Havoc
52 posts
Apr 01, 2017
1:51 PM
|
I have a saydel steel sessions. Is there a preferred customizer for steel reeds? Or is it similar enough that all customizers work standard and stainless materials?
----------
If you don't cut it while it's hot......
|
SuperBee
4606 posts
Apr 01, 2017
3:53 PM
|
Can't really speak for others, although I saw one well-known tech say he would "rather be kicked in the bits" than work on a seydel harp to bring it to his standards.
Personally I do work on them but I don't enjoy it.
Greg Jones and Jon Harl specialise in them. Tom Halchek thinks they're great and I think he works on them. Andrew Zajac certainly used to and maybe still does. They are the only US based people I know though I'm sure there are many others. Oh, Rupert Oysler also. I know a couple in Europe but I think you are in US.
|
Havoc
53 posts
Apr 03, 2017
7:54 PM
|
Thanks super, sending a harp to Greg tomorrow.
----------
If you don't cut it while it's hot......
|
Havoc
55 posts
Apr 30, 2017
3:48 PM
|
Repairs done by Greg were great! Thank you Super!
----------
If you don't cut it while it's hot......
|
Killa_Hertz
2305 posts
Apr 30, 2017
5:40 PM
|
Check out Mr. Ben Bouman. He is out of the UK, but the shipping is very cheap.
He does many levels of customizing. I have been talking with him and am planning on ordering something from him soon. He actually helped develop the steel reeds. He knows quite alot about them and is very enthusiastic about them.
Give him a search on Google.
|
SuperBee
4661 posts
May 01, 2017
2:59 AM
|
Pretty sure I have a Ben bouman reedplate at home at the moment. I'm doing a job for a seydel-endorsed player, repairing 17 1847 reedplates with broken reeds.
I noticed one had been signed (with engraver). I'm pretty sure it is BB; will have to take another look.
|
Killa_Hertz
2306 posts
May 01, 2017
4:58 AM
|
Yea, Bee if you look at his page (benboumanharmonicas.com. I think) you ll see that he offers various services.
With a purchase of any harp, for an extra $10 he does a 19 limit tuning, gapping, and light emboss.
Then the stages step up. Same features just more intensive. The highest level is about $150 and is a full customized overblow harmonica.
Then you can also add reed polishing to any harp for an additional fee. Ben says it takes all the tooling marks off of the reeds. All the burrs from embossing and tuning. And makes the action smoother.
I really want to try a few customs from different customisers. Ben will likely be first just because I love Seydels. But Joe Spiers will be closely behind him. I wanted to ask Joe if he would do a Seydel. He usually only does marine band, but I know a few people he has done manjis for. So .... maybe he's open to it, idk.
But then again, don't I want to see Joe's Sturm at its finest? Perhaps it's better to just get a Maine band from him
|
Havoc
58 posts
May 01, 2017
7:46 AM
|
Thanks Killa perhaps I'll look into him for my future needs.
----------
If you don't cut it while it's hot......
|
SuperBee
4662 posts
May 01, 2017
3:08 PM
|
Yeah right. I've got a draw plate from a C x-treme. I can see it's been embossed and has even gapping. Hafta find a blow plate so I can try it.
I put a new 10 slot reed in it which seems to work ok. Installing new reeds into embossed slots can sometimes be tricky
|
Killa_Hertz
2308 posts
May 01, 2017
3:15 PM
|
Ahh. I never thought about replacing reeds in an embossed slot. Hmm.
Yea let me know how the harp plays if you get it all togethee. Looks like good work?
|
SuperBee
4663 posts
May 01, 2017
5:29 PM
|
Yeah if you pop them back in with a rivet it's usually not too bad because they go back pretty much xactly where they came from. Seydel steel though has slightly oversize holes in the reed so they swing loose on the rivet until they're sett enough, so it's good to take it steady until you know you're on the mark.
Yeah the work doesn't show anywhere near as much sign of intervention as say my Spiers stage 2 harps. Looks like he has given attention to reed shape and a bit of slot sizing. Tuning seems unspectacular, as in the reedplate is giving me an impression of being all over the shop but I'm only testing it by placing it on my lips so far. May be very different when assembled. He has used a rotary tuner. I'm jealous of his skill to write with an engraver. He's engraved the player's name on the plate, more stylishly than I can write with a pen. And the key and the word Xtreme.
|
Killa_Hertz
2311 posts
May 01, 2017
5:54 PM
|
Yea, the xtreme is his top of the line. Hmm. Not impressed, eh?
Well lmk how she plays when its all together. I know your not a huge fan of Seydel in general, but ....
Just wondering now if I wouldn't be better off trying to talk Spiers into doing me an 1847. Lol.
|
SuperBee
4664 posts
May 01, 2017
9:09 PM
|
I wouldn't say not impressed. There's just not much to see.
If the thing plays like a dream, that's where it's at. Just a shame I don't have the blow plate.
Jamie just sends me the reedplates which need work, to save on postage.
There's a lot to see on a Spiers harp, at least on my stage 2s but maybe that reflects how much he needs to do
To be totally clean about my gripes with seydel:
1) I had some customer service conversation with the CEO which left a bad taste. So that annoys me.
2) I think the quality is acceptable, but not outstanding. And they have some special problems just like their competition.
This is not a gripe, just a reason I sometimes mouth off at people in the topic. I actually think they're fine. The session is not for me, but I've never met a long cover harp I liked. I have an 1847 which is quite ok. I think the 1847s are pretty good when set up properly but they're pricey and hard to work on. I just don't see a compelling reason to get them. The reeds are neither here nor there for me, I can play them ok but I don't get why I'd make the change. They sound different but that's an acoustic thing and it's neither here nor there. Different rather than better imho.
3) I don't enjoy working on them. I relate to Joe's statement that he'd "rather be kicked in the bits" than have to bring a seydel harp to meet his standard.
But I'm not knocking bouman's work. I can see he has straightened and lowered some reeds. That's the essence of work on any harp really, if the bones are good. I'm sure this one plays great.
|
Killa_Hertz
2315 posts
May 02, 2017
5:38 AM
|
Oh I see. You don't have the entire harp.
I can agree with most of what you have said.
Cost is not as much difference these days. A 1847 classic is about the same as a crossover.
They are surely harder to work on. And I can see Joe's point there. I don't do nearly the extensive work he does. So it's not so bad for me.
I love the way they sound. I also love the size and shape. I think (especially for newer players like myself) that the thicker harp and the angle of the covers really promotes a good wide embochure. And really helps get a good tone.
I have been playing my deluxes a little bit lately. But all in all.... I really like Seydel
|
arcticbreaze
5 posts
May 19, 2017
2:53 AM
|
I have a session steel in C LOVE the tone and its the only harp I own which dosn't rip out mustache hair.
|
Havoc
67 posts
May 19, 2017
9:14 PM
|
Nice arctic! It's become one of my favorites as well!
----------
If you don't cut it while it's hot......
|
