HarpNinja
841 posts
Dec 14, 2010
9:35 AM
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The Todd Parrott's of the world will like this:
http://harmonicasessions.com/?p=91
I couldn't find prices or real availability, but the combs look cool. Note Kinya's reaction to the comb when in use. He very politically and politely concludes that in terms of playability and and tone, the newly designed comb doesn't do much that any other custom comb would.
I was a bit surprised that this was the topic of choice, as 1.) the combs are available yet and 2.) the mods compared to a stock comb didn't appear to, at least in his mind, live up to explanation.
I still want to try one, though!!!
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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chromaticblues
396 posts
Dec 14, 2010
9:43 AM
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What does that mean Mike? I'm not being sarcastic. I don't understand. A good custom comb a great improvement with both of those harps. Is this a new comb that Hohner is making? I'm more cornfuddled than I was!
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HarpNinja
842 posts
Dec 14, 2010
9:50 AM
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I think this man, Dick, is making these as custom combs like others mentioned around here. His combs have a radically new design compared to what else is out there.
So, you'd order a comb from him like you would anyone else.
From how it scored and Kinya's comments, I was a tiny bit confused. He scored the sound and playbility as average/typical (assuming compared to other customs?), but then comments on how it makes improvements beneficial to the player. I am inferring he means the mating of the plates and comb make the most improvement, and the other innovations are subtle at best?
In general, though, Kinya stated his position that combs don't make a huge difference beyond making a harp more airtight - even when heavily modded.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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HarpNinja
843 posts
Dec 14, 2010
9:53 AM
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"In general, due to the nature of most custom comb’s attention to detail, the superior fit between the mating surfaces of the reed plates and comb will improve the playability of almost any stock harmonica. The comb provides a more visceral experience for the player, and will not be noticeable to most listeners. In other words, comb enhancements will benefit you-the player-more than your audience.
Having said that, if you endeavor to push the capabilities of your harmonica a little farther, in order of priorities; my harmonica to-do list would position reed plate (draw/blow) calibration as Job #1, followed by the comb enhancements and/or replacement, and lastly the cover plates enhancements and/or replacement."
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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chromaticblues
398 posts
Dec 14, 2010
10:06 AM
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I'm thinking about building SP 20's and Golden Melodies with maple sealed combs. I'm going to build a couple for myself first. I think it will work well on the GM. Just because I can sand it flat. I don't know about the SP 20. I'm geussing it will be like a MB with a Crossover type comb with screws instead of nails. I'm a little behind on harp orders now so it will be a little while before I can get to it.
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HarpNinja
844 posts
Dec 14, 2010
10:13 AM
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They run 58 euro, or about $80 US according to the maker.
FWIW
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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MP
1129 posts
Dec 14, 2010
10:23 AM
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HarpNinja,
i believe kinya only put stock plates on those incredible combs. no reed work at all.
hence the mere 3 for playability.
-EDIT oh, nevermind :]---------
MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
Last Edited by on Dec 14, 2010 10:25 AM
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Todd Parrott
226 posts
Dec 14, 2010
10:24 AM
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I think he used to have an ad for these on Harmonica Space? Wouldn't it be difficult sand these flat since they have the brass inserts?
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HarpNinja
845 posts
Dec 14, 2010
10:35 AM
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I bet the inserts are added after that. They are super cool looking. Right now, when I hear $80, I think of 1/10 of a subwoofer, but are they ever cool!
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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KingoBad
527 posts
Dec 14, 2010
10:35 AM
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I believe he puts in silver inserts.
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hvyj
917 posts
Dec 14, 2010
10:53 AM
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You know, Dick Sjoeberg makes very decent custom combs for GMs. I have a couple of his composite Dymondwood combs and they are well made and FLAT. Impressive workmanship.
He is in Sweden, but shipping to the U.S. is surprisingly prompt if he has some ready for sale. Ask before you order and he'll let you know. Good guy to do business with. The combs are little pricey, but you get what you pay for.
Personally, I'm not into do it yourself projects. I'd rather pay for a finished product and Sjoeberg's combs are nicely finished indeed--and FLAT.
