Important Announcement

September 9, 2024

Effective immediately, I will not be accepting orders for Built-to-Order Custom Harmonicas until further notice.   As of this moment, I have enough orders on my bench to keep me busy for at least the next 5-6 months.  Given how busy my personal life and schedule will be for the rest of the year, it makes little sense to continue taking orders which will only push me further behind schedule. 

This will not affect orders for Custom Combs, Custom Covers, Tools, Logo Wear or Sonny Terry Estate items.  All that will be business as usual.  Orders for those products will be shipped immediately.  In addition, as we speak, I am in the process of adding some new products to my offerings.  New comb materials.  Exciting new colors.  A line of tools for doing harmonica repair and customization.

After I am caught up, I to offer more Ready-to-Go Custom Harmonicas.  I am not opposed to doing Built-to-Order Harps in the future, but I do think it will be on a much more limited basis than what I have done in the past.

My apologies if this catches you by surprise.  I am at a point in my life when it is time for me to make some adjustments in the way I do business.  It is time for me to draw a line in the sand and move forward.

Thank you for your understanding and your support.

Tom

Built to Order
Double Reed Plate
Classic Marine Band 1896
with Fancy Acrylic Comb

A Blue Moon Double Reed Plate Marine Band harmonica begins with a brand new Hohner Marine Band Classic 1896 harmonica.  We then attach an additional plate that increases the thickness of the reed plate.  By making the chamber formed by the reed slot larger, the amount of air moved as the reeds swing through the slots is greatly increased.  The result is increased volume and improved responsiveness. 

Available in the keys of low F, G, Ab, A, Bb, B and C 

The Marine Band 1896 is the original classic Marine Band harmonica. It is easily the most popular, best selling diatonic harmonica ever. It remains the ony pro-level harmonica that is assembled using nails to fasten the reed plates and covers to the comb. Harmonica Customizers have been disassembling the MB1896 for decades. 

The Standard Set-up for our harmonicas is a "Blues Set-up".  These harmonicas are designed for playing Traditional Blues, Rock, Country, Gospel and Folk music.  They feature the following upgrades:

• Installation of a Custom Blue Moon Comb
• All nails replaced with screws
• Draw Plate flat sanded and tapped for screws
• Full Slot Embossing
• Covers opened in the back
• Gaps adjusted for optimum response
• Reed profiles checked and shaped if necessary
• Tuned to Modern Compromise Temperament @ A=442Hz (alternate tunings available upon request)

Our Standard Blues Set-up is the harmonica of choice for most players.  These harps are airtight, responsive, in tune, very comfortable in your hands and on your lips and tongue.  Although we don't promote them as "Overblow Harps", it very easy to Overblow the 4, 5 and 6 on these harps (assuming you know how to overblow).  If you want a full blown custom harp that can be played chromatically by use of Overblows and Overdraws, this will require an extensive amount of additional reed work and customization. Consequently, there is an additional charge to produce such a harmonica.  In addition, we offer a number of alternate tunings, some which do not carry an additional charge and some of which do.

Custom Set-up and Tuning Options:

• Equal Temperament (No Additional Charge)
• 19-Limit Just Intonation (No Additional Charge)
• 7-Limit Just Intonation Tuning (No Additional Charge)
• Country Tuning ($5.00 Additional Charge)
• Paddy Richter Tuning ($5.00 Additional Charge)
• Natural Minor Tuning ($20.00 Additional Charge)
• Harmonic Minor Tuning ($20.00 Additional Charge)
• Overblow/Overdraw Full Chromatic Set-up ($50.00 Additional Charge) (Extensive Reed Work to facilitation Overblows on holes 4, 5 and 6 and Overdraws on holes 7, 8, 9 and 10 which enable the harmonica to be played Chromatically)

Expected Delivery Date

Please note that the turnaround time on Built-to-Order Custom Harmonicas is currently running 6 months, or perhaps longer. Unless a harmonica is listed as a “Ready-to-Go” harp, all custom harps are built to order, per the customer’s specifications. We keep an inventory of over 1,500 combs and about 400 new Hohner and/or Suzuki harmonicas on hand at all times. If it is listed on the website, we have it in stock. The wait time is not due to us making the combs or ordering the stock harp. It is simply that we are very, very busy and custom harps take time to build. Thank you in advance for your patience.

100 % Satisfaction Guarantee

Blue Moon Harmonicas LLC stands behind everything we offer with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.  If, for ANY REASON, you are not completely satisfied, please speak up.  We will do everything in our power to make things right.  That might include making adjustments to your custom harmonica, exchanging the product for something else or refunding your money.  That is your call.  We just want you to be happy.  So, please do not hesitate to communicate with us.

One Year Comprehensive Warranty

Every Custom Harmonica comes with a Top to Bottom One Year Warranty.  If ANYTHING goes wrong with your harp in the first year, we will fix it at NO CHARGE.  This includes blown out reeds or anything else that can go wrong with a harp.  After one year, we will service your harp for a flat rate of $25.00.  That would include cleaning, tuning, replacing any blown out reeds and in general, making the harp look and play like the day you got it.