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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Low keyed harps
Low keyed harps
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jpmcbride
135 posts
Dec 08, 2016
9:48 PM
I have a low D SP20, a low C SP20 (made it myself), and a low F Bushman DF. I decided I wanted to complete my kit and get the remaining low keys: low Db, low Eb, low E, and low F#.

I was not willing to pay $125 for TBird harps in keys I would rarely use. Since you can no longer get low key SP20s or Big Rivers, I started searching for available low keys. I ended up getting a couple low keyed Hohner Rockets (79.99) and a couple low key Seydel Session Steels(59.95).

After a day with both harps, here is a mini-review.

I'm not a fan of the orange comb on the Seydel, or the baby blue comb on the Rocket. Call me old school, but I prefer black or brown. These colors make the instrument look like a toy.

I don't care for the Seydel cover plates that go all the way to the end of the harp. Nothing wrong with it fundamentally, I'm just used to standard covers and it takes a little getting used to. This is just personal preference.

Both harps played well out of the box. No problem notes, no serious tuning issues. I didn't have to open up any of them.

Both have curved and smooth edges on the comb and feel very nice in your hand an mouth. There are no sharp edges anywhere on either one.

The Rocket is very loud, even for a low keyed harp. Its significantly louder than the Seydel. I feel like I'm moving a lot of air through the rocket - but not in a bad or leaky way. Its feels good and sounds loud. I really enjoy playing it.

The Seydel has smaller holes and wider spacing that Hohners. The small holes feel strange and it seems like I'm not able to move enough air through them. I'm not happy with this at all. The wider spacing isn't really an issue. One of the advantages of playing TB is that your tongue is on the harp all the time and its easy to know where you're at, even if the spacing is different than what you're used to.

Overall I like the Rocket better than the Seydel. To me, its worth the extra $20 to get a harp that plays louder and feels better.


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Jim McBride
www.bottleoblues.com
Reever Sorio
17 posts
Dec 08, 2016
10:41 PM
In all the years I have played harmonica, no one from the "loving public" to my recollection has ever remarked on how a harmonicas looks appealed to them.
For the most part the harmonica is in your hands and difficult to see. While of course another *player* might marvel at workmanship/beauty, we all know that playability is paramount. Just last week I received a Rocket Amp with the chartreuse green comb from Richard Sleigh, I had Ron send it to him for Hot Rodding, I bought the harp from Ron for $60, Richards cost was $95 so what if the comb isn't pretty, the tone is. I bought a couple of the Rocket Low a C and D, and can't agree more, they play great. It feels to me that the holes on the Rocket comb are just a bit larger-perhaps two tenths of a millimeter-than the Special 20. I was disappointed when Hohner made the move to offer low harps in the Thunderbird model only, while a very nice harp, the price could not compete with Seydel and Suzuki. I am sure you have heard this from an audience member. "Why do you have so many harmonicas?"
TBird
204 posts
Dec 09, 2016
8:33 AM
Any reason you didn't check out a low tuned Manji? If I ever get around to expanding my low harp collection, I think that is the avenue I will explore first. Just curious if you know something I don't.

Tom
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Be noble for you are made of stars.
STME58
1882 posts
Dec 09, 2016
8:49 AM
I have a Manji in Low C. It seems like a fine har and I enjoy playing it. Other Low harps I have for comparison are a Session Steel in Low D and an 1847 Nobel in Low F. Of these my favorite is the Nobel, but the differences between these harps are small. Making comparisons like this is of limited value as the variation in playability from harp to harp of the same make and model is on the order of the differences between different manufacturers. Some of these differences can be mitigated by gapping, but now you are introducing a new variable to the comparison.
jpmcbride
136 posts
Dec 09, 2016
7:16 PM
@TBird,
I didn't know there were low key Manjis. I missed out.

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Jim McBride
www.bottleoblues.com
Gnarly
2047 posts
Dec 09, 2016
8:05 PM
Manjis go down to low C--no C# or F# tho.

Last Edited by Gnarly on Dec 09, 2016 8:06 PM
John M G
92 posts
Dec 09, 2016
10:25 PM
I've got Low Manjis and really like them. I've got the Low F, E, D and C. They are excellent value and I've been buying them direct out of Japan on eBay that come with free shipping.
This is the seller "akibashipping"
mlefree
794 posts
Dec 10, 2016
8:43 AM
I'm digging Seydel's new Bold Body Low Tones. I especially appreciate Seydel's anodized aluminum "Noble" combs. I've never had the opportunity to try a Blue Moon anodized aluminum comb but I suspect they are similar in quality and performance. Both seem to have overcome the annoying problems that Suzuki's aluminum combs have been plagued by.

Michelle

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Chaz
22 posts
Dec 13, 2016
10:20 AM
I have manjis in low E and D, they are excellent. I also have a low F bushman- playable, but I feel it is less responsive than the low E manji, which is a higher key... so I feel like I might get another low F because I feel like that is my most used low harp (relatively speaking). Another manji would be fine with me, but I am curious to try the low rocket- aside from the comb (LOL) the word of mouth seems to be pretty positive.
kham
80 posts
Dec 13, 2016
4:57 PM
I have a meisterklasse in low F from Anthony Dannecker when he had a sale on a few years back. Awesome harmonica. The plates are small though. I wonder if meisterklasse made low tuned harps or if I got a franken harp?
hvyj
3191 posts
Dec 14, 2016
6:06 PM
I can't figure out why so few models are available in Low F#. Regular or high F# is very shrill. If I need to play an F# harmonica, I prefer using a Low F#. Not difficult to play and has a nicer timbre than High F#, IMHO. But unless you are having them custom made, Low F# harps are only available in a very few models.
Hollistonharper
254 posts
Dec 14, 2016
8:06 PM
I was in the market for a low F# and recently bought a Seydel session steel. Like the original poster, I also don't like the cover plates that go straight across. But I swapped the cover plates from an old 1847 that I never play onto the session steel, which fit just fine. It's a nice harp, plays well out of the box. It may be a low keyed harp but it plays just as easily as the standard keys and is plenty loud.

I gave some thought to buying a Lucky 13 but couldn't imagine ever wanting to actually play a standard key higher than an F.
hvyj
3192 posts
Dec 14, 2016
8:37 PM
Yeah, - LowF# doesn't feel like you are playing a low tuned harp. It plays and responds like a standard key harp.
jbone
2226 posts
Dec 15, 2016
3:34 PM
I use a low D BR and a low F Manji a lot. When the BR goes out I'll replace it with a Manji.
There is a definite place in my play for these harps, esp. amped.
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Killa_Hertz
2009 posts
Dec 15, 2016
5:35 PM
I have low Manjis (F, Eb, D, C)
And a low F Session Steel.
And a low C seydel solo 12.

I love the manjis and the session steel both. They are both great harps.

I wanted to address your comment about not liking seydels full coverplates.

The full covers are only in the sesdion models. The 1847 has standard covers. Do you could try an 1847 low. OR Do what I do and put 1847 covers on your session steels. Best of both imo. I love this perticular setup.

Or go manji. 8^)


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