|
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
My SUB 30 arrived!
My SUB 30 arrived!
Page:
1
Stevelegh
739 posts
May 16, 2013
3:01 AM
|
Hey everyone!
I'm a very very happy boy today!
I ordered a SUB 30 with a chrome brass Blue X labs comb and extreme embossing on 10th May when X Reed reopened for new orders after clearing their backlog.
This arrived today. At the time of order Brendan advised a 10 day turn around. Being in a business with lead times attached, I assumed this to mean 10 working days, or two weeks. Brendan emailed me last night to say he'd shipped and the harp arrived at 10:10am today. Apologies if I appear to be labouring here, but the point I'm making is that this order was fulfilled (including reedplates shipped from Budapest to the UK) within 4 working days. OK, I am UK based, but irrespective, that is no mean feat.
After 10 minutes playing the harp, I'd like to give some brief thoughts.
One: it's beautiful. A serious serious piece of engineering. I'm glad I went for the chrome comb. It looks like a really high end chromatic without the button. If diatonic harmonicas could elevate themselves out of the novelty - toy market in many people's eyes based on looks alone, this would be the instrument to do it.
Two: it's heavy. You could probably kill someone with it. I'm guessing that's to do with the brass comb, but I have no basis for comparison as I've not seen the standard product. Again this makes for a perception of quality.
Three: to play it feels like a very well adjusted, high quality standard diatonic. Imagine picking up a perfectly set up Hohner Meisterclasse. I'd imagine a Suzuki Fabulous feels similar. It certainly feels way more robust than a Olive or Manji.
Four: the bends are there. Perfectly. Only problem is that because I'm so ingrained with regular diatonic and overblows, I'm not using them naturally. When I do look for them, they're perfectly natural without any fear of mechanical issues with choking or embouchure / breath pressure adjustment I found with half valving.
So rather than playing my regular diatonic riffs, I'm trying the Stevie Wonder chromatic stuff like Isn't She Lovely, For Once In My Life and There Must Be An Angel (obviously without the slide ornaments). It's great to be able to hit a half step blow bend and bring it up to pitch. Superb expression in this little thing.
I've left my iPad at my in laws, but as soon as I pick it up, I'll do a vid. I don't promise to wow anyone with my playing, but maybe it's a good thing to see a regular guy playing an extraordinary instrument.
Most importantly, thank you Brendan for supplying an amazing instrument that I'll treasure and for supplying it in such short order. Amazing.
Last Edited by Stevelegh on May 16, 2013 4:14 AM
|
Rubes
691 posts
May 16, 2013
3:20 AM
|
Hmmmmmmmmmmm......sounds great..........the cracks are beginning to show....I wont be able to hang on much longer.............damn you guys for this GAS!!!!!!!!
----------
One of Rubes's bands, DadsinSpace-MySpace
Old Man Rubes at Reverbnation
|
Shaganappi
23 posts
May 16, 2013
8:33 AM
|
Why are you doing this to me ?! Drooling over my keyboard. Very messy.
SteveLegh, according to what you see in your hands, what cost could this go down to eventually considering using more conventional materials, etc. similar to Sp20's? Is $100 possible if it was mass marketed? (that a lot of players actually start using it). What could be shaved off and still have a well functioning SUB ?
Last Edited by Shaganappi on May 16, 2013 8:35 AM
|
Grey Owl
140 posts
May 16, 2013
11:29 AM
|
Way to go Steve!
My appetite ihas been whetted! I have tried the half valved harps (promaster 350V) and didn't get on with the valves esp. the upper ones. You had to baby these higher bends so carefully to get them to sound that they didn't match the normal playing volume on the lower notes on the harp - I take it this is not the case with the sub 30.
I take your point re OB's, unless you're very adept with them there can be a slight stall as they are being created which can mess with the even tempo of the song you're trying to play. So I assume the higher bends are just as natural and flowing as the lower bends,
One of the things I liked about my dannecker harp (which I had to return as it wasn't OB friendly) was the weight of the harp with the brass comb, it just felt so good in the hands and coupling it with a green bullet mic saved me a renewal of my gym membership:)
I think that sub 30 comb would appeal to me.
