Are New Marine Band 1896 Combs Sealed?
Is the pearwood comb of a new stock Marine Band 1896 sealed?
I am referring to the ones with the current box packaging and "BluesHarmonica.com" free month coupon card.
Thanks.
The new pearwood combs for the 1896 Marine Band ( the one put together with nails ) are sealed on the inside. They are much more resistant to swelling than the vintage unsealed pearwood comb. They are not as heavily sealed as some pearwood combs. If you look at the inside of the comb, you will see the coating, but it does not have the glassy look of a comb heavily sealed with multiple coats of shellac or other sealers.
I would not advise submerging the combs in water or rinsing them out under the tap, like you can do with special 20s or harmonicas with other plastic combs. But if you store them with air circulation they should be fine. Don't store them in the plasti boxes they come in! They seal in any moisture that is left in the harp.
To recap - these combs will resist swelling more than the old combs, but a heavily sealed comb resists swelling even more.
Thank you for the post. I'm sorry for the delayed response. I was just informed that Kinya will be out for a while, recovering from an unscheduled surgery. He is doing well, but needs time to recoup. I have asked another expert to answer your question in the interim. We will be back to you as soon as possible with an answer. Thank you for your patience.