silpakorn
93 posts
Sep 20, 2011
5:20 AM
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The only low c that I have at the moment is MB 364 which I love its and sound it's got almost everything that I want but the bending ability is quite poor. I can hit all the bends lip purse but couldn't do it well enough TB - can't sustain any bend at all. Since this one is a stock I'm pretty sure it's not my technique that is the problem. Anybody have any suggestions about what would you do ? Have it customised ? Try to adjust the reed by youself ? Or buy another low c on the market - seydel ? thunderbird ? Thanks for any comments..
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boris_plotnikov
618 posts
Sep 20, 2011
5:36 AM
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Custom Seydel 1847, better with thinner comb (e.g. from Slava Vinogradov)
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Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
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jim
998 posts
Sep 20, 2011
5:45 AM
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1847 and only 1847.
And in any case - bending the LC will be more of a "trick" than using them as actual notes...
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Free Harp Learning Center
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silpakorn
94 posts
Sep 20, 2011
6:15 AM
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Thanks for comments guys, seydel fans came quick ! LOL @jim when you say "trick" do you mean using the bend as a dip to the actual note ? I think I understand what you mean. The reason I'm having this problem is because right now I'm relearning Rick Estrin's getting out of town ( did it 70% lip purse a couple of years ago and then found out that it's more about TB : ) and the way that he sustained the 3 draw whole step bend just made me crazy ! Any stock harp would be able to do this ? Or do I have to get a custom one ?
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Andrew
1436 posts
Sep 20, 2011
6:43 AM
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I've got a 364 and an SBS. I have no problems at all with the 3-draw bends, so maybe you need to gap your harp closer? (but the 2-draw bends are a tougher proposition!)
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Andrew.
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Those who are tardy do not get fruit cup.
Last Edited by on Sep 20, 2011 6:43 AM
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arzajac
661 posts
Sep 20, 2011
8:43 AM
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Doesn't he use a low-D for "gettin' outta town"? It's not as hard to get the bends on a low-D in comparison to a low-C.
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Last Edited by on Sep 20, 2011 9:36 AM
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Greg Heumann
1271 posts
Sep 20, 2011
8:55 AM
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Another vote for Seydel Low C. Estrin uses a customized Hohner - also low C. NO WAY you can play Gettin' out of town the way he does without tongue blocking. I LOVE that song the way he does it. His rhythms change every verse - very subtly. Harder to learn the more you listen to it.
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/Greg
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HarpNinja
1695 posts
Sep 20, 2011
9:21 AM
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I prefer the playability and tone of the Thunderbirds comapred to same key 1847's, but would think either is a GREAT choice.
They are the only two you should consider.
I can bend on my LC harps, but the 1 draw is really really hard - I may not even get it all the way to pitch. Sustaining and 3' bend is doable on my LLF, so you should be able to do it.
All but three of my low harps is stock...I didn't even gap them, and they all work great. Granted, the three that were customized are the best.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
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arzajac
662 posts
Sep 20, 2011
9:21 AM
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Youtube link (I'm at work and cannot open the link)
"Rick Estrin plays "Gettin Outta Town" on a low D harp customized by Richard Sleigh (http://www.rsleigh.com) at SPAH 09 in Sacramento ..." Both the video was uploaded and the description was written by Richard Sleigh.
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Last Edited by on Sep 20, 2011 9:35 AM
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silpakorn
95 posts
Sep 20, 2011
5:01 PM
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@arzajac, yeah, I've watched that clip many many times. I think they used that one to record only because it's what they had at the moment, in his album he used 364 I'm pretty sure.
@Greg, "Harder to learn the more you listen to it." that's very true IMHO it's one of his acoustic masterpiece along with "Tell me baby" and "You can't come back". Listen to these songs and you'll realised that his groove went beyond anybody else : )
@Harpninja, would a stock thunderbird or 1847 be as good as a customised 364 ?
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arzajac
664 posts
Sep 20, 2011
8:08 PM
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Silpakorn: I just listened to it and you are both correct! It is a low-C; Funny, I never noticed. And I bought that album because of that youtube video!
It's an amazing song. It's a perfect distillation of groove.
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jim
1000 posts
Sep 21, 2011
12:46 AM
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364 is junk.
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Free Harp Learning Center
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Rubes
414 posts
Sep 21, 2011
1:42 PM
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I'll chuck in a vote for the SBS..... :~}
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Rubes's band DadsinSpace-MySpace
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Todd Parrott
702 posts
Sep 21, 2011
8:27 PM
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I've tried the low Seydels, and the Thunderbirds, and the Thunderbirds win, hands down. However, I rarely find a use for low keys in the styles I play.
The Thunderbirds are much more responsive and have a nice tone - and I say this as someone who's not normally a Marine Band fan. The Thunderbirds are what a low harp should be. Of course, nothing beats a customized harp. They are smaller and more comfortable to hold and play.
If you like a bigger harp, one which is basically the same size as the Hohner MS Big River harp, then you may like the Seydel 1847. In fact, many of the Seydels are the same size and have the same shaped cover plates as the Hohner MS harps. I've been disappointed with the overall quality of Seydels in general, though they do make a decent harp or two - the 1847 is one of them, though it doesn't seem like a very original design to me, nor is it anything to jump up and down about, especially for the out-of-the-box playability and price (I'm sure a customized 1847 is a different story). It would seem that one would expect more from the oldest harmonica manufacturer, which is something they love to advertise.
I would not be at all surprised if Suzuki also starts offering low tunings, which would be very exciting. I've always been impressed with Suzuki's products and innovation.
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