Last Edited by on Dec 14, 2010 4:01 PM
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hvyj
918 posts
Dec 14, 2010
11:19 AM
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Btw, the Sjoeberg combs perform very well. I don't have any OOB GMs, but i have a set of custom GM Buddha Harps. I wanted to put thick combs on a couple that had standard size combs and Chris was taking a while to make the replacement combs for me, so i ordered one from Sjoberg in the meantime while i waited. i liked it so well, i ordered another.
Actually, i like Chris Michalek's thick composite combs a little better than the Sjoeberg combs, but I'm more than satisfied with the Sjobeerg combs. The compression ridges seem to make for a firmer airflow and create a slight tonal difference to my ear. Very consistent airflow and a nice "feel" when you play them. And they are unquestionably FLAT.
It is my impression that a truly flat sandwich style comb should be more airtight than a plastic comb like the combs on OOB GMs. So, I assume they would make the instrument louder and more responsive. But i don't have any OOB GMs, so i don't really know for sure.
The Sjoeberg combs are also THICKER than a standard comb. in my experience, thick combs produce better depth of tone than standard size combs. But i don't have any OOB GMs with which to make a comparison.
Last Edited by on Dec 14, 2010 4:02 PM
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HarpNinja
847 posts
Dec 14, 2010
11:58 AM
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I have some of Chris's thicker combs and have tired them on an D MB and a Low E MB. I liked the thicker comb on the Low E if for the simple fact my mouth has to be open wider.
The D harp now has a standard comb from Chris on it. I like it better that way.
One thing I've noticed is that the bottom of the blow plates on my MB's have the rivet bottoms poking through a bit. I really have to flat sand the rivet pieces otherwise, they don't sit on the comb flat and I can see where air can leak. This almost always happens with the stock plate on blow 1 and 2.
I dunno, I like the composite combs, even the ones on my Manjis. I only have one custom GM comb and need to get a couple more. ;)
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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nacoran
3399 posts
Dec 14, 2010
12:08 PM
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HAHAHAHA!!! You'll have to do better than that to trip me up! He's been on my customizers list from the start! (That is a good write up on them though. Before all I had seen was pictures.)
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Nate
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hvyj
919 posts
Dec 14, 2010
2:17 PM
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@HarpNinja: All of my custom GM Buddha Harps have thick combs except my D and my F. Love the tone. But for some reason the D and the F sound better with narrow combs. A couple of other harps in the set have Sjoeberg combs on them as i am still waiting for Chris to fabricate a couple of other thick combs for me.
I seem to prefer thick or narrow combs over standard combs.
Btw, Chris' new fabric/resin composite combs are absolutely fantastic. Nicer than his Dymondwood composite combs. The finish on them is truly like a black piano key. Really impressive. I will eventually replace the Sjoeberg combs with those when Chris gets a couple more of them made for me. He's a busy guy, but i think the quality of his work is worth the wait.
Last Edited by on Dec 14, 2010 4:03 PM
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Roverharp
5 posts
Dec 14, 2010
4:19 PM
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@HarpNinja - did I musunderstand? It is the rivets in the Draw plate that might prevent the plate from sitting flush; not the Blow plate, right?
Rather than sand the plates I combat this problem with mt 'fore mentioned drill press. I set a sanding bit 1/3 the depth of the comb and hollow out the area where the shallow factory divots are at the back of the chamber.
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jim
543 posts
Dec 14, 2010
5:42 PM
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Boris Plotnikov has two of those combs...
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www.truechromatic.com
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boris_plotnikov
338 posts
Dec 15, 2010
3:34 AM
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I have two of them and they are completely sh*t. Good wood, but very far from flat surface and I have a problems polishing it because of its shape. It's possible, but I have to remove that part of wood which support back or reedplate and I now don't have such a big file t o do that.
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Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
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boris_plotnikov
339 posts
Dec 15, 2010
4:04 AM
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Mine is wood. It's lacquered from all sides. It's possible to make wood very flat, not this case.
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Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
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boris_plotnikov
340 posts
Dec 15, 2010
4:32 AM
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Metal tubes in holes are also against flatness.
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Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
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hvyj
921 posts
Dec 15, 2010
4:56 AM
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Mine are composite. I haven't used any instrument to verify flatness, but there certainly appears to be a very flush and very tight seal between the reed plates and the comb surface and the silver pipes or tubes do not protrude above the surface of the comb on mine. And response is excellent when playing--no apparent air leaks.
