Pauly21
27 posts
Feb 02, 2013
8:26 AM
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Guys,
Is the Seydel Session Steel worth buying? I'd like to give Seydel a try, but yeesh, $90 for an 1847. The Session has a plastic comb and is $60.
How easily does it bend?
Is there a lot of resistance?
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Thievin' Heathen
140 posts
Feb 02, 2013
8:59 AM
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The Session Steel was my 1st and, as of yet, my only Seydel, so my impression is completely pure, and probably useless. I bought an "A". I have also have a Suzuki, Lee Oskar and a MB in "A" which I can go to. I cannot really detect a whole lot of difference. The long term impression will have to wait awhile as I have only had it about 6 months.
I would suggest trying one. I think it is safe to call it a top-of-the-line OTB harmonica. That makes it worth $60.
Last Edited by on Feb 02, 2013 10:08 AM
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Gerry
38 posts
Feb 02, 2013
9:32 AM
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I've had mine for over a year. It has a "crisp, clear" tone and bends well.
I have it at work in my pocket every day and it's survived all manner of bashing about. I've cleaned it by soaking it in a mug of boiling water. It's performed superbly.
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1847
499 posts
Feb 02, 2013
9:40 AM
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i have a set of the 1847 silver.... i use these for home
when i play out...."this afternoon"
i bring the session steel with the 1847 coverplates
that is my preferred harp of choice
i bought a few crossovers cause they were relatively inexpensive
so i will be trying them out today.
i like them also.
the session steel can be put under the faucet to clean them out after using them. they also stay in tune very nice indeed
i have been using the weltmeister blackbird for i don't know
fifteen years or so? if a reed goes bad you just put in a new plate no need to buy a new harp
pretty soon you have enough donor reeds..... buy a de riviting tool and replace the bad reed!
the blackbird was made by seydel
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1847
500 posts
Feb 02, 2013
9:42 AM
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they have a new grey color the orange is a little obnoxious lol
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RollingHarp
4 posts
Feb 02, 2013
9:57 AM
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I like my session steel harps. I bought a couple to try and the bends are very crisp and clear. I haven't put them through a ton of use but straight out of the box they seem nice. I am comparing with suzuki promaster, MB, special 20, and MB deluxe, the other harps I own. Still, I feel that I prefer the marine band deluxe of the 60 dollar range harps that I have tried.
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1847
501 posts
Feb 02, 2013
10:03 AM
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i said that while wearing a bright orange shirt lol
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boris_plotnikov
827 posts
Feb 02, 2013
1:40 PM
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In general I prefer Seydel 1847 over Seydel Session Steel for much airtightnes, attack and easier overblow, but as a spare harps Session Steels are perfect to me. I even like their feel on my lips more than 1847. So I think it's worth to try.
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Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
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Bart Leczycki
82 posts
Feb 02, 2013
4:16 PM
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Hi Boris, I agree with you. Session Steel is awesome with 1847s cover plates. This is VERY durable model and you can change only reedplates with good price.
I have all "strange" tunings on Session Steel reedplaces (like spiral or diminished).
On Seydel web site you can create EVERY kind of tuning with the nice price. Great quality with players friendly approach, it's SEYDEL company :o)
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www.bleczycki.com
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Willspear
279 posts
Feb 02, 2013
6:43 PM
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I play session steels as my usual harp. I have 1847 covers on them. They are loud and great playing. 1847s are great harps too up to you if you want recessed or not. The 1847 might be just a hair quicker to respond due to the construction of recessed and no recessed comb.
Session steel is easily a top class harp among other top class lines by other companies.
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Aussiesucker
1250 posts
Feb 02, 2013
10:43 PM
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I have a couple of Session Steels & they are IMO, no better than Suzuki Bluesmasters, Harpmasters, Hohner SP20's or Lee Oskar. They are not my go to harps as I don't like the chunky mouth feel of any of the Seydels. But if the chunkiness is not a problem then they are a well made nice sounding harp ie just like the others mentioned. The 1847 is a fine harp but again I dislike the mouth feel. I really like Hohner Crossovers which I think are a class above.
