Danny Starwars
118 posts
May 03, 2015
1:32 AM
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These cost over (in some places, quite a bit over) $100 where I'm from. Has anyone played these? What are your impressions?
Is it worth the price tag? I recently had a friend bring a Manji back from the States for me and I honestly love it; I'm quite happy with the M. I can get them way cheaper than this Seydel. Would there be any reason to splash out on one?
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Harmlessonica
144 posts
May 03, 2015
3:37 AM
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I like my Favorite Harmonica - though it's not my favourite harmonica. (!)
Main reason I bought it was to get a LLF without investing in a Thunderbird.
I think much of the cost is down to the aluminium comb. It has some heft and is a quality instrument - but personally I don't think it's worth the price premium.
Also, once I started to learn tongue blocking, I didn't care for the metallic taste one bit.
This thing has also pulled more hairs than than any other harmonica I own...
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GMaj7
676 posts
May 03, 2015
5:08 AM
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I believe that EZ Reeder has some Favorites that he purchased in bulk and at a discount from Seydel.
I'm personally not a fan of them and have no clue why anyone would buy a brass reed Seydel except in the case where stainless isn' t available.
To me, it is like going to Pizza Hut and ordering a hamburger.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
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SuperBee
2579 posts
May 03, 2015
7:04 AM
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Couldn't be worse than the pizza though, could it? Maybe it could.
I always thought the Favourite were too expensive, but
I'd forgotten they were brass. Still too expensive anyway and aluminium comb is a turn off for me. Combined with long covers and there's not much left to like unless it's very well turned out for set up and tuning.
Of course, hohner's TBird is brass, and even dearer. My LoF TBird is very well set up and plays better than either my Seydel 1847 or Session (brass) (both LoF) though.
I'm impressed enough with the 1847 to seriously consider another in a key I'm more likely to use often. If your really busting to give Seydel some $, you'd be fairly safe with an 1847 I think.
I was always impressed with the sound Jimi Lee made and had to get an 1847 to find out how much was due to the harp.
I'm satisfied the harp is pretty good, but the sound is mainly him.
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Sarge
456 posts
May 03, 2015
7:44 AM
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I like seydel harps. I have the 1847, solist pro and blues session. I also have a new manji that I would gladly trade for a blues session.
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nacoran
8471 posts
May 03, 2015
9:22 AM
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I like long cover harps, and I haven't had any mustache problems with Seydels.
But price is always so relative to the purchasers buying power that it's hard to answer is it worth it. I've got 3 Seydels, and I love them, but I only get them when I have money burning through my pocket, but someone else, well, it's all relative. They are very nice harps.
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the_happy_honker
218 posts
May 04, 2015
1:22 AM
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I have a Favorite in A that I am very happy with. Fit and finish is better than average. Reed-slot tolerances are very good. After shaping and gapping the reeds (I don't remember how they were OOTB), it is an excellent harp. The slightly convex ends on the comb tines make for a good seal and are very comfortable. Compared to other full-length cover, aluminum combed harps I have (Suzuki Hammond, Meisterklasse MS), the tone has more mid- and treble resonances. I choose it over the other two when playing acoustic.
If you blow out reeds frequently, then investing in an expensive brass reed instrument is probably not worth it. I've had mine for three years and nary a problem.
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SuperBee
2580 posts
May 04, 2015
5:26 AM
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I have a quite a tidy little cache of damaged reed plates for various Seydel and Suzuki harps. I just catalogued my Seydel reed plates. Favourites, it seems are interchangeable with Solist Pro, so I guess the price increase is about the comb.
One other observation from this exercise is that SS reeds seem to break further from the rivet than brass does.
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ted burke
208 posts
May 04, 2015
7:16 AM
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I have become fond of the Seydel Power Draw, designed by Brendan Power--the Richter tuning in holes 1 through 6 are clear, vibrant and responsive to the dynamic or color you have in mind to play at that instant, and I find the draw bends on holes 7 through 10 infinitely useful. My faster playing is more precise and articulated, and the easy bends make it easier for longer, more contiguous lines of musical thought to be expressed without jumps or breaks. I am also very found of the Seydel soloist pro. It has the grit and grain of a Marine Band , I think, but is a smoother playing experience. The harmonica doesn't fight you or bark as an MB , or worse, a Manji would. It's a good harmonica I would recommend to anyone.
