Semi-Custom Bill Romel 64

[BeauKim]

Hi everyone.  I recently bought a used Bill Romel prewar Hohner 64 with a Lucite comb recently for an affordable price.  I got really lucky.  I replaced all of the windsavers, had to straighten out the slide besides the regular cleaning, and derusted the spring.  He ended up drilling the screw holes a little off center and the comb chambers are all different widths so I had to move windsavers around.  Otherwise it’s in beautiful cosmetic shape.  The comb is beautiful.  This one doesn’t use a lot of reed plate screws compared to another Romel 64 I’ve seen.  Wonderful reduction of volume in the higher notes. 

I think he customized the u-channel but not necessarily the reeds.  Next, I will be tuning the reeds.  I’ll try to post photos later. 

Does anyone else own a Romel worked on chromatic?

[blowharp]

I occasionally get them in my shop for servicing. I also had Bill make one for me so I could finish customizing it for a customer.   His later models were much better than the earlier IMHO. He learned along the way and you could see the improvements. Be careful torquing the screws in. The biggest mistake harmonica players make is torquing the screws beyond the limit of being tight then they either break the comb or start to draw the threaded inserts out of the comb. Just finger tighten. Once you feel resistance stop as long as the part is down enough to not produce light leaks along the mouthpiece or reedplates.

mike
CustomChromatics.com