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HARPOLDIE’S YOUTUBE
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boris_plotnikov
828 posts
Feb 03, 2013
12:21 AM
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Bart Leczycki
Yes, I prefer 1847 coverplates for Session Steel too. And I like session coverplates on 1847 more than on Session bodies.
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Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
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nacoran
6458 posts
Feb 03, 2013
12:37 AM
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My only Sessions Steel is a Turboharp, so it's got the magnetic slider added. I can play it without using the slider and it's a great harp. The slider is a bit tricky, but it can produce some really fun stuff. The orange combs are kind of ugly. Funny thing is, I have an orange comb for a Sp20, but I also have a sunrise cover sticker on it from Blue Moon. Although I'm not usually a fan of the orange color, the two together make an awesome looking harp. I think it's my favorite looking harp (and the comb is great too). I guess it's all about proper accessorizing. :)
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Arnoud73
96 posts
Feb 03, 2013
1:12 AM
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I play Session Steel for two years now,and they are my favoriete harps !
The sound is clear and loud, the mouthfeel while tongblockin' is great.
After to years of playing these harps very often I had to changes one of the reeds (4d C harp), all the other reeds on my Session Steel harps (F, low F, G, A, Bb) are still in tune.
Perfect harmonica !
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jiceblues
194 posts
Feb 03, 2013
2:02 AM
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I've played my SP20 in C for 2 years now , no reed broken and still in tune....
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MN
246 posts
Feb 03, 2013
5:39 AM
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I LOVE my Session Steel in C. Fantastic harp.
With that said, I have a question for you Seydel experts. The 4d just now went flat after 2+ years. How easy are these stainless reeds to re-tune using the Lee Oskar kit? I'm very comfortable re-tuning brass reeds, no problem. Thanks in advance for your help.
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Willspear
281 posts
Feb 03, 2013
6:11 AM
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Stainless reeds when they loose pitch from what I have seen means they are likely cracked.
I'd use a battery powered engraver if I was tuning stainless but I'm sure a guy like Greg jones or mike fugazi would be more of an authority than me on it.
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1847
502 posts
Feb 03, 2013
6:42 AM
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MN
the steel will eat your tools for lunch
if the pitch went flat the reed is toast
if you buy a reed plate from g major 7
he may replace the reed for you.
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Arnoud73
97 posts
Feb 03, 2013
7:02 AM
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MN, I'd change the reed if it went flat...
If the reed is just a little off pitch, I use a small drilling machine like this:
http://www.conrad.nl/ce/nl/product/816470/DREMEL-4000-465-Dremel-F0134000JD
Jiceblues, well me blowing far to loud, two years is a pretty long time, my special 20's lasted for 0,5 ore 1 year....
So with your way of playing I guess e Session Steel would last for many years.
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jiceblues
195 posts
Feb 03, 2013
8:08 AM
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@ Arnoud 73 :
sure , i didn't think of that .
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MN
247 posts
Feb 03, 2013
9:25 AM
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Thanks, guys. It's not completely flat. But it's flat enough that the 1-4 octave sound off. I have a Dremel in the basement somewhere. I'll give that a try.
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1847
503 posts
Feb 03, 2013
9:29 AM
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if it went even slightly flat it is toast
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Arnoud73
98 posts
Feb 03, 2013
10:19 PM
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If the 1-4 octave souds off, you can use a dremel for it, no problem, and my experience is that it will sound good for a long time !
(By the way, I didnt know that a 'Dremel' is an english word, but I use a Dremel to...)
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A440
58 posts
Feb 04, 2013
3:03 AM
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If you can afford $60 harps, then try one. It's a good harp - it plays well, bends easily, and sounds good. But it also sounds and plays differently from other harps in that price range. Not better or worse - just different.
You really can't go wrong with any Seydel, Hohner, or Suzuki, above the 25€/30$ price point. It is all about personal preferences. Two people can have opposite opinions about the same harp. Only you can decide which you like better, based on how you use it and what criteria you value. Higher priced instruments are usually better - but not always (as many SP20 fans will tell you).
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