Playing a harp while giving out advice
My wife says I look like a clapping seal.
Yes, I do.
Blog posts
M1.6 Tap
A Marine Band 1896 harmonica is held together with nails. You can convert it to all-screw assembly. Fasten the reed plates to the comb without having to use nuts by using a tap to make threads into which you can turn a screw. This tap is for 1.6 mm screws.
A pilot hole for this tap can be drilled with a 3/64" drill bit - that's a commonly-available drill bit in the US and Canada.
Other uses for this tap: The threads made by self-tapping screws in Hohner, Suzuki and Lee Oskar harmonicas are often stubborn; it can be difficult to get the screws back in once you take them out. This may lead to excessive force which can bend the reed plate or strip the thread. Use this tap to improve the factory threads for easy and safe reassembly.
To use this tap, I recommend you use a tap handle or pin vise. I can provide one if needed.
This pin vise can hold a single M2, M1.6 or M1.4 tap. Use two sets of pliers to tighten the collet so that you firmly hold the tap or drill bit in the pin vise. This will maximize the life of the tool.
Here's a YouTube video of how I convert a Marine Band from nails to screws. I use the tap in a pin vise at around the 4:30 mark.
M2 Tap
A Marine Band 1896 harmonica is held together with nails. You can convert it to all-screw assembly. Fasten the reed plates to the comb without having to use nuts by using a tap to make threads into which you can turn a screw. This tap is for 2 mm screws.
A pilot hole for this tap can be drilled with a 1/16" drill bit - that's a commonly-available drill bit in the US and Canada.
Other uses for this tap: The threads made by self-tapping screws in Hohner, Suzuki and Lee Oskar harmonicas are often stubborn; it can be difficult to get the screws back in once you take them out. This may lead to excessive force which can bend the reed plate or strip the thread. Use this tap to improve the factory threads for easy and safe reassembly.
To use this tap, I recommend you use a tap handle or pin vise. I can provide one if needed.
This pin vise can hold a single M2, M1.6 or M1.4 tap. Use two sets of pliers to tighten the collet so that you firmly hold the tap or drill bit in the pin vise. This will maximize the life of the tool.
Here's a YouTube video of how I convert a Marine Band from nails to screws. I use the tap in a pin vise at around the 4:30 mark.
Video: Replace Marine Band nails with screws and install new comb
This is a quick and easy way to install a flat comb in to a Marine Band harmonica. The stock comb has dimples to make room for the ends of the rivets which hold the reeds. My combs provide more surface area to make an airtight seal with the reed plates and the rivet ends need to be flattened.
This is a harp in the key of G. The end result is a fantastic harmonica that is loud and responsive. I was happy with the instrument but was not satisfied with the 4 overblow due to the shape of the reeds (out-of-the-box profiles).
I spent a few minutes and did some re-shaping of the blow and draw reeds to make them more efficient. It's much more work than just gapping. But the end-result is a 4 blow that is not tight and plays normally with hard pressure as well as a solid - and bendable - 4 overblow.
Other models including Marine Band 364, 365, pre-MS Meisterklasse, Seydel Big Six, Easttop 008
Made to order.
Models currently available for immediate production include:
Original Hohner Meisterklasse (pre-MS)
Marine Band 365 (Convert to screws)
Marine Band 364 (Convert to screws)
365 SBS (Steve Baker Special) (only in standard thickness.) (Convert to screws)
Marine Band Soloist (vintage 12 hole - please specify "vintage")
Seydel Blues solist 12 (Seydel solist Pro 12)
Seydel Blues Solist (different than Solist Pro)
Vintage Huang
Seydel Big Six
Easttop diatonic 008K and 008S
Brendan Power's Lucky 13 harmonica
Hohner Vest Pocket Harp / Hohner Piccolo (Convert to screws)
Please specify the model below. If the model you would like does not appear, select "other" and you can let me know what you would like during the checkout process. Don't worry! I'll contact you if anything is not clear.
Would you like a comb that is not listed on this site? Contact me about making a comb for your model harmonica. No extra fee applied - combs for most "sandwich-style" harmonicas offered at regular prices.
Prototype or hybrid combs are possible. Are you thinking of piecing together a 13-hole harmonica? Or would you simply like to fit Manji Reedplates into a Golden Melody harp? Sounds like fun - I can modify my designs to suit your needs with no additional charge. You just pay the regular price per comb.
