Replacement plastic/acrylic combs for hohner 260

[peevole]

I found a very old thread dealing with combs, but it said maybe it was best to start a new:
I have, apart from my beloved CXs, a Timler customised 270 de Luxe with acrylic comb - plays like a dream. But, after some concerts at which I played on my out-of the-box 260, I'm falling deeper in love with the little harp. I'm all set to convert it to screws, but the dream is a 260 with plastic or acrylic comb. I've really searched past postings, but can't find any answers.
Is it possible to buy such a comb? Help wanted!
Regards to all,
Peter.

[Bluesy]

You know, Peter, I had just about made up my mind to submit a post just like yours. I want a new comb for my beloved 260 that I can screw into place. Amazing coincidence!
Plastic would be great, or even wood, if it's rock hard.
So I double Peter's request.

Bluesy/

[chromaticblues]

I don't think anyone is listening!
Very good question though.

[m.marino]

I am listening. Just no mill at the moment and lot's going on in the family. I own a 260 and agree that an acrylic comb or even a higher quality sealed wooden would be nice and it is in the pipeline folks (one of the advantages of CAD & CNC). So bear with me and i will let you know when it available.

Michael

[chromaticblues]

That's good news. I have been taking mine apart sanding them flat and sealing. It's just so time consuming. I would be first in line for a predrilled comb. Aluminum might be a good idea due to wieght. It's easy to machine also.
Anyway I'm glad some one is listening? I was just kidding!

[guzoni]

Count me in as an interested party.  I love my 260, but with ten (10) thumbs, I'm a little hesitant to try any sort of repairs.  Having plastic, acrylic, or aluminum comb my intimidate me a little less.

[bloharp]

Some point in 2012 I'll be offering replacement combs for most Hohner wood comb chromatics.

I've investigated a lot of materials for strength, stability, ease of milling, lightness and purchased about $900 worth so far. $900 doesn't get you very much in exotic materials. I'm hoping to avoid acrylic since it proves to be too brittle when dropped. I may just use it for beta setup with the mill and use stronger material for the finished product.

My only drawback is no electric in the shop right now to set up and use the CNC mill. It will need a dedicated stable power source with battery backup.  No cheap setup.

mike

[Bluesy]

Mike;
Count me in too - but not if they are aluminum. My idea of an ideal comb for the revered 260 is one made out of a close-grained, densely heavy hardwood, like those wonderful-looking combs we see for the diatonic crowd.
In today's world, we are conditioned to accept plastics made from petrochemicals as the what plastics are. Well, wood should not be overlooked as the quintessential plastic. It is God's first plastic, and has a noble history in Man's climb to civilization (an arguable attainment), and is available in almost myriad densities, strengths, colors and sizes.
So take a look at tropical hardwoods when you consider suitable raw materials.

Seasons Greetings!

TomC/

[bloharp]

Aluminum is another product that I would only use for beta testing so don't worry about that.

I've been a  metal finisher for almost 40 years now so I'm very particular about what will end up as comb material.

It's all an evolution process to making a completely custom chromatic  from the reed plates on up to the cover plates starting with the comb and going from there.

Mike

[chromaticblues]

I don't have my heart set on aluminum. I thought it might work well because its light and they're are high quality aluminum's today. I do like bamboo diatonic combs.

[Tim Atwell]

I like my 260's also.  I have one in C and one in G.  The sound is so much more solid than the sound of the 270. But the slide action is slow, and I don't like working it with my thumb.  When I work it with my index finger, however, my thumb, lying on the mouthpiece, is in the way. So...what about making a comb for the 10-slot 260 plates that is longer than the existing comb for a 260? Make it, say, as long as the comb for a 12-hole or 14-hole, but with the area above the highest reeds left solid.  Then you could put a longer, more modern mouthpiece/slide on it and stay out of your own way.  If you could fashion your own mouthpiece it could be solid where the comb is solid, with just a little depression at the far right side, to locate your thumb. And think of what you could put, by way of resonant material, in a hollowed out area where the (to me, anyway) useless upper 8 or 16 reeds would normally be on a comb that length.   

