Brendan Power
374 posts
Sep 07, 2013
1:17 AM
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I’m pleased to announce that I’ve commenced a friendly partnership with SEYDEL to offer some of my personal harmonica tunings through a special ‘Power Tunings’ page on their website:
SEYDEL PowerTunings Page
POWERDRAW is a hot hybrid of Richter (holes 1-6) and PowerBender (holes 7-10). It’s a great tuning for lovers of the traditional Richter harp who can keep all their familiar playing in holes 1-6, but then really wail out on the sexy draw bends in the top end. Very easy to learn with great expression, and retains good octave splits. Check out the video:
PowerDraw Video
POWERBENDER is my personal favourite 10 hole harp tuning. It’s becoming more and more popular since I launched it in 2011 with some low-cost own-brand models. Now players can order it in quality Seydel steel-reed harps in any key, and in un-valved or half-valved options. Check out the video for more info and to hear how it sounds on the Seydel harps:
PowerBender Video
I’ve long admired the player-friendly approach of the Seydel company, and it’s a pleasure to be working with them to offer players my tunings in their excellent harps. More Power Tunings to come!
Last Edited by Brendan Power on Sep 07, 2013 2:07 AM
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Kingley
3111 posts
Sep 07, 2013
1:36 AM
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Here's a clickable link to Brendan's page on Seydel.
Seydel Power Tunings by Brendan Power
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1847
1054 posts
Sep 07, 2013
10:11 AM
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i love the beat you used to sweet georgia brown
which is the harlem globe trotters theme song
it sounded like, meadow lark lemon dribbling a basket ball
made laugh out loud.
power draw harp sounds interesting no doubt
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master po
i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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rainman
105 posts
Sep 07, 2013
12:28 PM
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I'm hoping that the "more Power Tunings to come" includes one of there lower end harps so we can try it without spending a $100. Great work Brendan!
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Brendan Power
375 posts
Sep 08, 2013
3:39 AM
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Thanks Kingly: I finally sussed out the link thing :-)
@ 1847: Meadowlark Lemon?? You had me intrigued there, so I Googled him. What a great name and interesting character.
@rainman: I do intend to keep offering my low-cost own-brand harps in a limited range of keys, for players to use for trying out my tunings. But I recommend the Seydels if you want better quality, lots of tuning and valving options etc.
I think a lot of tongue-block traditional Blues players (like many of those on this forum) would love PowerDraw if they tried it, because it retains Richter holes 1-6, good octave splits and easy draw-bend wailing up top.
Last Edited by Brendan Power on Sep 08, 2013 3:44 AM
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1847
1057 posts
Sep 08, 2013
8:41 AM
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if you tongue block the 1847 coverplate is very user friendly
i would recommend ordering them if you get a session steel
i use the silver plus, with is a session steel with those coverplates, the reeds do last a long time.
when they do go out, i just pop in a new set of reedplates
also everyone at seydel seems to love what they do and it shows. all my harps are stock out of the box.
very consistence. looking forward to checking out this new tuning.
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there's a new sheriff in town
i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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jpmcbride
7 posts
Sep 08, 2013
8:46 AM
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I'm intrigued by the PowerDraw tuning, particularly as Brendan says because it maintains the octave splits which I use a lot while adding the draw bends on the high end.
I see that Seydel is offering it on the 1847 and the Session Steel. I'm thinking of giving it a try on the lower cost Session Steel just to see if I like it. I have a couple 1847's and they play great but I have no experience with the Session Steel. Anyone care to give a short review of how they play? Thanks.
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Jim McBride
www.bottleoblues.com
Last Edited by jpmcbride on Sep 08, 2013 8:47 AM
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Gipsy
27 posts
Sep 09, 2013
2:34 AM
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I've got several 1847 silvers and a couple of carry around session steels. The session steels play beautifully, and are pretty robust. I'm sure you wouldn't regret trying one.
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Stevelegh
829 posts
Sep 09, 2013
5:07 AM
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I've got a Powerbender and a Powerdraw. Personally, I like the Powerdraw most as it means you can glissando up the harp and play high draw note stuff whilst keeping most of the qualities of Richter, but I would thoroughly recommend Powerbender as it's a very intuitive system. I haven't fully explored all the options with playing in different keys, but its a great instrument to take one's first steps in alternate tunings.