For harmonica models which are assembled with nails, here is a video showing a fast way to convert the nails to screws and install one of my combs:
More information and instructions for installing my combs are found on the Combs page.
Lee Oskar
Fits Lee Oskar harmonicas.
Note: For best overall performance, don't change the comb of a Lee Oskar harmonica. I recommend using the stock ABS comb and work to get better performance by using The Reed Plate Claws™ to straighten reed plates. I only offer Lee Oskar combs because some hobbyists like to experiment with the tonal qualities of switching from an ABS "recessed" comb to a solid surface "sandwich-type" comb.
Lee Oskar harmonica reed plates were designed to be used with a recessed comb. These reed plates do not have a groove into which the coverplate can lock in. Although you can install these reed plates onto a "sandwich-type" comb, you may experience a loss of airtightness if the coverplates become bent. You will find some useful tip on converting these harmonicas here. (Sandwich-type harmonica tips and tricks)
Keep one on your workbench:
- Use it to help with tuning. It's easier to get an airtight seal with the covers off using this comb.
- Use it to help you adjust reeds with the covers off.
More information and instructions for installing my combs are found on the Combs page.
Suzuki
Fits the following harps:
Suzuki Manji, Promaster, Suzuki Olive.
Also fits
- Dabell Contender
- Dabell Noble
- Suzuki HarpMaster, BluesMaster (*)
- Bushman Delta Frost(*)
The stock Manji comb is slightly smaller than the reed plates. My comb is a hair bigger than the plates so that the harp is more comfortable to hold.
HarpMaster, BluesMaster:
* Note: For best overall performance, don't change the comb of a HarpMaster or BluesMaster harmonica. I recommend using the stock ABS comb and work to get better performance by using The Reed Plate Claws™ to straighten reed plates. However, some hobbyists like to experiment with the tonal qualities of switching from an ABS "recessed" comb to a solid surface "sandwich-type" comb and these combs will work with a little help.
HarpMaster and BluesMaster harmonica reed plates were designed to be used with a recessed comb. These reed plates do not have a groove into which the coverplate can lock in. Although you can install these reed plates onto a "sandwich-type" comb, you may experience a loss of airtightness if the coverplates become bent. You will find some useful tip on converting these harmonicas here. (Sandwich-type harmonica tips and tricks)
Delta Frost:
Older versions of the Bushman Delta Frost used Harpmaster reed plates. The current reed plates are of lesser quality and are usually warped. Instead of trying to improve them with a comb upgrade, I suggest straightening the reed plates. Please see The F tool™.
More information and instructions for installing my combs are found on the Combs page.
Seydel 1847
Fits Seydel 1847, SOLIST PRO and FAVORITE
More information and instructions for installing my combs are found on the Combs page.
Hohner MS series
Fits the following harps:
Big River, Blues Harp, Crossharp, Proharp, MeisterKlasse.
Please note, Hohner assimilated a few harps into the MS line over the years:
- Are you looking for a comb for an original Meisterklasse (Pre-MS series)? I offer them, click here.
- Are you looking for a comb for a Blues Harp from the 70s and 80s? They were Marine Band bodies with non-vented covers. Assembled with nails, they can be converted to screws just like Marine Band 1896s. They use the same comb and the Marine Band. Instructions are provided on the Marine Band comb page.
More information and instructions for installing my combs are found on the Combs page.
Golden Melody
Fits Hohner Golden Melody classic harmonicas. This is not meant for the Progressive type which has a different design.
More information and instructions for installing my combs are found on the Combs page.
Special 20/ Rocket
Fits Hohner Special 20 and Rocket harmonicas.
Note: For best overall performance, don't change the comb of a Special 20 or Rocket harmonica. I recommend using the stock ABS comb and work to get better performance by using The Reed Plate Claws™ to straighten reed plates. I only offer Special 20 and Rocket combs because some hobbyists like to experiment with the tonal qualities of switching from an ABS "recessed" comb to a solid surface "sandwich-type" comb.
Special 20 and Rocket harmonica reed plates were designed to be used with a recessed comb. These reed plates do not have a groove into which the coverplate can lock in. Although you can install these reed plates onto a "sandwich-type" comb, you may experience a loss of airtightness if the coverplates become bent. You will find some useful tip on converting these harmonicas here. (Sandwich-type harmonica tips and tricks)
Keep one on your workbench:
- Use it to help with tuning. It's easier to get an airtight seal with the covers off using this comb.
