[Harp-L] Chromatic combs cracking....
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Mund...@aol.com
May 3, 2010, 4:22:22 PM5/3/10
to har...@harp-l.org
Just now I am in Arizona USA. I have been experiencing problems with
cracked wood combs on THREE of my chromatics.
I happen to like my Hohner Super Chromonicas (270s). But they come as
standard with pear wood combs.
Over the years I have played my harmonicas in many interesting places both
in the tropics, and also in cold climates. But here in Arizona, it is the
temperature variation that seems to be causing the problems... In "The
Valley of the Sun" (Where Phoenix is situated), the temperature often exceeds
90 degrees F during daytime at this time of year, & 20 degrees hotter than
that in the summer months. But when going into the Arizona mountains, the
temperature often drops to below freezing point. Where I was playing last
Friday for example, it dropped to about 30 degrees F.... I was playing a gig
in the open air that evening and it was COLD.
Oh I guess the answer is simply not to buy chromatic harps with pear wood
combs... But to my fellow harp players, I simply say "be careful...
Temperature variations are not a good thing for harmonicas.
Sincerely,
John "Whiteboy" Walden,
English harmonica player.
(Who lives in the Philippines.)
Just now in Phoenix, AZ, USA.
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cracked wood combs on THREE of my chromatics.
I happen to like my Hohner Super Chromonicas (270s). But they come as
standard with pear wood combs.
Over the years I have played my harmonicas in many interesting places both
in the tropics, and also in cold climates. But here in Arizona, it is the
temperature variation that seems to be causing the problems... In "The
Valley of the Sun" (Where Phoenix is situated), the temperature often exceeds
90 degrees F during daytime at this time of year, & 20 degrees hotter than
that in the summer months. But when going into the Arizona mountains, the
temperature often drops to below freezing point. Where I was playing last
Friday for example, it dropped to about 30 degrees F.... I was playing a gig
in the open air that evening and it was COLD.
Oh I guess the answer is simply not to buy chromatic harps with pear wood
combs... But to my fellow harp players, I simply say "be careful...
Temperature variations are not a good thing for harmonicas.
Sincerely,
John "Whiteboy" Walden,
English harmonica player.
(Who lives in the Philippines.)
Just now in Phoenix, AZ, USA.
--
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To post to this group, send email to har...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to harp-l+un...@googlegroups.com.
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Vern
May 3, 2010, 8:00:29 PM5/3/10
to Mund...@aol.com, har...@harp-l.org
The wooden combs are not so much affected by temperature as by humidity. The cold wrings all of the moisture out of the outside air. Then when it warms up inside, the relative humidity goes very low. This draws the moisture from the wood and makes it shrink and crack. The Philipines are probably very humid and Phoenix is definitely very dry.
There are several ways to solve your problem:
1. Buy a Seydel Chromatic Deluxe, or Saxony harps with plastic or aluminum combs.
2. Replace the cracked wooden combs with machined Corian combs from Chris Reynolds and make maintenance easier with screws instead of nails.
See http://builderofstuff.com/270combs.html
3. Repair your harps and keep them in a box with a musical instrument humidifier, made for guitars and violins. The old way was to keep a slice of apple in the instrument case.
Vern
There are several ways to solve your problem:
1. Buy a Seydel Chromatic Deluxe, or Saxony harps with plastic or aluminum combs.
2. Replace the cracked wooden combs with machined Corian combs from Chris Reynolds and make maintenance easier with screws instead of nails.
See http://builderofstuff.com/270combs.html
3. Repair your harps and keep them in a box with a musical instrument humidifier, made for guitars and violins. The old way was to keep a slice of apple in the instrument case.
Vern
Mund...@aol.com
May 3, 2010, 8:02:25 PM5/3/10
to bull...@gwi.net, har...@harp-l.org
In a message dated 03/05/2010 14:33:46 US Mountain Standard Time,
bull...@gwi.net writes:
<<Hi. When I was a teenager, (55 years ago), we stopped in Flagstaff, Az.
one night. When I went outside the motel, My glasses lens cracked in half.
I live in Maine and have had wood chrom. combs crack often. I have
all plastic combs now. Bill Romel told me to stay away from the wood
combs, several years ago.
Good luck.
>>
Bill Romel re-built one of my old 270s onto one of his own "Plexiglass"
combs some years back... Bill is truly missed, God rest his soul....
I know that _www.harponline.de_ (http://www.harponline.de) offer plastic,
as well as stainless steel combs for 270 "Super Chromonicas", over in
Germany.
Anyone know of other harp tecs in USA who also can re-comb 270s?
bull...@gwi.net writes:
<<Hi. When I was a teenager, (55 years ago), we stopped in Flagstaff, Az.
one night. When I went outside the motel, My glasses lens cracked in half.
I live in Maine and have had wood chrom. combs crack often. I have
all plastic combs now. Bill Romel told me to stay away from the wood
combs, several years ago.
Good luck.
>>
Bill Romel re-built one of my old 270s onto one of his own "Plexiglass"
combs some years back... Bill is truly missed, God rest his soul....
I know that _www.harponline.de_ (http://www.harponline.de) offer plastic,
as well as stainless steel combs for 270 "Super Chromonicas", over in
Germany.
Anyone know of other harp tecs in USA who also can re-comb 270s?
Richard Hunter
May 3, 2010, 8:42:57 PM5/3/10
to har...@harp-l.org
Mund...@aol.com wrote:
<Just now I am in Arizona USA. I have been experiencing problems with
<cracked wood combs on THREE of my chromatics.
<
<I happen to like my Hohner Super Chromonicas (270s). But they come as
<standard with pear wood combs.
<
<Over the years I have played my harmonicas in many interesting places both
<in the tropics, and also in cold climates. But here in Arizona, it is the
<temperature variation that seems to be causing the problems... In "The
<Valley of the Sun" (Where Phoenix is situated), the temperature often exceeds
<90 degrees F during daytime at this time of year, & 20 degrees hotter than
<that in the summer months. But when going into the Arizona mountains, the
<temperature often drops to below freezing point. Where I was playing last
<Friday for example, it dropped to about 30 degrees F.... I was playing a gig
<in the open air that evening and it was COLD.
The temperature variation is significant, but it's the combination of wide temperature swings with dry, dry Arizona air that's causing the wood to crack.
<Just now I am in Arizona USA. I have been experiencing problems with
<cracked wood combs on THREE of my chromatics.
<
<I happen to like my Hohner Super Chromonicas (270s). But they come as
<standard with pear wood combs.
<
<Over the years I have played my harmonicas in many interesting places both
<in the tropics, and also in cold climates. But here in Arizona, it is the
<temperature variation that seems to be causing the problems... In "The
<Valley of the Sun" (Where Phoenix is situated), the temperature often exceeds
<90 degrees F during daytime at this time of year, & 20 degrees hotter than
<that in the summer months. But when going into the Arizona mountains, the
<temperature often drops to below freezing point. Where I was playing last
<Friday for example, it dropped to about 30 degrees F.... I was playing a gig
<in the open air that evening and it was COLD.
Wood is especially vulnerable when it transitions suddenly from a very damp environment to a very dry one. I believe you said that you're based now in the Phillipines?
Regards, Richard Hunter
author, "Jazz Harp"
latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp
more mp3s at http://taxi.com/rhunter
Vids at http://www.youtube.com/user/lightninrick
Twitter: lightninrick
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