Libertad
59 posts
Apr 01, 2012
3:21 PM
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I am looking for some information on Seydel harps. Last week I bought a Big Six and as I mentioned in another thread, I was really impressed. The reeds seem very bendable, it's a joy to play. So I am obviously looking at other Seydal harps. Could people that have them answer a few questions for me?
*Is the big six, just a cut down 1847? Are the reed plates the same?
*Do people that use them find it difficult moving between 1847's and other harps because of the different hole spacing?
*Does the session steel sound as good and it as easy to play as the 1847?
*Is the hole spacing on the session steel the same as other makes, Suzuki/Hohner?
Any other comments on these harps with steel reeds would be appreciated. Thanks.
Martin
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
782 posts
Apr 01, 2012
4:45 PM
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I've been a Seydel dealer for five years and know a little about them. The Big Six was meant to be an introductory steel harmonica to get people to try steel. It is a cut down 1847. The big difference in the reedplates however, is the Big Six is a short-slot harmonica. The 1847 reeds are all long slot.
The Session steel is close, but not quite. It's a recessed reedplate design, with that construction it can't be as tight. The Session Steel started life as the 1847 Silver Plus, at the same price as the 1847, then it was discontinued and the Session Steel introduced in its place. The Session steel came out at a really low price because Seydel wants people to try steel. They are moving to steel. That's where they have seen their future since they day they got out of insolvency, and they've been slowly moving toward it. I wouldn't be surprised if they were all steel in 10 or 15 years.
The hole spacing is what Seydel set back in the 1800s. The difference in spacing is five percent, Hohners are five percent closer together. Some people notice it, a lot of people don't.
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David
Elk River Harmonicas
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easyreeder
280 posts
Apr 01, 2012
6:10 PM
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Nice little packet of info there David. Thanks.
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Patrick Barker
446 posts
Apr 01, 2012
6:43 PM
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Thanks for the post Libertad, I've been wondering the same things myself. Also, good information David
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boris_plotnikov
714 posts
Apr 01, 2012
9:56 PM
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Big Six is short slotted. Reed lenght like holes 3-9.
Hole spacing is not a problem for me. When I get my first seydel I had slight problem playing one fast run in tune "For Polina", but problem was solved very fast.
Session steel is OK, but 1847 is much better. I have one customized session steel in C in my set and I like it, but 1847 in C have brighter attack and better overblow control. I made session steel with a bit wider gaps, while 1847 a bit narrower and choose them depending on tune. For blues|rock|rock&roll without necessary of preciese overbend control I prefer session steel, while for jazz tunes I prefer 1847.
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nacoran
5479 posts
Apr 01, 2012
10:47 PM
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Is there a reason steel vs. brass why the steel models only go down to Low C, or is that just something they haven't gotten around to yet? (Do Jim's super lows use brass or steel?)
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Nate
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boris_plotnikov
715 posts
Apr 01, 2012
11:30 PM
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nacoran
I've heard from Seydel that theoretically it's possible to make LowLow in stainless steel. Bertram Becher showed me his LowBb 1847, I'm retuning LowC now to LowBb. Jim made his superlows in stailess steel except the first reed.
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Arbite
152 posts
Apr 01, 2012
11:41 PM
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Id love to see a 1847 with 12 holes
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jim
1227 posts
Apr 02, 2012
1:06 AM
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The hyperlow harmonicas I've made are super-long-slot. First reed is brass, the rest is stainless steel.
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nacoran
5480 posts
Apr 02, 2012
1:42 AM
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Cool. :) I love low harps.
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Nate
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Libertad
60 posts
Apr 02, 2012
2:46 AM
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Thanks everyone for your input. As usual a lot of well informed comments. I love this forum (apart from the money it costs me trying things out)!
Cheers
Martin
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WestVirginiaTom
53 posts
Apr 02, 2012
6:22 AM
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One more Seydel question: Other than the obvious comb color difference, are the Session Steel combs and reed plates identical to those of the discontinued 1847 Sliver Plus?
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
785 posts
Apr 02, 2012
6:34 AM
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They are identical
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David
Elk River Harmonicas
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"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato." - Lewis Grizzard
"Also, drinking homemade beer." - David Payne
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Willspear
112 posts
Apr 02, 2012
10:32 AM
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I like session steels with 1847 style covers. The silver plus setup though, I use noble covers which are bright, loud and have a nice edgy quality. I847 non recessed probably have a slight advantage having the groove on the plates and I am sure other details I can't think of.
I don't use overblows much but the session steels hit em as do many other harps with slight gapping or even out of box. If I were more musical with them I'd use overblows more I can hit them in tune generally but they aren't a focus for me currently as I have so much more to learn in the standard diatonic sense. I just do em more for my own amusement and for a few minutes of practice here and there trying to smooth out the application of them.
The steel harps of all types also drop off at f on the upper end so if f# in the standard range as opposed to low is important to you, you'd have to look elsewhere. Also no high tunings in steel like high g aflat or A.
Last Edited by on Apr 02, 2012 10:38 AM
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