SLIDER BASS HARMONICA

from http://www.brendan-power.com/harmonicas-twin.php

Welcome to a new concept in bass harmonica: the Slider Bass Harmonica! Based on Brendan Power's patent-pending TwinHarmonica System, Brendan has scaled up the design to fit existing bass harmonicas of the traditional type. Now, instead of having to jump awkwardly between two separate units as in the past, the player can stay on one comfortable rounded mouthpiece and get all chromatic notes via a sprung slider, just like a normal chromatic harmonica. Aside from the advantages in comfort, speed and accuracy, it offers bass harp players new techniques never possible before - like legato semitone playing, slider trills and more!

The mouthpiece/slider unit is all Brendan's own design; He makes the plastic parts and foam rubber gasket using 3D printing and laser cutting, and outsource the chromed brass mouthpiece and stainless steel slider. The precision CNC machined mouthpiece is the most expensive part.

The following bass harmonicas can now be converted:

Hohner 264 single reed bass
Hohner 265 double reed bass
Hohner 268 EXTENDED bass
Suzuki SDB-29
Suzuki SDB-39

Are your combs warped or badly cracked? There is an additional option to buy custom 3D printed PowerCombs for the Hohner 265 double-reed bass. Often the old wood combs are warped and cracked, leading to air loss and poor response. Sometimes they can be refurbished, but where that's not possible there is an option to swap them for my specially designed PowerCombs. These have dedicated chamber lengths for the longer and shorter reeds, are made in non-absorbent ABS plastic so won't warp or crack, and are already flat-sanded. Most importantly, they have the correct front screw holes in place to locate with the screws in the upper mouthpiece/slider unit, eliminating the single most difficult customising step and making fitting a breeze. Their price reflects the printing time: 8.5 hours!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

QUESTION: I already own a bass that I want to have converted into Brendan Power's innovative SLIDER BASS HARMONICA. What is the process?

ANSWER:

1.) Contact George (form below) to notify him that you are ordering the SLIDER KIT and what bass that you are shipping (either Hohner 264 single reed or 265 double reed or SUZUKI SDB-29)

a.) George will supply you with his address for shipping your bass to him.

b.) Ship your bass to George once you receive his address

2.) Order and pay for your SLIDER KIT from Brendan Power's Website (click here)

a.) Choose your bass either 264 single reed or 265 double reed

b.) Choose "Assembled by George Miklas"

c.) Choose "Custom Combs" if you want your wood combs replaced.

Otherwise, default switch is "No Combs"

3.) Notify George that you ordered your SLIDER KIT.

4.) George will notify you when the SLIDER KIT arrives

5.) George will send a PayPal invoice for the Customization fee and any fees for additional work to your bass.

6.) You pay the invoice

7.) George ships your new SLIDER BASS HARMONICA to you.

QUESTION: I do not own a bass harmonica, but I would like George Miklas to build a custom SLIDER BASS HARMONICA for me. How do I begin the process to get a bass harmonica?

ANSWER:

George Miklas has vintage Hohner 265 Bass Harmonicas in stock, ready to be converted into SLIDER BASSES.

1.) Contact George (form below) to decide whether you will need to order new plastic combs, or will use vintage wood combs.

2.) order and pay for your SLIDER KIT from Brendan Power's Website (click here)

a.) Choose 265 DOUBLE REED

b.) Choose "Assembled by George Miklas"

c.) Choose "Custom Combs" only if you are ordering plastic combs.

Otherwise, default switch is "No Combs"

3.) Notify George Miklas that your SLIDER KIT was ordered

(Brendan ships directly to George).

4.) George will notify you when the SLIDER KIT is recieved

5.) George will send a PayPal invoice for the Stock Bass and Customization fee.

6.) You pay invoice

7.) George ships your new SLIDER BASS HARMONICA to you.

QUESTION: What does it cost?

ANSWER:

Hohner 264 and 265 SLIDER
£225 (approx $320 USD) payable to Brendan (before)
$200 payable to George Miklas (after)
Hohner 268 EXTENDED SLIDER
£275 (approx $390 USD) payable to Brendan (before)
$250 payable to George Miklas (after)

George will respond via email or text within 24 hours.