thescip
11 posts
Sep 14, 2012
9:34 AM
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I lurk here quite a bit and read alot though I rarely post. I have been playing for almost ten years, I consider myself an intermediate player although there are always things I can work on. I am in need a new Bb harp as my son got a hold on my current one and played a little bit after a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
I experimented early on with a lot of harps before settling on special 20 as the harp I like the best. I definitely like plastic combs over wooden and now that i need a new harp again i decided I might want to branch out a little bit. I have tried most hohner types and lee oscars and dont really like any of them as much as the SP20. I was thinking of a seydel session or the session steel this time around.
Any thoughts or other suggestions would be appreciated.
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HawkeyeKane
1186 posts
Sep 14, 2012
9:47 AM
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I've never tried the Session Steel, but I have several Session Standards. I like them a lot. The reeds are very light to the touch when it comes to breath amount. IMO, the Session and the SP20 are really on a par with each other, but I would bet with the steel reeds, the Session Steel would add an extra element of durability. Some folks don't like the orange comb or the full body coverplates, but to me, they're just items that make a contrast comparable to Chevy and Ford.
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Hawkeye Kane
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MN
182 posts
Sep 14, 2012
10:07 AM
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The Session Steel is a GREAT harp. IMO, much better than a Special 20. On the other hand, I DO like a good Special 20 quite a bit. I'd just let your budget decide -- as the guys above mentioned, the SS if a good bit more expensive.
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TheoBurke
110 posts
Sep 14, 2012
10:14 AM
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I like the durability and the crisp sound of the Session Steel, but the Special 20 gets my vote for having a better sound; I can bend more expressively on the 20 and the notes have a broader color range. They go sour quicker, I agree, but I think that is the price for having a harmonica that has these kinds of nuances.
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Ted Burke
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-VPUDjK-ibQ&feature=relmfu
ted-burke.com
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1847
206 posts
Sep 14, 2012
10:14 AM
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ONCE YOU HAVE ONE
YOU CAN BUY REEDPLATES
THEY ARE LIKE $30.00 RETAIL
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HawkeyeKane
1188 posts
Sep 14, 2012
10:30 AM
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I was about to mention that, 1847. Yes, great thing about SP20s and Sessions is that replacement plates are available. The SP20 and SS plates are about the same price too.
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Hawkeye Kane
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HarpNinja
2671 posts
Sep 14, 2012
10:45 AM
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You're a winner either way. I am not crazy about recessed combs myself, but that is purely to taste. If you go Seydel, go steel!
FWIW, I have SP20's I gig with, but not Sessions. I have 1847's I'd gig with though. As much as I wanted to fight it, I don't like full coverplates and I like opened cover plates....side vents optional.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Mods
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas - When it needs to come from the soul...
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LSC
297 posts
Sep 14, 2012
12:42 PM
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The cost difference between the Session Steel and a Special 20 is not that great if you factor in reliability and longevity. Besides the value for money benefit, as opposed to pure price, carrying around extra harps because your Special 20 might die on you or being caught in mid-solo with a duff note is not the best situation, especially since Sod's Law dictates that failure will come on the most important note at the worst time. I had a reed break off a Special 20 in mid-solo on a draw note nearly choking me in front of a few thousand at a festival in Holland. That was not fun.
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LSC
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HawkeyeKane
1190 posts
Sep 14, 2012
12:52 PM
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"Sod's Law"...HA! Love it.
Yeah, I'm with LSC. I've had SP20 reeds blow out mid-gig, and I've not always had a backup handy. This thread gave me the bug. I just ordered a couple sets of SS reedplates from Ron to put in a couple of blown out Session Standards. D and G seem to be the keys I blow most often these days, mainly because of the heavy bending I do with them. The Session Standard reeds are light, which I like, but thin bendable reeds often mean choke-outs and snaps, neither of which sound good onstage. LOL
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Hawkeye Kane
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MP
2453 posts
Sep 14, 2012
1:28 PM
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it's really a matter of taste. apples and oranges.
like Theo re- tonal quality. for me, Brass Rules.
also, tuning stainless steel reeds is like tuning stainless steel cutlery. almost ruined my fav Seydel file and rotary bit on two 1847s.
don't get me wrong. they are good harps, just different.
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info-
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Cole
15 posts
Sep 14, 2012
2:07 PM
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I love my SP20... but my SS's from 16:23 custom harmonicas are very nice! Thanks Greg! Good job!!!
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Cole Stevens
www.colestevens.net
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robbert
129 posts
Sep 14, 2012
2:07 PM
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Should be fairly easy to clean up that PB&J off the harp.
Session Steel is a great harp IMO...but I actually prefer Sp. 20's. They are a little easier to adjust for personal playing style, and if you depend more on breath control than force for playing, they last a long time.
However, I would definitely give the SS a try for the sake of research. You may really love it.
I also really like the Crossover, which is in the SS price range, I believe.
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SuperBee
582 posts
Sep 14, 2012
2:17 PM
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This longevity topic comes up again. I was expecting to see people denying that steel reeds last longer. I know one guy who was very disappointed with his session steels lifespan. I've forgotten how the story goes. I know I could find the threads but I guess I don't really care that much per se. I just get interested in the stories.
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STME58
235 posts
Sep 14, 2012
4:00 PM
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I have had session a session steel break within a week. Of course I lked the harp so I was playing it a lot. Harps are all lasting longer as my technique improves. Without a controled study it is hard to say what lasts longer.
Someone pointed out the Seydel Steel and Hohner SP20 reed plates cosr about the same so after the first purchase maintenece will be similar. I find it odd that SP20's and SP20 reed plates also cost about the same.