Mine are lacquered on all surfaces EXCEPT the surface where the reedplates lay, which is bare--if that surface were lacquered (like on yours) it certainly wouldn't be flat.
I like composite combs. I don't like wood combs. Dick Sloeberg was telling me about his hardwood combs, but I had no interest in anything but composite.
I also like the metal combs on my Suzuki Hammonds, but I don't know if they are truly flat or not. The Hammonds sound good and play well, but my custom Buddha Harps are superior instruments. Most of them have composite Dymondwood combs made by Chris but a couple of them have his new fabric/resin composite combs which are even better.
Last Edited by on Dec 15, 2010 5:17 AM
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MP
1134 posts
Dec 15, 2010
9:31 AM
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well boris just dropped a bomb.
after all the fine aesthetics and engineering work put into [his] Sjoeberg combs...they are not flat.
that is the most important feature of any custom comb.
(sigh)
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
Last Edited by on Dec 15, 2010 9:54 AM
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HarpNinja
851 posts
Dec 15, 2010
9:40 AM
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He dropped a bomb in regards to the wood models. And, to be fair, we don't know how old they are as it seems they've been made for at least a little while.
Hvy insists the composite are flat.
Boris, I would have contacted him before modding and demanded some help from the builder.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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hvyj
923 posts
Dec 15, 2010
10:22 AM
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On one of the combs I got, the exterior finish was marred. I complained and Dick Sloeberg apologized for the oversight, immediately sent me a replacement free of charge and told me just to keep the other one. So, he appears to stand behind his product.
I'm at work right now, but later after i get home I'll look more carefully at the left over comb to see if the pipes/tubes are truly flush with or recessed below the surface of the comb. As i recall, they were, but to be candid, I didn't look closely. I just know that the reedplates seemed to seat very flat and flush on the 2 combs I mounted them on and there did not seem to be any leakage when I played them. I like the ones I have.
Kinya Pollard who wrote the article HarpNinja linked to has far more mechanical skill, aptitude and experience than I have, and he says the combs he tested were very flat. I don't tinker with harps except to gap them, so I'm certainly no expert--but I can usually tell when a harp is leaky. The 2 Buddha Harps I have put Sloeberg combs on are certainly not at all leaky. The compression is excellent.
Last Edited by on Dec 15, 2010 10:29 AM
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boris_plotnikov
341 posts
Dec 15, 2010
12:25 PM
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HarpNinja
Thanks god I get this combs for free from one guy. I think, I'd be very angry if I pay such a bunch of money for such poor product, so I actually don't need to contact him. I actually don't know when they was bought, maybe he started making them better. Mine looks fine, works bad. I forgot to say, one comb was dropped from table to carpet and become broken. The second one is waiting for a big file to make it flat.
hvyj
Do you feel red plastic original GM combs leaky? They are a bit. Sjoeberg was more leaky, I hardly sustained overblow, which was gapped and embossed perfect and work perfect on stock body.
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Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
Last Edited by on Dec 15, 2010 12:25 PM
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chromaticblues
401 posts
Dec 15, 2010
12:27 PM
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There are people in the US making flat wooden combs. Can't say much more than that now!
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hvyj
924 posts
Dec 15, 2010
1:09 PM
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@Boris: Yes, I find the red plastic combs on OOB GMs to be noticeably leaky, that's why i don't own any OOB GMs any more. The composite Sloeberg combs I have are NOT leaky as far as I can tell. I don't OB, though.
Last Edited by on Dec 15, 2010 1:23 PM
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jim
546 posts
Dec 15, 2010
1:15 PM
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hehe
GM combs available too.
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www.truechromatic.com
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chromaticblues
402 posts
Dec 15, 2010
7:12 PM
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@jim How much is one of your modified Golden Melodies with the wooden comb? Just so I can get the full effect of your humor.
Please continue!
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hvyj
925 posts
Dec 15, 2010
8:32 PM
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Ok, I took the 2 harps w/ Sloeberg combs apart which gave me a total of 3 combs to examine. Most of the pipes/tubes were exactly flush with the comb surface, but a couple of them protruded above the surface very, very slightly--just enough to barely feel with a fingernail and not enough to detect visually. Hmmm...my conclusion is that the pipes are not a good design attribute as they don't seem to serve any purpose other than looking good.