I really look forward to hearing you playing the instrument as it would be nice to hear a competent player rather than superstar playing the harp. (I remember hearing Christelle play a plastic toy harp and make it sound great!) It is perfectly natural marketing to select a great player to show off the potential of the product but it would also good to hear everyday players on the instrument also.
I recall hearing some v.good playing on the 350v but I know to my cost that this alone doesn't tell the whole story.
Also the original sub30 was portrayed in a very good light but later assessments haven't been quite so complimentary.
I am genuinely interested in the x-reed sub 30 as it would seem to match my playing strengths. I have reasonable control of lower draw bends and unless the required bend technique is very different on the high end of the harp, it would seem to be a natural choice for me.
I've rambled on long enough but some questions:-
I am not in a position to buy multiple keys, so what key did you select and why?
I like the pitch of a Bb, A and C harp in that order. I play a variety of styles in regular keys so I'm looking for one harp key that will tick a few boxes. I play mainly in 2nd position but have used 3rd, 5th and 12th - so if anyone had a recommendation based on that info I would be grateful.
Does the harp have good projection and smooth control of the lower end bends?
Congrats once again on you purchase.
----------
My MBH Profile
Grey Owl YouTube
Grey Owl Abstract Photos Website
|
HarpNinja
3317 posts
May 16, 2013
11:43 AM
|
@Shaganappi
Well...the stock SUB30 from Suzuki runs about $185 USD. They run about $85 USD in Japan. The comb is not very helpful to the harp and the covers really mute the sound of the harp. The harp is leaky and the valves can be noisey. The new bends play well, but have EVERY issue associated with the timbre and tone of overbends and noise. The standards bends are very difficult compared to a $30-40 harp.
IMO, the comb and covers are a necessary mod. If you order from X-Reed, which is a way better harp, you get the overvalve plate (makes a huge difference in airtightness of holes 1-4), a Corian comb that isn't recessed, and Manji coverplates at a base price of $214, I think (I think mine was actually $190 when I ordered it). Mine in A plays as well as a new OOTB Special 20 or MB. The harp is less leaky, although I think the top octave is a little breathy relative to a Hohner.
The embossed versions, which will make a much better harp are $260-290 if you use the basic Corian comb.
I think my math is correct on all of this.
EDIT: Oops, I forgot to conclude my post....An X-Reed harp at $100-$200 vs $200-300 that is mass produced would be great, HOWEVER, we are not owed that and it is VERY hard to bring prices down and keep quality up. For someone to retain profits by lowering prices and increasing volume is VERY hard to do.
----------
Mantra Customized Harmonicas
My Website
Last Edited by HarpNinja on May 16, 2013 11:59 AM
|
Rubes
692 posts
May 16, 2013
2:17 PM
|
Personally I will 'happily' pay $2-300 if it's as good as it seems!
----------
One of Rubes's bands, DadsinSpace-MySpace
Old Man Rubes at Reverbnation
|
Stevelegh
740 posts
May 16, 2013
5:55 PM
|
As far as cost goes, I could easily play encyclopedia salesman and try and convince people that's it's worth it, but there's no point. There's either a value to be found or not and there are many factors that make that decision for an individual. For me, certainly.
From a manufacturing perspective (from someone that's been involved in manufacturing for many years) yes, there's plenty of tweaking time and production that in many other industries would command far higher costs than the harmonica market could stand. I think X Reed are likely pricing this to meet a point rather than fully operating on a cost / time / profit basis.
@Grey Owl: Yes, the bends are fully functional. If you've played a Powerbender with the draw bends, it feels exactly the same. The only trouble I'm having is embouchure on the lowest blow reeds, but that's simply because these are lower (C harp) than any 7-10 hole on any harp. Don't get me wrong, it's easily achievable, it's just a different technique to remember.
I went for a C as it's my 'tryout' key. A lot of lessons are offered using a C harp (Howard Levy's entire school is based on C), It fits with chromatics and a lot of my favourite songs are in G.
@Rubes: Are you looking for a harp that plays like a well set up diatonic that naturally bends all blow and draw notes? Yes. It is that good.
|
Post a Message
|
