Got a C Seydel 1847.....Nice Harp ! Plays loud and strong, sounds great....bends easily but no ootb overbends that I can produce.....tuning sounds good....not sure if the sound is 3x better than a new SP 20 so hopefully the longevity will make up for that and it will stay in tune better....reed plates seem to protrude a little, not recessed like a Sp 20, could be hard on the lips after extended playing...overall a great ootb harp that sounds killer.
I have one Seydel 1847 (A). For my money it's easily three times the harp compared to any Special20 I've owned, and the 20 was a favorite harp of mine. I have no idea yet if it will outlast the 20's by three times, but it's the best playing harp I've ever owned, and it give me three times the pleasure. Can't afford a whole kit of them all at once though.
I bought several Manji's not long after they were released in the U.S. (got them at an introductory discount), and I like them, but the tone that I hear as a player is a world apart with the Seydel and any of my other harps. Not that I don't like the others, but that Seydel just has the extra something to it. Cream instead of half-and-half.
I haven't touched the reeds, and I'm able to get OB's on 4,5,6, but I'm still learning to fit them into my playing (ways to go yet...). I even squeaked one out on the 3 hole yesterday, much to my surprise, but can't repeat it reliably.
Been playing 1847s for I think three years now. In the interests of full disclosure, I do have a limited endorsement deal with them, but I wouldn't endorse them if I didn't think they are the best harp available.
I had a limited endorsement deal with Hohner years ago but the quality of the instrument went down hill at the same time the price went through the roof. The attitude of the company rather pissed me off as well and I stopped using them. I had a full endorsement deal with Herring but also stopped using them, again due to quality issues.
I was knocked out by the 1847 the first time I played one. They are a genuine musical instrument. I was a solid retail customer before they were kind enough to offer me a deal. And to answer the question of longevity, in my experience they do last at least three times as long. I've replaced exactly one set of reed plates in the years I've been using them and even those probably could have been fixed if I wasn't so ham fisted.
One other thing, I've noticed that Seydel as a company appears to have responded to feedback from their customers and have actually created new models and offer modification based on that feedback. This speaks volumes about them as a company and how much they value their customers. ---------- LSC
In my opinion its one of the best, I've tried a lot of harps and the seydel allowed me to do so much more instantly. I use both nobles and classics because of the sound differences. The nobel is more jazzy. plays a bit lighter, sounds a bit thinner too. The Classic is the choice for playing blues and chords.
I'm the lucky owner of a couple of spiers stage 4 to and the thing is, in the middle register the playability of the spier is better, however their close after gapping the noble myself. This goes for only the C, the rest of the keys the spiers haprs are way better. Especially for overdrawing.
All in all, I would say the 1847 after some light gapping are the best Ive bought standard so far.
I have been a Seydel Endorsee since 2005. Hands down the best company to be associated with! I decided to offer Seydel the opportunity to use the valve material I use in my harmonics (1847 Silvers)and after testing it to their satisfaction they now offer two stock Gazell Method harmonicas. The 1847 Silver and the Session Steel. They are loud bright and punchy. For more info and to order Gazell Method harmonicas just follow this link:
If you work on your own harmonicas it takes a bit to get used to working with Stainless Steel, but they do last longer and stay in tune extremely well.
Thanks,
PT ---------- "Life...10 Holes & 20 Reeds At A Time"
I am upgrading what I said in my original post...This thing is AWESOME ! I closed the 2 draw gap slightly, and adjusted the cover plates a bit, and after a break in period it's easy to tell this harp is a real gem. I haven't tried anything above a Sp 20 in price in a Hohner, but this 1847 is clearly a beast ootb. Curious as to how it compares to a Cross Over. I Will be geting some more of these soon hopefully.
Last Edited by on Jan 01, 2012 4:33 PM
I have no words to tell you how much I like Seydel 1847. Everyone should find the best model, I found 1847 Classic, because it gives me a lot of inspirations, great comfort on the stage and in studio. 1847 is VERY durable and responive. This video I recorded on OOTB Seydel harmonica ( To be honest I changed gaps only on 1st hole).
I play exclusively on 1847 Classic with beautiful combs form Slava Vinogradov. It's the best instrument I've ever seen. I strongly recommend Seydel 1847 and Seydel Session Steel as well!
I've just had a Soloist pro go flat in the 4 blow after only 3 months! does anyone know if the cover-plates and reed plates will fit the comb? as i prefer the 1847 and this may work out cheaper! thanks, Fingers.
I'm Seydel endorser and I'm happy playing Seydel, although I customize. first time I get seydel I hardly understand what's good about them, but in a month or so I get used to them, stainless steel have much more dynamics and overtones and better control over tone. And the most great thing is no necessarry to worry about keeping harmonicas in tune. Just keep on playing and stainless steel reeds are always in tune. ---------- Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
I am going to challenge your last comment. I mean, everything else is debatable or a matter of taste, but the SS reeds do fatigue. They do go out of tune, they do crack, and they do need to be replaced.
I have not hard evidence that they do or do not last longer than brass, but I have no problem with claims they last longer than brass. HOWEVER, to say that they won't go out of tune or won't go bad is just not true.
I have replaced quite a few dead reeds myself, including from harps from pro players (and endorsers of Seydel) with reeds that have snapped off, been cracked, or have dropped a semitone or more out of tune (so about dead).
I have also customized quite a few SS harps and have found that they drop out of tune from routine customization work just like brass. Again, I am not saying they aren't sturdier or that they don't last longer than brass..just that it is inaccurate to lay claim that these harps can't/won't need repair like reed replacement or retuning. ---------- Mike VHT Special 6 Mods Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas - When it needs to come from the soul...
Last Edited by on Jan 02, 2012 8:30 PM
Of all reeds to go bad on my 1847, was the 6 draw. I was at Jimi Lee's, he swamped out one for me from an old reed plate he had. Haven't had any trouble since. I do know I was going thru brass 4 draw reeds every few months. That is the only time I've had trouble with stainless steel. For a guy who can't afford a custom, I'm very happy with my 1847s. ---------- And I Thank You !! K.C. castlehomes69@yahoo.com
HarpNinja The answer is easy. Yes, stainless steel do fatigue. And yes, I blew out one SS reed for 2 years of playing Seydels (actually I very rare blew brass reeds too). Yes, if you bend reed too far while customizing they can change pitch. But they don't change pitch slightly while playing. Just because SS don't oxidize. If reed go flat it definitely that it's cracked. And as far as I know it's obviously when reed have a crack. And as far as I know (and my experience show the same) SS reeds works perfect in tune, and suddenly go flat for semitone or more. Yes, shit happens and I can change reeds with easy (as I'm offer authorized seydel service I can get reeds). While brass reeds always slightly went flat and made me nervous. Is it fatigue? Or just dirt/oxidation? Can I trust my harp and get it to tour? Ususally if at least one reed go flat more than 15 cents I went to shop and bought new harp, customize it and leave old one as a spare, this is the reason why I had up to 4 harps in most common keys and always have 2 spares for most common keys. Now one spare harp for most common keys is definitely enough. I trust stainless steel reeds.
---------- Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
Last Edited by on Jan 02, 2012 9:58 PM