The comb surfaces where the reedplates sit appear to be completely flat. I don't know what sort of device you guys that work on harps use to measure flatness, so i have no empirical measure. But the reedplates seem to seat very well and there's no perceptible leakage when they are played--compression and response are excellent.Not quite as good as Buddha's combs but not deficient in any respect that I can detect--but i don't OB.
So, that's the result of my re-examination/close inspection of my Sloeberg combs FWIW. I still like them and they perform well.
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Todd Parrott
229 posts
Dec 15, 2010
8:35 PM
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I had also head that the Sjoeberg combs were not perfectly flat, which is why I brought it up in the first place. Boris seems to have confirmed my fears to be true. If this is true, it's a shame, because they really are beautiful combs.
In my experience, I've had the best luck with combs from Chris Reynolds and Randy Sandoval. This isn't to say that there aren't other guys making nice combs, but I've been very pleased with Chris' and Randy's work.
I also have a few Buddha combs which seem to be very nice.
I think Joe Spiers uses combs from Chris Reynolds and Mark LaVoie.
Last Edited by on Dec 15, 2010 8:36 PM
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jim
550 posts
Dec 16, 2010
12:20 AM
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@chromaticblues:
I stopped doin OB setup on brass reeds a while ago (need to update the website btw), but I can make a halfvalved GM. 90eur plus up to 1.5 months to wait as I don't keep any GM combs on hand - need to wait for Slava to make more.
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www.truechromatic.com
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Sjoeberg
1 post
Dec 16, 2010
4:08 AM
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Hello all! I felt i had to contribute to the ongoing discussion. To Boris Plotnikov - I can not recall that you are a customer of mine. I have searched through my incoming e mail and found a request from you dated December 1, 2010 where you asked about the GM combs. Also I have searched through my PayPal account and can not find that i have received payment from you. I may have missed something here, if so let me know. Please tell me when you bought them, i may have missed something. If i am the one who has made them, send them back to me on my expenses and i will replace them immediately. For your information, for flattening the comb surfaces, i use a cast iron plate that deviates 0.001mm ... The silver pipes in it has a mission, not only looking good. To take full advantage of the comb, the draw reed plate must be as flat as the comb and the covers has to be completely flattened.
Best regards
Dick Sjoeberg
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jim
552 posts
Dec 16, 2010
5:01 AM
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@Sjoeberg:
Leonid bought those two off ebay and sent to Boris as a gift.
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www.truechromatic.com
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Sjoeberg
2 posts
Dec 16, 2010
5:31 AM
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Ok i understand, I they where bought on ebay- used, wood might have been warped some. I don't make them out of "tonewoods" any longer for that reason. Inform Boris to contact me, and i will replace his wooden combs with two composite GMs.
Regards
Dick Sjoeberg
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hvyj
926 posts
Dec 16, 2010
5:39 AM
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Dick,
Please explain the "mission" of the silver pipes. If they are not just for appearance, what do they do? Educate us.
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Sjoeberg
3 posts
Dec 16, 2010
7:00 AM
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Well it is a "long story" but i understand that it has to be explained!I will try to keep it concentrated and afterwards i am open to all questions that might come up. (By the way, i have contacted Boris Plotnikov and offered him two composite combs instead of the ones bought from e-bay, probably used and maybe warped)
Starting ...
When i make my custom GMs and MBs, i look at the harmonica as a homogen instrument, consisting of a few separate parts. Each part has it's own unique potential to be improved to contribute to a perfect end result regarding tone/volume/response/timbre/feeling etc. It is then a matter of finding different approaches to mastering the potential of each component/part. This is done by different methods, what we call "Customizing".
Concept - Comb
From the beginning i offered different kind of pure "tonewoods", ie Rio Jacaranda, Pink Ivory, Honduran Mahogany etc. Later on i switched over using wood composites due to its advantages.
Creating the GM comb as it is now, took a while of "trial and error" attempts. However, to fulfill the above specs the comb has to be made with the aim to squeeze everything out of this tiny piece of wood...
