LeoT
3 posts
Feb 04, 2011
11:36 AM
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Hey guys,
I'm from Israel and we don't really have a variety of harps here..
I was at the local music store, out to get my second harp (my first one is like 15 years old and was my brother's ages ago). Somehow I found myself buying a Seydel Solist Pro, even though I never ever heard of Seydel anywhere. Not only did I never see it come up as on any recommended harps for beginners (I guess it's not), but I also can't seem to see it recommended anywhere at all. This is all kinda weird looking at the fact they have been out there since 1847.
Does anyone have anything to say about these?
Does anyone here have one?
Just trying to figure out if I bought junk, of if they are considered good... It did cost more than the hohner marine band and blues harp after all.
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RT123
79 posts
Feb 04, 2011
11:41 AM
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You bought a very good harp. They are not junk at all. I do not own one but they are loved by many players. I am not sure if they are difficult for beginners, maybe someone else who uses them can answer that, but they do have a good reputation. Someday I may try one but I am happy with Suzuki right now.
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AirMojo
97 posts
Feb 04, 2011
11:42 AM
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You didn't buy junk... the Seydel Solist Pro is an excellent "marine band" style harp. Good choice for your 1st store bought harp.
So how did it play ? What key ?
Seydel has a great website that shows off all their harmonicas, sound files, jam tracks, and loads of harmonicas... don't drool on your keyboard !
The classic Seydel 1847 is my favorite !
http://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel.sf?ObjectPath=/Shops/Seydel
Last Edited by on Feb 04, 2011 11:44 AM
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KingoBad
595 posts
Feb 04, 2011
11:53 AM
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Check out the "forum search" link on this page. You will find out plenty about it.
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MP
1369 posts
Feb 04, 2011
4:09 PM
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the Seydel factory (i believe) is in the former east germany. that may be one of the reasons for their low profile compared to other makes.
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
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barbequebob
1524 posts
Feb 05, 2011
7:48 AM
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The Seydel factory had the bad luck of being in East Germany and during Hitler's regime, they, like Hohner, were forced to make minitions for them, but Seydel got the worst of it and then when Germany was split, they unfortunately landed on the Communist side (East Germany), and they Seydel family was removed from ownership and the government took over EVERYTHING, and private ownership of anything was forbidden and they basically ran the company into the ground and by the time Germany finally got reunited and the Seydel family had the business returned to them, it got so badly ruined that for years it was turning out lousy product until a European media company bought them out around 2003, investing tons of money and improving the company greatly.
Seydel prior to WWII had already begun to experiment using stainless steel for reeds, which they later put out on the 1847 in this decade.
In the 70's, East Germany imported the Bandmaster series of diatonics and chromatics and from an advertisement of an old Guitar Player magazine issue from 1977, advetised as being "just as good as Hohner, but at half the price." It was half the price, but nowhere near as good once the Communists go their hands on the company.
Hohner always had much financial and marketing muscle than Seydel ever did, even tho the've been in business making harmonicas far longer than Hohner.
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nacoran
3771 posts
Feb 05, 2011
11:09 AM
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I have a Seydel Blues Favorite (in low low F). It's a superior instrument. I'm saving up for a 1847 with long covers like the Blues Favorite. They are innovators. They have models with stainless reeds. They have the lowest tuned harmonicas available. They have fully customizable layouts. They have really tight reed tolerances (don't play them as hard as other harps. They'll make more sound with less force, but the downside is you can blow out the reeds.) Turboharp.com has even modified one of their stainless steel reed harps with a magnetic slide so you can bend chords!
Seydel
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Bart Leczycki
15 posts
Feb 05, 2011
12:14 PM
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@LoeT, it's great instrument with the brass reeds.
The higher model - 1847 is pretty similar, but it has stainless steel reeds (louder, more durable than brass or phosphor-bronze). You can replace old reedplates from Solist Pro or change to 1847s reed place.
You can buy every model and tuning (Low Low F or High A also) online on Seydel web site.
It's really harp players-friendly company!
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Ant138
776 posts
Feb 05, 2011
1:47 PM
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I only play seydel solist pros or the 1847.
For me seydel make the most comfortable and resposive harps around:o)
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jim
715 posts
Feb 05, 2011
1:50 PM
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Solist Pro is not made in LLF-LF. If you put a low reedplate sed on the Solist pro, you will need to change the covers, otherwise the reeds will hit it.
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RyanMortos
1007 posts
Feb 05, 2011
2:07 PM
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I got one Seydel and I really like it. It's a soloist pro in the key of Eb. Overblows 5 & 6 without any adjustment, 4 screeches a bit and could use adjustment. I actually like the instrument (I started jamming on it just now) I think the reason I didn't buy more Seydel instruments had to do with convenience. Though, I do think there're two online shops that sell'em in the US. I'd definitely consider getting more soloist pros. Though I'm still very curious if the 1847 is worth the cost of 3 golden melodies, lol.
