the pre-MS series Pro Harps, but the MS version will NOT fit it at all.
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nacoran
2952 posts
Oct 11, 2010
3:18 PM
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Thanks BBQ. Now I just have to find pre-MS Pro Harp covers!
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Nate
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MP
905 posts
Oct 11, 2010
5:20 PM
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so nac, if i understand correctly, you want black covers?
you could spray power coat paint on any cover you like.
powder coat paint is what they use on hospital bed frames etc. and it's indestructable. some people use it on microphones. don't know if it's toxic though.
but then again, i'll bet the finishes on wood comb harps are probably a little toxic too.
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MP
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Last Edited by on Oct 11, 2010 5:21 PM
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nacoran
2957 posts
Oct 11, 2010
8:10 PM
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Yeah, I suppose I could paint them! If somebody started making custom covers they could use anodized metals. I know old art deco harps had lacquer coatings. What I'd really like is to build up a set of 'matching' harps (same shape) with brass, chrome and black covers, with chrome and brass reed plates, all with clear combs. Painting might be an interesting way to go. My brother used to paint figurines. I wonder if there is a non-toxic clear coat you could put over it.
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Nate
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