Another Hello from Chicago

[kingrobot]

Hi Slidemeisters,
I've checked out some threads before registering.
After a decade or so, i've gotten back into blues harp.  I've gotten into playing, then modifying diatonics.  A lot of my old collection has been revived or used for parts.

In about '95, my most expensive and ambitious step into music was buying a Chromonica 260:  10 holes of C that i still don't understand.  It's aged a lot better than any of the diatonics, probably because i barely used it.

Feeling ambitious again, I've gotten it out and have started trying to play along with songs.
It sounds good.  Of course there's some windsaver buzz.

I'm starting to get antsy about tweaking it, making it a robust instrument that will last another 50 years.
In my diatonic mind, this would mean gapping, embossing, replacing the nails with screws and making the comb more hardy by sealing it (butcher block oil) or replacing it with something waterproof.  But I'm completely new to servicing chromatics.  I'd rather find someone who could optimize this one while I experiment on an old Koch.

Since it sounds good and I'm not playing that much, it probably doesn't need any of these modifications.
I am waiting for a used 270 in G to arrive from ebay.  From other posts about ebay chromatics, i can anticipate this will need a lot of work too.

Inevitably i'm going to post looking for someone who modifies chromatics in Chicago or the midwest.  If you do and want some business, please reply or send me a message.

Otherwise i will try to make funny comments about other posts and get people to like me.
Rex

[A.J.Fedor]

Hi Rex and welcome.
Great first post. Ya see kids? That's the way it's done!
Yeah the 260 will do fine AND they tend to last forever unless you really hammer on them, and then they only last 20 years or so. The worst thing is of course is a warping or cracking comb and even those are cheap to replace and / or fix. Reeds can be returned a couple times before they have to be replaced. The good thing about ebay is there is always a good supply of 260's and 270's that have the same stories. "Got this in an estate sale, has a button that changes the tone." (those usually have cracked combs and curled up windsavers) AND "this was my father's" and I never learned to play it." Those are usually just plain worn out. But thankfully, you will also find some very good ones from time to time.

If however, you decide get one from another SlideMeister member through our free for nothin' Classifieds Board, you will pay a couple bucks more but it will be a gem cuz SlideMeisters are the best folks on the planet! They're helpful, honest and just want to see you do well on the Chromatic. (Besides, if you did get a bad deal the whole group will find out about it and we'll all think terrible things about that member and his family heritage for the last 200 years, pray warts on the guy's and it all goes downhill from there and none of us want that.  

Welcome to SlideMeister!