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~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
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Bart Leczycki
16 posts
Feb 05, 2011
2:08 PM
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@jim I'm sure that we can order Solist Pro in LLF by Harp Configurator! BTW I have special 1847 covers for very low keys (deeper profile for 1draw hole). It works :o)
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jim
716 posts
Feb 05, 2011
2:13 PM
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Sure... I mean serial produced SPs.
low 1847 covers are good, yes.
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
547 posts
Feb 14, 2011
3:21 PM
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That was Hans Eisen who made the steel reed In the 1930s. Seydel wasn't involved with steel reeds in those days.
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Tiggertoo1962
116 posts
May 14, 2016
1:56 PM
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Time to revive another old thread, methinks, instead of starting a new one.
Looking at a set of Solist Pros on fleabay atm, and wondering if anyone could let me know how they feel, as opposed to how they play.
I have Seydel Blues Sessions, which I don't really like the feel of. For my liking, the full length covers they have just feel too fat in the mouth. I much prefer the fit of SP20 or Marine Band.
Although the Solist Pro looks more like a Marine Band, that's no guarantee of how it feels, so I'd appreciate if anybody who has tried all three could chime in here, before I buy more harps I don't like the feel of.
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One of the last of a dying breed.
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bluethird
15 posts
May 14, 2016
2:22 PM
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Solist Pros are quite a bit fatter in the mouth than marine bands. More like a blues harp or big river, if that's a comparison that helps.
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SuperBee
3722 posts
May 14, 2016
2:46 PM
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I'd agree with that, but I'd add they are much more like a marine band than a session.
I found the session is a big mouth full thanks to the bluff shape of the full length covers. The solist pro is not like that, but it is a bit bigger than marine band...not enough to bother me, I liked it. I would probably have kept buying them but I found they pulled my lip hair unbearably often.
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Killa_Hertz
1378 posts
May 14, 2016
5:58 PM
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Yes ... seydel 1847 covers are the worst i have found for pulling hair. I imagine the soloist would be similar.
However tigger i have found that when i put my 1847 classic covers on my session steel ... wow. Best of both worlds.
I say 1847 classic covers because my noble covers didn't quite fit the same way. Not sure if this was a fluke or not.
But i think you may really like this setup if you try it.
Hope that helps
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SuperBee
3725 posts
May 14, 2016
6:17 PM
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Solist pro pulls em in a different way. It's about the tabs for the cover screws. They're a brass reed harp so a bit cheaper than the steel harps. I like them a LOT better than the blues session. If only I shaved they'd be fine...
Except...normal Seydel issues. I had 3 of them. Ab, E, F. I broke the 5 draw in the E very quickly. I sold the F and the broken E, but I still have the Ab. It has a problem with the 1 blow reed but I don't use it that much.
Seydel brass reeds...well...they're heavily invested in steel reeds
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Killa_Hertz
1382 posts
May 14, 2016
8:56 PM
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I like the way the steel reeds play. Just a bit of a pain to setup.
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Tiggertoo1962
118 posts
May 14, 2016
11:23 PM
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Thanks guys.
Instead of just dealing in subjective views, I decided to get scientific about this and got my digital callipers out. This is what I got, measuring at the widest point with which the lips make contact - unless you're into swallowing your harps. All harps are stock unless otherwise indicated, and thicknesses are measured at the 5-6 hole area, i.e. harp middle.
SP20 - 18.4mm (+/- 0.1, depending on the key)
MBD with AZ SP20 custom comb - 18.7mm
MB X-over with AZ custom comb - 18.6mm
BH MS - "A"-18.8mm; "D"-19.1mm; "C" with AZ custom comb-19.1mm
Seydel Blues Session - 20mm, apart from the "F", which was only 19.75mm.
Manji - 18.3mm
Suzuki Harpmaster - 18.5mm.
Suzuki Hammond - 17.8mm-18.4mm, depending on how far up the harp I measure. This confuses the hell outta me, as the plates don't seem to be warped, and don't let any light through.
Well the difference might only be around 1 - 1.5mm, but that certainly seems to explain why the SBS feels so much different.
@ bluethird - did you mean a MS blues harp when comparing it to a MB? If so, that would also seem to make sense, and ties up well with Bee's observation too.
@ kHz - "when i put my 1847 classic covers on my session steel ... wow. Best of both worlds."... although the 1847 covers pull your 'tasche out?... or have you gone all clean-faced? Is the harp thinner when you put the 1847 covers on it? If so, I might just get a set to try it out.
Looks like I just might bid on this set after all. Bet the local divorce lawyer is gonne love me...
edited for legibility ;)
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One of the last of a dying breed.
Last Edited by Tiggertoo1962 on May 14, 2016 11:24 PM
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mlefree
671 posts
May 15, 2016
4:02 AM
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Surprisingly, no one has mentioned the most important thing about Solist Pros, their tuning.
I got mine knowing how much I dig the "original," the Hohner Steve Baker Special, which is a re-tuned 14-hole 365 Marine Band. That is also a killer harp. Great tone, loud, and very nice to play -- once customized by sealing the comb and replacing the nails with screws. For many years I called it my "desert island" harp.
