Gerry
34 posts
Jan 26, 2013
10:31 AM
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My re-acquaintance with harp playing is such I've decided that my gear related budget this year won't be guitar bound but will be spent on harmonicas.
I love my Session Steel, GM and MsProHarp
The "Winter Collection" Session Steels come in at around £220 (Set of 6) A regular SS set but with a slightly better case comes in at also £220 (Set of 5)
But I could get a mix of up to 8 GM's and ProHarps.
My question isn't what's the best deal but is it better to get all the same model or different models not only for variety but also different uses.
I certainly don't need every Key but some will be tuned Paddy Richter and some left standard.
My Session Steel has proved indestructible, rattling around in my pockets all year at work.
Like most, money is tight this year so I'm just curious to hear opinions.
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Jehosaphat
424 posts
Jan 26, 2013
9:20 PM
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Theres a lot in that one question..
"I love my Session Steel, GM and MsProHarp"
You've got at least two different tuning arrangements there for a start.The GM's are tuned Equal temperment and as far as i now the other two are variations on JI.so which tuning suits you better on average?
The easiest way for you to build up a set of harps is to pick the keys you feel that you need(otherwise you're going to need 12 to just to cover the normal range)and then within that paramameter decide whether or not you need two of the same key so that one can be richter and one can be Paddy.
I'm assuming here that you want to play(mainly) blues.You 'can' play blues on a Paddy tuned harp but it doesn't 'fit' as easily as on a standard harp.
You don't say at what level you are at as a player but if you at any sort of beginner/low intermediate level i would recommend buying a bunch of your favourite harps and taking it from there,rather than getting a mix up of different brands,with the problems straight off regarding their intrinsic tunings.
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Seven.Oh.Three.
191 posts
Jan 26, 2013
9:43 PM
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I'd almost recommend the opposite as Jehoshaphat. I tried every harp within my price range and then decided which I liked best. From there I started replacing keys I already had with my harp of preference. I also wouldn't say all keys need to be the same model of harp. You also need to take into consideration that some model harps sound better in certain keys then others.
7.o.3.
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Seven.Oh.Three.
192 posts
Jan 26, 2013
9:43 PM
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I'd almost recommend the opposite as Jehoshaphat. I tried every harp within my price range and then decided which I liked best. From there I started replacing keys I already had with my harp of preference. I also wouldn't say all keys need to be the same model of harp. You also need to take into consideration that some model harps sound better in certain keys then others.
7.o.3.
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nacoran
6431 posts
Jan 26, 2013
11:16 PM
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I've tried to try as many types of harps as possible. I've now tried full length covers, regular covers, jellybeans like the GM, open and closed backs, protruding and recessed reed plates, as well as a couple different comb materials. I've tried Equal and Compromise Tunings. Of course, everyone's tastes will be different, and I still haven't tried all the manufacturers, but I've made some observations, and I'm always finding my tastes changing.
If my searching days were over and I had to buy a bunch of new harps in my price/value range, I'd probably alternate keys between Lee Oskars and Special 20's. That would give me only a half step to go to switch temperament, and fit my price range. That's because protruding reed plates are rough on my lips (although that's easy enough to fix with sanding). They both seem durable, and more importantly, they are fairly cheap. I bought a Hohner Puck, and after adjusting to playing that tiny thing size difference doesn't faze me. When I have the money, I do like both my Seydel's a lot, but it usually comes down to price. Most of my money for a while will be focused on harp upkeep stuff. I'm going to get a sonic cleaner, and my desk is almost clear enough to have some space to work on some harps. I will be adding more minor tuned harps. I've got one Natural Minor and one Harmonic Minor, and I play them a lot.
The thing is, my harp set right now is a bunch of different harps, and there are still other good models I want to try. As long as I have models to try, I think at least half my harp purchases will be things I haven't tried before. (I think next is a Suzuki, although they don't make low keys, and I want another low harp, so maybe I'll go with another Seydel.)
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jim
1373 posts
Jan 27, 2013
1:14 AM
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Gerry,
I can make you a slightly better price offer on a set of instruments.
jim [at] seydel1847.com or skype: palmhero
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Gerry
35 posts
Jan 27, 2013
2:25 AM
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I'd describe my ability level at the lower end of medium. I can play 1st, 2nd and 4th positions fairly well and am okay with bends and to a degree overblows.
I'm not a blues player but a bluesy player, I find Paddy Richter so much more versatile for my needs although I'd like one or two standard tuned harps.
Part of the reason I posted this thread was that it's not the tuning differences but the tones and playability.
I love the SS crisp clear tones and it's playing comfort. The GM is my favorite tone but I had a lot of trouble with reeds hitting the cover plates. Yet the humble ProHarp has taught me how to gap and emboss etc, and overblow. So I find I spend a lot of time "practicing" with this harp and it responds to everything I throw at it.
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