Keep in mind that all parts has to contribute to the end result. I searched for a way to "squeeze" the comb material for all of its possibilities, ie its frequencies. I was thinking of how a regular tuning fork works, bang it against a table put the "ball" against it and you hear a strong sound. Hmm .. Silver is a very good "leader" of heat and also sound (trumpets, flutes etc). I thought if i shrink silver pipes in to the screw holes and align it together with the comb surface, then it might act as "reversed tuning forks","boosting" whatever frequencies there might be in the wood and transform it to the reed plates and to the covers. To be able to do so the surfaces has to be extremely flat, which is done by using a cast iron disc which has a tolerance of 0.001 mm, in practice, extremely flat. The grooves milled mirror wise in each slot enhance the air flow, both on draw and blow side. I can explain it later on if of any interest to know.
However, these things done to the comb prepares it ultimately to be able to act as an "customized part" in the chain. To take full advantage of its possibilities the remaining components has to be "customized" to the same grade. By adding the comb itself into a GM with the remaining parts as "out of the box" quality add values to it depending on how the gapping is done, how the screws are tightened, etc. I have only three harps so far fully customized by me in US, due to i have not yet had the time since i have developed the HarpTuner for two years. It is ready now, and i will soon build fully customized harps and make them available in my "web shop". Puhh... that was it for now. Feel free to ask any questions i will try answering to it.
Best regards
Dick Sjoeberg
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jim
554 posts
Dec 16, 2010
7:09 AM
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interesting. Can't say much here apart from what Boris told me. I haven't tried those combs.
@Dick: are Seydel standard combs possible?
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www.truechromatic.com
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Sjoeberg
4 posts
Dec 16, 2010
9:05 AM
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Hi Jim. No, i make only GM and MB combs. The MBs use the same concept as of the GM.
Dick Sjoeberg
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Sjoeberg
5 posts
Dec 16, 2010
9:39 AM
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To end my part of the discussion please read the following statement received from Jason Ricci.
-" Dick! Holy crap...the comb is absoulutly amazing! The craftsmanship is great
but the tone and volume are unbelievable! The very best custom comb I have
ever played! Thank you so much!
Jason Ricci, USA
//Dick Sjoeberg
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chromaticblues
405 posts
Dec 16, 2010
9:46 AM
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Volume yes. Tone?
Does he mean brighter so its louder?
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hvyj
927 posts
Dec 16, 2010
10:17 AM
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Can't speak for JR, but in my experience, Dick Sloeberg's combs have better depth and fullness of tone then what you get from an OOB GM. In this regard, keep in mind that they are THICKER than standard GM combs.
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Todd Parrott
232 posts
Dec 16, 2010
11:37 AM
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Thickness of the comb does make a difference.
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HarpNinja
871 posts
Dec 16, 2010
12:13 PM
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I have never bought any thing from Dick, and to be honest, probably won't buy one of these combs in the near future. I found them too late to get on my Christmas list and my spare music money is going to PA equipment right now.
That being said, beyond the sales pitch, I hope to do business with him in the near future and will already point his products out when I can. He responded to my initial email about cost in a very tactful and excited manner. His postings on this forum have shown nothing but class and huge enthusiasm for harmonica.
IMHO, in no way did he owe Boris anything as he received two of his older used combs as gifts. I can't think of any other business that would turn around and ship out BETTER products that were not a direct replacement for someone who he has never made any money off of directly or indirectly. It isn't like he bought them from Dick, and then Dick came up with an improved method and he is updating the purchased.
Add to that his personal cost for shipping and the fact that he made no money off of Boris to begin with.
Not only is that probably smart from a business sense (a positive endorsement from someone like Boris is probably going to help business), but it shows a lot of class as a person.
This isn't meant to put Boris's comments in a negative light or to cry foul, or whatever. I realize Boris is typing English as a second language and he does a great job of doing so.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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chromaticblues
408 posts
Dec 16, 2010
12:26 PM
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@harpNinja I agree!!!
@hvyj I didn't know his combs were thicker.
That can be the reason why Jason commented on the tone. When I made my comment I was talking about all things being eqaul. As far dimension, reedplates and coverplates. Just a general comparison. I only make comparisons with parts I have customized myself. I by no means am making conclusions on other peoples products.
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sandgroperboy
2 posts
Dec 25, 2010
11:34 PM
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I have a full set of MB Deluxe combs and reed plates set up to match by
Dick
these are fantastic instruments both in tone and playabilty
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Rubes
190 posts
Dec 26, 2010
2:35 AM
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Hey guys or Dick, are there any photos of the MB combs?
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