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garry
270 posts
Sep 14, 2012
5:47 PM
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the session steel and regular session play very much alike. so i'd take the money you'd spend on a session steel and buy a regular session and a suzuki bluesmaster. then play all 3 to decide what you like. they're all great harps, they all feel and sound a little different. nobody here can tell you what you'll like. only you can do that.
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capnj
55 posts
Sep 14, 2012
7:39 PM
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If your wondering make a laydown on 2 session steels,
I have had luck with A and C.That being said the session steels don't last me any longer,and strange reeds break off,where my bad habits kill 4 and 5's in hohners,other reeds go in the sessions/ go figure.The tone on certain ootb ss is very addicting/order new reed plates 30 bucks if you like.Besides blowing too hard,I practice longer hours than most trying to get up to speed,thus the blowout fatigue blues.
Special 20s are the working mans harp,they sound so good,and then you put that extra emotional blast on them to many times,and good by baby.Mp fixes my blowouts for a reasonable fee,but would drather buy a new one than get reedplate.YMMV
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thescip
12 posts
Sep 15, 2012
10:33 AM
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Thanks for all the advice. I think I might go with the session classic. Little less money and if I end up liking that I can always move up to the session steel later. I've never used seydel so im excited.
@robbert you're right but it's a pain sometime and the PB and J gives me an excuse when I tell my wife I need a new harp.
Thanks again everyone I'll have to let you know how the session works out.
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MN
183 posts
Sep 15, 2012
1:04 PM
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LSC wrote: "The cost difference between the Session Steel and a Special 20 is not that great if you factor in reliability and longevity. ...
I had a reed break off a Special 20 in mid-solo on a draw note nearly choking me in front of a few thousand at a festival in Holland. That was not fun."
==============
Excellent point about cost/durability.
And your anecdote reminded me about a gig where the 4d on my D Special 20 completely flatted out (I found out later, the reed actually cracked) toward the end of "One Way Out." It happened just before the drum solo. Coming back into the song, the guitar player and I always trade riffs ala Duane and Dickey. Try cutting heads with a guitar player when you've got no 4d! :-o
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Willspear
195 posts
Sep 15, 2012
5:43 PM
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I have about a year on seydel steel harps. Playing out practicing blah blah blah
They last me much longer than any brass harp. I blew out several hohners on a regular basis. I've only had 2 stainless reeds fail in a year. Both were repaired free of charge by seydel no questions asked. No receipt no hassle from the day I dropped em in the mail each time they were returned and in my possession in a week flat.
Goodluck getting hohner to fix a bum harp ootb even with a receipt
Play seydel mostly now. Except I still own some golden melodies I like.
The stainless harps sound great. Play great. Like open backed covers so I use 1847 covers.
I think special 20s are ok but I have a drawer full of dead ones.
Last Edited by on Sep 15, 2012 5:42 PM
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garry
271 posts
Sep 15, 2012
9:23 PM
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fwiw, i've about given up on the session steels. as far as i can tell, they don't even last as long as my suzuki bluesmasters, which are half the price. given that the suzuki's win on OOB playability, i think i'm going back to them.
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jiceblues
306 posts
Mar 23, 2014
11:00 AM
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It's an old thread , but...
is the Session Steel as responsive and easy to bend as the SP20 ? i like the SP20 much but i'd like it more a little bigger and with full-length coverplates .
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BigBlindRay
221 posts
Mar 23, 2014
11:15 AM
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Hi MBHers
Hands down - without a doubt - SS reeds break way easier than brass reeds. IF and only IF you are bending too flat!!
Im amazed no one has pointed this out but stainless steel is indeed a much harder metal to work with. It is only logical that it is also less flexible.
I will say however that SS reeds stay in tune longer too.
Brass reeds are more flexible - are less likely to break as easily as SS if bending too flat.
SS reeds will stay in tune longer and last longer overall IF you do not bend them too flat.
So for the n00bs - if you get SS reed harps and break em - work on your chops or stick to the brass reed harps.
I personally love the 1847's - they have really become my go to harp. Also, been looking at the reed profiles on all of mine and am impressed at how flat they are compared to other brands
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Big Blind Ray Trio Website
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Big Blind Ray Trio on Bandcamp
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jiceblues
307 posts
Mar 23, 2014
12:42 PM
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Thank's Ray . I am a soft player .
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jiceblues
308 posts
Mar 23, 2014
12:57 PM
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Usually , i don't break reeds .They die by age and rust , mostly by rust , i think .At the end , they don't sound anymore or very poorly .This is why i 'm interested by steel reeds .I've had some 1847's , but i find the 'holes" of the mouthpiece to be too big .And i think the 1847's are less responsive than the SP20 .I had them for 3 or 4 months and sold them .Maybe they were not "broke in "...
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jiceblues
309 posts
Mar 23, 2014
12:59 PM
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I meant "broken in " , sorry .
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jiceblues
310 posts
Mar 24, 2014
4:05 AM
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And the session steel is a little bigger than the SP20 and has full-length coverplates , so i'm gonna make a try .I don't understand why manfacturers make so small harps , you can't fit easily your hands on it .Keeping the sames reed and mouthpiece size , you could make recessed plastic combs longer and larger , and the covers , too...especially for americans , who have large hands...lol...
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SuperBee
1808 posts
Mar 24, 2014
4:51 AM
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Session is a bit too fat for me. But it's ok. Tends to hit my teeth though
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jiceblues
311 posts
Mar 24, 2014
5:00 AM
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The 1847 is a bit too fat also .Covers don't have the MB shape .
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