Like I say, the SBS is a great harp, but it is big and those extra two holes on the high end are so squeaky as to be unusable, IMO. So, the ideal low-C SBS embodiment, IMHO would be a 12-hole harp with a sealed comb and screws instead of nails -- i.e., the Soloist Pro 12. It's shorter in length than the Hohner SBS so it is "cup-able" and it has very nice stainless cover plates too.
Now, why do I like these harps? First, understand their tuning. Essentially, the first three holes are tuned like those in a regular low-C diatonic and holes 3-12 are tuned like a regular C diatonic. So in addition to the normal 10-hole diatonic you have an additional lower octave covered in those first three holes. So what is cool about that? Several things. One, you can play riffs in any of 4 octaves. Also, and here's what I really like, you can do some very cool things playing tongue-blocked splits combining those first two octaves, and then right on up the harp as in a normal diatonic. In addition, you can lay down some pretty nice bass lines in that low first octave and then go to the higher octaves for the melody or blues riffing, and back to the the bass lines and so on. Try Sonny Boy II's "Bye Bye Bird" on one of these babies!
Finally, these harps are chugging monsters. Try starting a train rhythm in that luscious low octave and then roam up and down the harp with whistles and anything else you care to throw at it; the Soloist Pro 12 is very much equal to that task, too. You should hear the reigning rhythm harp king (IMHO), Paul Davies, wail on his -- he likes to use two Soloist Pro 12's at once for some amazing rhythm effects.
Michelle
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Thievin' Heathen
756 posts
May 15, 2016
7:12 AM
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I think he bought the 10 hole, in which case I think he got a standard Richter tuned, brass reed Seydel. A fine instrument. To get that, totally trick, 12 hole, he would have spent about 2.25X more.
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Crawforde
113 posts
May 15, 2016
2:09 PM
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I wish they still made the 12 hole with brass reeds.
The steel reeds are sweet and all, but I get less complaints when I use lower tuned harps and the steel reeds only go down to G.
The brass reeds are easier for me to retune too.
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Killa_Hertz
1383 posts
May 15, 2016
2:48 PM
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@Michelle ... Thanks for that. I was unaware that's how they were setup. You totally sold me on trying one. Now where's Rockin Ron @ ?
Ill be checking one of those out real soon. That's sounds too cool. So if I've got this right hole 3 = hole 1 on a normal harp. With only holes 1&2 stepped to the lower octave? Brilliant!
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Frank101
162 posts
May 15, 2016
3:18 PM
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K_H and others, just to make sure you get what you're looking for, go the Seydel website. It gives lots of info on each model, and the icon they call "Tone table" shows how the notes are laid out on the harp.
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drifter
2 posts
May 12, 2017
10:07 AM
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I take it from reading the above, the soloist pro 12 steel reeds are brighter. I am considering a Seidel or another Suziki, I've been using Harpmaster but would like to try something else, the Mangi or the Olive. Anyone use either of these?
Last Edited by drifter on May 12, 2017 10:48 AM
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SuperBee
4697 posts
May 12, 2017
6:03 PM
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No, I don't think that's what crawf meant.
I'm not sure what he meant exactly but it's not that steel reeds sound brighter than brass. Something about the available range.
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Crawforde
143 posts
May 13, 2017
5:48 AM
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I had been talking about the available range.
My wife hates it less when I play with low tuned harps.
That post is old though and the range may be extended.
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drifter
3 posts
May 13, 2017
12:33 PM
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Based on that clarification I have bought a Solist Pro as an early birthday present for myself. Thanks guys.
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drifter
4 posts
May 14, 2017
10:55 AM
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RT123, if I'm not out of line, what Suzukis do you play? I have been playing Harpmasters but have wondered about the others.
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AirMojo
371 posts
May 15, 2017
5:18 AM
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Be aware that there are two different Seydel Soloist Pro diatonic harmonicas... both have 12 holes and has "SOLOIST PRO" stamped on the top cover plate.
The 1st one has the similar tuning to the Hohner SBS (and now the Easttop Lucky 13 (by Brendan Power), with the 1st three holes an octave lower than holes 4-6, both tuned like holes 1-3 of a regular richter-tuned 10-hole harmonica.
The 2nd one is a "solo tuned" that has three full octaves like a 12 hole chromatic... fun for 3rd position playing too.
Last Edited by AirMojo on May 15, 2017 5:20 AM
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drifter
5 posts
May 16, 2017
2:51 AM
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It appears i have bought the wrong harp.
Last Edited by drifter on May 16, 2017 4:09 AM
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drifter
6 posts
May 16, 2017
4:07 AM
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I bought an A key and should have gotten the C. I haven't received the harp yet and I have emailed Musician's Friend for instructions on how we can make the swap. I hope I can get this straightened out. Thanks for the info.
Last Edited by drifter on May 16, 2017 4:10 AM
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MP
3444 posts
May 18, 2017
9:21 PM
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I remember thinking the Seydel Blues Solist had a maple comb and was gorgeous and top shelf. I just never cared for the Seydel sound but lots of folks love 'em. No less than Rupert Oysler is seriously involved w/ them.
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