The Pandemic has thrown us all some curveballs.
Shipping is slow everywhere - if it's even available at all! CanadaPost still has a list of destinations it's not serving.
I get my cover plates, reed plates and other Hohner parts directly from the factory in Trossingen, Germany. An order usually takes two weeks to arrive. They are now taking five to six weeks. And many parts are backordered at the factory adding further delays.
Fortunately, for any key Custom Marine Band, I can use either Marine Band 1896, Marine Band Deluxe or Marine Band Crossover reed plates. They all use the same reeds.
So if one model is backordered, I can use another and just do a little extra work to adapt. The customer will not notice.
When it comes to cover plates, though, the difference is more noticeable to the customer.
Marine Band Deluxe covers add a little extra room for the reeds to swing in comparison to standard Marine Band 1896 covers. The amount of extra clearance they offer is mid-way between 1896 covers and Thunderbird conical covers.
They are also more beard-friendly with smoother corners. Crossover cover plates are exactly the same as the Deluxe except they have different writing.
Marine Band 1896 covers can be hand-modified and upgraded to offer more room for the draw reeds to swing as well as smoothened corners (see photo above). Again, this is a little extra work to adapt. It feels the same and plays the same.
It's nice to have options so I don't have to make any customers wait for their instrument.