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Ted Burke
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SuperBee
2581 posts
May 04, 2015
7:32 AM
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Thread has inspired me to make up a batch of 1847 style country tuned harps from my dodgy reed plates. Think I can do it for about $50 a harp if I buy arzajac combs. I'm a bit unclear on the brass reeds; they sell individual brass reeds in 3 packs, marketed as being for favourite and also cheaper brass reeds marketed for solist pro/blues session. And also another reed pitched at solist pro 12. Are they really different I wonder? I have a bunch of blues session plates for Lo tunings, also a swag of SS plates...SS combs are much cheaper...if only I liked the covers...I could build these for $40
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GMaj7
677 posts
May 04, 2015
7:39 AM
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First of all, why would you buy brass reeds?
The reed are interchangeable. If you are going to buy reeds, buy stainless steel.
If you are simply making Country Tuned harps, you can re-tune the 5 draw up 1/2 step and don't need to buy reeds.
The Solist Pro 12 reeds differ slightly but it is too complex to explain in this thread.
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Greg Jones
Seydel Factory Tech
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
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SuperBee
2584 posts
May 04, 2015
2:32 PM
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Thanks Greg.
Why buy reeds? I understand why you would think my question implied a nexus with my stated intention to build some harps from the plates I have. It was slightly Joycean. I may need to buy some reeds, because a good number of these plates will prove to have bad 5 draw reeds. Thus my thought to build a set of CT harps, since most will need that reed replaced anyway and I would like more CT harps.
The question about the brass reeds is not directly related to that project, but when I was browsing the seydel site, trying to get a grip on the compatibility of various parts, I noticed that seydel sell individual reeds, both brass and steel. But it seems that when it comes to complete reed plates they only sell them with steel reeds.
Why buy brass? Why sell brass?! And why sell two types of brass reeds with the same dimensions? Or are they really the same with two different prices?
This, perhaps you can see the thought process, led me to ponder whether the quality of brass reed in the Favourite is different to that supplied with the Blues Session and Solist Pro.
I think it's a fair question, and actually quite relevant to the OP.
Is the extra price of the favourite simply down to the comb, or are the brass reeds in the Favourite of superior quality to those in the cheaper brass Seydel models? Given that 3 brass reeds for a favourite are sold for over $7 while 3 brass reeds for a Solist Pro are less than $5, is there a difference?
My original project, which inspired me to get all those plates out and catalogue them, was to create a chart of slot dimensions for Seydel and Suzuki models, and to detail the compatibility and differences across the models. Thus I am also interested in this aspect. I'm grateful for the info that solist Pro 12 reeds are incompatible with other types.
Last Edited by SuperBee on May 04, 2015 2:38 PM
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GMaj7
678 posts
May 04, 2015
3:27 PM
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Hey.. good points..
I'll steer clear of the price differential on the individual reeds.
It may have to do with the way the reeds are categorized.
The price differential on the Favorite is for sure due to the aluminum comb, though. That's an easy one to answer.
Depending on your model, though....if you buy reeds for your project, I would buy stainless steel in lieu of the brass. For the most part they are interchangeable.
You can write me back channel and I will let you know for sure
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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Danny Starwars
121 posts
May 04, 2015
4:32 PM
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I did make a post in here the other day but it seems to have disappeared. I will be content at the moment with the harps I like. In the 80s I fell for buying a Pro Harp and even a Hohner Masterclass, on the names alone. I figured they would be the best. I like NEITHER as much as the SP20.
If I see one that other players swear is actually good I might take a chance, but I'll skip this one and work on my skill. I do realize most of it is the player, not the harp.
I appreciate the comments.
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Spderyak
45 posts
May 05, 2015
3:16 AM
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I did buy a pro harp about a year or so ago. At 1st I thought it was stiff to play, but for the most part it seems like most any kind of harp..but... I see the coating chips off..can't say I know how it tastes but really not interested in swallowing any of it so no more of those for me.
...oops... that was a hohner pro harp, not a seydel...
Last Edited by Spderyak on May 05, 2015 7:00 AM
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GMaj7
679 posts
May 05, 2015
3:51 AM
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Spderyak,
If you would email me back channel, we can look at making this right
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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