[drfrancov]

I like my 260s (one in C and one in G). I find the sound a little thin when compared to my 280s and even compared to my 270. Portability is a big factor though. And you can play plenty of songs with only 10 holes and some creativity (ie transposing). My 260s are wood combs that I flattened and resealed. I converted both to screws. The acrylic comb might be something to look into down the road.

[Bluesy]

I like my 260s (one in C and one in G). I find the sound a little thin when compared to my 280s and even compared to my 270. Portability is a big factor though. And you can play plenty of songs with only 10 holes and some creativity (ie transposing). My 260s are wood combs that I flattened and resealed. I converted both to screws. The acrylic comb might be something to look into down the road.

I would be interested in finding out which screws you chose for the 260 comb, and where you found them.
Did you have to enlarge the holes in the reed plates?
Thanks,

Tom/

[Gnarly He Man]

I have been sending marine band 365 harps to Mike Peace in Oklahoma, and he does a great job for not much money--I bet he would do 260s too!
I will have to ask him . . .
http://www.route66harmonicaclub.com/News.html

[drfrancov]

I used M-2 0.40 screws with nuts. On the 280s, the same screws but tapped. I believe the length was 10 mm.

[Joe Piccirilli]

I just mailed 2 ---260 combs to a SlideMeister member and he was elated.He told me he has a chordomonica that takes a 260 comb.
Now he wants a 270 comb.I make them from acrylic material with holes for 1-72 machine screws.Reasonably priced.
If your interested let me know.I have some already made.       Joe Picc

[Ed McCullough]

Regarding aluminum as a comb material:

Nobody has yet mentioned that Hohner  first made aluminum combs for the Meisterklasse chromatic harmonica, then had to specially treat the surface of the aluminum. I think there was an interaction between the brass reedplate and the aluminum.   With that as an example, I think we should not make combs of aluminum.

[Danny G]

Technology has improved allot since the early 80's when the first Meisterklasse hit the market.
I haven't heard of any complaints about corrosion (electrolysis) problems from Seydel or Suzuki owners.

[beads]

Our local Ace Hardware store had stainless steel screws, washers, and nuts that I used on my 260. Sorry, I don't know the size. I just took one of the cover screws to the store and found the nearest match.

[larry]

   C.A. Reynolds has replacement combs for 260 & 270`s in acrylic & corian.

[Piro39]

 Have any new suppliers of 260 combs surfaced since this thread has started? I'm not interested in replacement pearwood combs.

[Blue Oak]

Chris Reynolds makes acrylic and Corian combs. http://builderofstuff.com/270combs.html

[Blue Oak]

Whoops, sorry for the redundancy.

[Bluesy]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Tim Atwell]

silly me, i wrote a post before checking the link to C.A. Reynolds.  has anyone tried his acrylic/corian combs with threaded brass inserts imbedded in them for easy removal and replacement of one reed plate at a time?  he uses only five screws.  why none at the left and right ends?  do the screws for the covers keep the ends tight?  how much does the comb material affect the sound?

combine a design like reynolds' with roady's wooden covers that can be removed one at a time and a repair tech can do the job without all the fuss with dis- and re-assembly.

could these brass inserts be used in a wooden comb?

[Gnarly He Man]

I think Chris got this from Vern Smith; that was the design of the original hands-free chromatic harmonica.

[bloharp]

Geez, I forgot I replied to this post 2 years ago.  I wish I had the shop up and running in 2012.  It's running but the mill is still on the floor. Dealing with a piece of crap Harbor Freight shop crane I purchased to raise the mill. missing parts. mislabeled drawings. sigh.

Good news is I still have lots of parts to build and restore 260's so don't trash them. 

mike
www.harmonicarepair.com

[Gnarly He Man]

Good news; I like the 260.
Steady as she goes, Mike, we all can wait for the good things to come.

[Sailboat Slim]

Comb material has no effect on sound. I know many will disagree with me, but the mass of the vibrating reed(s) is too small to create any vibration in the comb, and because the comb is isolated from the reeds by the reedplate there is no dampening effect. That is, the reedplates themselves have sufficient mass to absorb any vibration that might otherwise be passed on to the comb. 

[Gnarly He Man]

Combs can make a difference when it comes airtightness.