- Use it to help you adjust reeds with the covers off.
More information and instructions for installing my combs are found on the Combs page.
Marine Band
Fits the following harps:
Marine Band Deluxe, Marine Band Crossover and Thunderbird. Also suits Marine Band 1896 harmonicas if you want to change the nails to screws. This includes:
- Marine Band 1896 (1950s to current *).
- Pre-war Marine Bands, including "mouse ear".
- Pre-MS Blues Harps
- Wooden-combed Old Standy.
- Pre-MS Meisterklasse
(*) Marine Band 1896 harmonicas manufactured around the end of the 1980s and beginning of 1990s had a slightly different nail hole pattern and you can chose to only use two screws to hold the plates to the comb or to do a little extra work to create a third hole in the plate. These harps offer much less potential than Hohner harmonicas made before or after this period. I suggest you lower your expectations when trying to upgrade these instruments. Please see this page for more details.
It has chamfered tips. An innovative design allows this comb to be used on any model 10-hole Marine Band harmonica.
Here's a video showing the process of converting a Marine Band 1896 harmonica from nails to screws and installing one of my combs:
More information and instructions for installing my combs are found on the Combs page.
I also offer conversion kits to change Marine Band 1896 from nails to stainless steel screws:
Custom harmonica ($100 deposit)
To order a custom harmonica, I ask for a CAD$100 deposit.
I will contact you promptly and we will discuss your needs. I will ask you specific questions about your custom harmonica and provide you with a firm delivery date.
If you wish to order more than one harmonica, please send me one deposit per harmonica. You can select the quantity at the bottom of this page.
Payments are made using Paypal as you Check Out. Canadian residents can also use eTransfer to send me the funds. Contact me for details.
Full Toolkit (The most complete toolkit available)
The most complete harmonica tool kit on the market.
Full Toolkit:
Includes:
-Extended French Tuner™
-Five Cent Tuning Tool™
-Grobet Tuning File 0-cut
-The Flatness Tool™ and Reed Plate Claws™
-Dual Reed Wrench
-Embossing tool
-Reed support tool/Plinker
-Brass Reed Tool Set
-18g Hockey Stick
-Reed replacement Kit
-Stainless Steel harmonica screws - 105 pieces:
10+ pieces M2 12mm
30+ pieces M2 10mm
30+ pieces M2 nuts
30+ pieces M1.6 10mm
5 pieces M1.6 Nut
-Shim Stock (three pieces)
-Instructions Pack and email support
____________________
____________________
____________________
This complete kit will help you with every aspect of upgrading your harmonica including:
- The Reed Plate Claws and Flatness Tool are the most effective tools available to make your harmonica airtight.
- The tuning tools work to save you time by allowing you to tune with the reed plates on and off the comb.
- The Brass Reed Tool, Reed Support tool/Plinker and embossing tool can perform advanced techniques like reed work and embossing.
- Replace reeds like changing a string on a guitar.
____________________
These tools are hand-made. They are made to work with all brands of diatonic harmonica.
They are shipped promptly.
Email support is provided with the purchase of these tools. Within the first 90 days of purchase, I will answer any question about using the tools, just email me your questions.
Is my vintage Marine Band a lemon? How to spot a bad Marine Band harmonica
Restoring old harmonicas can be rewarding. Some of those old harps have a lot of soul!
Some Vintage Marine Band harmonicas are worth restoring because they have the potential to become responsive instruments with that earthy Marine Band sound.
But some are not.
Hohner went through a difficult time in the late 80s and early 90s and the quality of their harmonicas suffered. No matter how much work you do on such a harp, the result will be a serviceable harp at best. When they were first bought, a lot of them were hardly played because of the poor quality and they were simply put away. Today, these harps are surfacing on online markets as Vintage harmonicas in great "cosmetic" condition! They are cosmetically excellent because they have had barely any use due to their poor quality out-of-the-box.
How can you tell the difference between the good and the bad vintage Marine Bands? Here's a simple way. This method can help you spot a lemon over 90 per cent of the time.
Take a look at the back of the harp. Flip it upside down and look closely under the cover plate. How many nail heads can you see in between the reeds on the draw side (the bottom reed plate)? If you can see three, the harp is from a good period - either before or after the difficult time in the 1980s and 1990s.
If you can only see two nail heads, you have a harp that is most likely not going to be as playable as you would like it to be no matter how much work you do on it.