chromaticblues
241 posts
Oct 28, 2010
11:00 AM
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Due to the influx of misfit harps I'm going to run out Marine Band coverplates that I put on my custom Special 20's. For blue light $20 special I had planned on useing my stock of (blown out or never worked right to begin with) MB's and cleaning them, drilling them and opening the back up, but I have had alot of people sending harps in! I'm going to out of covers by the end of next week! I looked at the Hohner web site and they are $13 a set. If I have to go that route that will shoot the blue light special in ass! I was hoping somebody in harmonicaville might have some blown out Marine bands with good covers they would like to donate for a good cause! I probably only need a dozen or more I don't know. If someone has a shoebox full of MB's that don't work( and aren't funky) maybe we could trade your misfit harps for something that actuslly works!
Any help will be greatly apprieciated! I'm going to buy some new covers and will supply nothing but new covers after the blue light special!
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eharp
858 posts
Oct 28, 2010
2:08 PM
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why dont you use the sp20 covers?
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chromaticblues
243 posts
Oct 28, 2010
5:05 PM
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@ eharp I like the way MB covers sound. Its a louder less muffled tone qaulity. I think it really brings the SP 20 to life. Its one of those things you just have to hear for yourself!
I was hoping someone had a shoebox full and I'd trade a couple harps I built for them. Like a dozen or so.
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N.O.D.
330 posts
Oct 28, 2010
5:21 PM
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Chromo Bro i use stock SP-20 Cover Plates but open up the backs it will be a lot less work for you to do
i don't bend them out or fold them under,
i remove the metal by dremeling the backs open it's very effective and would possibly have the same effect
as what you do with MB cover Plates it helps project the sound:)
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Cheers:)
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chromaticblues
244 posts
Oct 28, 2010
6:25 PM
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Yeah I did the same thing NOD. I used a dremel to remove the ends of the folds (the part that slopes down on each end)so I could bend the middle part of the fold in with pliers. In the end it looked alot like what you did, but I didn't like the way it sounded. So I put a harp with marine band plates next to a SP20 with the original covers and it is quit clear why they sound different. The SP 20 plates are low profile compared to the MB's. It makes a huge difference in the sound!! If you send me a SP 20 you will hear the difference. Every SP 20 I do this with I will send the SP plates with it in case someone doesn't agree with me. I realize that it sounds better to me! That doesn't mean everybody will like it! I just want everyone that sends me a harp to know about the option.
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Rift
1 post
Oct 29, 2010
9:29 AM
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If I'm not mistaken the special 20 covers are not vented on the sides but the classic marine bands are. That could have something to do with the sound difference you mention.
I saw your other thread about your harps and I couldnt believe it. Looks like there are a lot of people from RI on here. I live in Cumberland and my inlaws live right near you on Matunuck Beach Rd. Next time I head down that way we should get a beer at The Ocean Mist before it falls in the ocean. I would love to hear your harps.
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chromaticblues
247 posts
Oct 29, 2010
9:43 AM
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Yeah Rift! Your more right than you know. I live on the other side of route one from matunuck. Its not only the vents. I modify the MB covers a little.
I'm telling ya it makes SP 20's screamin little harps! email me or give me a call. I have phone number on the Hoo Doo Harps thread.
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Rift
2 posts
Oct 29, 2010
10:04 AM
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does opening the backs up make a big difference in tone and volume? I don't do any customizing so its a little over my head. I just know my Manji with the open back is loud as hell. my wife makes me go in the basement to play that one. my bluesmasters and special 20's are much quieter.
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barbequebob
1406 posts
Oct 29, 2010
1:01 PM
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Opening up the covers just in the back alone makes harps play louder and opening the side vents also does, but for some, opening the side vents may make it sound too bright for them, but what happens with the side vents is that you hear more of the actual harp sound the audience actually hears than with more enclosed covers.
When you get a custom harp, unless requested otherwise, one of the things usually done is that the back of the covers is almost always opened up more.
The MB's made prior to 1980 are far more wide open in back than they've been since then, and the most wide open were the ones made until around 1920, when they used the "little feet" setup on the covers. If you were to put any of the covers from a pre-WWII MB on to a modern one, you will notice that it does play louder and brighter.
Actually, cover plate design affects the sound more than comb material does.
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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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chromaticblues
249 posts
Oct 29, 2010
5:47 PM
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Yes I agree with everything Bob said about the covers. Bob you know shit dude! There are a few things that affect the sound quality of every harp and changing any of them changes the sound. Embossing changes the sound, but most customizers will tell you you have to do this! When I first started embossing harps. I hated the way it changed the tone of a harp. They sound more metalic. Yes they are more responsive which is good, but it does change the tone ALOT! I've had acouple people that are big time customizers tell me I was right. Coverplates are the easiest way to change the sound but not the only way. but I have found it is kind of like when people say the stars are all lined up. WEll for me that would be a new (yes I said a new) Marine Band with the back opened up,the new covers are tinner cheesier what ever they actually sound better to me then the older ones do. Embossed about half as much as you can and DO NOT SEAL THE COMB! I don't care what anyone says the comb material DOES affect the tone! The comb material, the sealant you use, what ever you do to harp it makes it sound different. Issaculla had a great Idea and I don't even know if he knows how good of an idea he had. When I read the post were he said he sealed his combs with mineral oil. Man a light bulb went off in my head. Mineral oil will be absorbed by the wood not seal it, but that is exactly what the problem with wood combs is. Wood combs swell because they absorb moistuer from your breath, but if it is somewhat saturated with mineral oil that won't happen, but ti is not sealed. I know this doesn't mean shit to most people, but if you ask an acoustical engineer what difference sealed pear wood and pear wood saturated in mineral oil will have on a given note. The answer is it will sound less harsh, warmer (if you will) do to the fact that every note has what is called overtones. The higher the overtone the shorter the wavelenth is. A high pourus material will absorb or disrupt the smaller wavelenths! This is not my opinion. This is a fact. So when all of you try to learn some of Adam's stuff, but can't quit get it to sound as warm. Well maybe its because he uses stock MARINE BANDS! Thats right and I customize harps, but thats it!! Marine Bands are the best harmonicas made. It is that simple. The hard part is being able to make them work for you. To me customizing is making Marine Bands more efficient and easier to play without changing the sound anymore than I have to. When I first posted about home of the $100 harp. That is what I had in mind. This is how I make my harps. I wish I could sell these less than $100, but it is just alot of work. That is mostly why I am pushing the SP 20 with MB coverplates. It is an affordable way of making a good harp!
Help if you can!
Back to SP 20's and MB coverplates. They are a very good alternative for the money. The second best harp for blues in my opinion and easy to make.
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