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Brendan Power
377 posts
Sep 09, 2013
12:53 PM
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I've known and liked the Seydel guys ever since they blew a big breath of fresh air into the rather stultified world of harmonica manufacturing about 10 years ago. They made an immediate impact with their switched-on, player-friendly approach, combined with savvy marketing and great use of the internet.
Even though I was working for Suzuki we kept up friendly relations, and I frequently found myself trying to persuade Suzuki to adopt some of the things Seydel pioneered. One was the Configurator (started at the time Micael Timler was with the company, I believe).
Being able to choose your own harmonica tuning and set-up direct from the manufacturer is a great innovation, and still unique to Seydel. They already had a couple of my tunings in the Configurator (Paddy Richter and PowerBender) and. after I became independent again, it was a natural choice to approach Seydel about having a Power Tunings page. They liked the idea, and I look forward to introducing more of my favourite original tunings in the months to come.
I haven't played Seydels much in the past six years (naturally !), but I'm enjoying the feeling of the samples Seydel made for me in PowerDraw and PowerBender. The 1847 is brighter, the Session Steel more mellow, but both are really nice to play. If you're into embossing, the German Silver reedplates are malleable and easy to emboss.
Of course I would always choose the half-valving option Seydel offers. Undoubtedly the fine-grained ultrasuade valving material PT Gazell has brought to the company is fantastic: the Seydel diatonic valves are quiet, no rattles, and never stick. You barely know they're there.
I enjoy playing harps from all the main manufacturers, and some from the up-and-coming Chinese makers too. Now that I'm a free agent once again it's nice to be able to choose which I want to play in public, and those Seydels are already in my gig bag :-)
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A440
102 posts
Sep 09, 2013
11:59 PM
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Brendan, this is brilliant! I love the session steel, and will be trying out some PowerDraw tunings soon. Those high bends should make my live solos take on a whole new sound.
Now if Seydel would just bring back those Winter Edition combs...
Last Edited by A440 on Sep 10, 2013 12:00 AM
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dmitrysbor
97 posts
Sep 10, 2013
1:31 AM
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Hey Brendan,
what ab't this magnetic harp from Seydel?
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Brendan Power
378 posts
Sep 10, 2013
3:32 AM
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@dimitry: Good question! You mean Jim Antaki's Turboslide. It is fantastic with the PowerDraw or PowerBender. I've done an old video on it for PowerBender, and will do a new one soon. Here's the old one:
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dmitrysbor
98 posts
Sep 10, 2013
4:02 AM
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That's good to hear.
Should we expect it available thru Seydel configurator?
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Brendan Power
379 posts
Sep 10, 2013
5:04 AM
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I'm trying to make that happen, as it would be easiest for the customer. At present you need to order on Jim Antaki's site:
TurboSlide Page
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Gnarly
695 posts
Sep 10, 2013
10:47 AM
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Jim is a great guy, he was my first customizer when I wanted Special 20 Melody Makers a dozen years ago. Got a handful of TurboHarps, they still play great! (Never blew a reed out on them, hmmm . . .)
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oldwailer
1982 posts
Sep 10, 2013
11:19 AM
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This is a very interesting tuning! I haven't studied it out yet--but I am assuming that it would only be used in 2nd position playing--is that true??
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Oldwailer's Web Site
Send a tip!
"Too Pretty for the Blues."
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rbeetsme
1356 posts
Sep 14, 2013
7:26 PM
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I decided to order one, but...after taxes (19%) and shipping, 190.00.00! Maybe later.
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Brendan Power
380 posts
Sep 15, 2013
2:09 AM
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@rbeetsme: That's way too high. I think I know what's happened:
I assume you're in USA? You must choose the $ (dollar) symbol at top right of the page. If you do that, I get a price of $116 for the 1847 Classic, and $86.20 for the Session Steel. Both include shipping to USA.
Hopefully this will lower the barrier to trying the PowerDraw. You won't regret it :-)
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rbeetsme
1358 posts
Sep 15, 2013
5:10 AM
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Thanks Brenden, I'll let you know how I like them
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A440
107 posts
Sep 15, 2013
5:18 AM
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For folks in the US, I noticed that Rockin Ron's is also selling them...
$109 and $79
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Brendan Power
383 posts
Sep 15, 2013
7:10 AM
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Great! He's quick off the blocks, is Ron :-)
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