chopper
2 posts
Oct 05, 2009
11:30 PM
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g.day one and all chopper here from the land of oz i seem to blow out my harps in a short time ive read about the stainless steel reeds of the seydel is this particular harp a lifelong instument in not too concerned about the price as i consider harps a cheap instrument compared to others and for the pleasure they give me just want it to last as i live in an isolated area an dont want the hassle of replacing them all the time also any advice on where to buy would be great thanks for the quick reply to my last query you guys are cool
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Bluzdude46
220 posts
Oct 06, 2009
1:26 AM
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Seydel 1847 are well made and durable. I bought several but in truth I don't like them. They are not as loud as MB's or SP20's and no matter what I do I can't get them as tight and responsive as I can Hohners. I do have a Seydel favorite in a Bm that I like.
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harmonicanick
406 posts
Oct 06, 2009
1:40 AM
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g.day aussie chopper
'i seem to blow out my harps in a short time '
Without wishing to preach 'the bleedin' obvious' as Basil Fawlty said; and I don't know how long you have been playing, but if you blow and suck too hard repitively you will break reeds whatever the make of harp (as long as its a decent make) Play softly and try to relax when playing; don't tense up by trying too hard; let it flow.
This is especially true when playing with others amped up. Ensure that you can hear what you are playing; a sure fire recipe for a blown harp or 3 is when the band crank the volume up (as they do!) and you try to compensate. So, if playing band style have enough power at your fingertips so that you can keep up without blowing those little reeds out.
Which harps to buy? Loads of stuff on the forum about that and good reports about Seydel; my choice is Hohner Golden Melody
Had some strange weaather in OZ this year haven't you mate? Good luck
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Ant138
148 posts
Oct 06, 2009
3:20 AM
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I recently bought a Seydel 1847 in A and i love it. Super responsive and i find them very loud.
Ive now made Seydel my harp of choice. If the price is a bit steep for you, you should check out the Seydel Soloist pro(brass reeds) for half the price of the 1847, and in my opinion is just as good as the 1847 if not better.
As for where to buy em, i live in the U.K. and get them from Harmonicasdirect, i believe they ship worldwide.
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Last Edited by on Oct 06, 2009 3:21 AM
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mickil
554 posts
Oct 06, 2009
3:34 AM
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Hi chopper,
With regard to what Bluzedude said:
"They are not as loud as MB's or SP20's..."
That is simply not the case, at least with the 1847s that I have. They are incredibly loud instruments. As for them not being responsive, that's not the case with mine either. The 2 blow is a bit sluggish on one of them, but that could happen with any OOTB harp; it's not a perfect world.
As for what Nick said, ditto every single word. Nowadays, if I can't hear myself on stage, I don't even waste the energy trying; with a harp, it's pointless trying to cut through the cacophony that many bands seem to feel compelled to make. I'm talking blues here, not rock.
About the reeds blowing on 1847s, I read on Pat Missin's website that some people have managed to blow them, but I've not done so yet. My G and Bb are my oldest, about 6 months, and they're as good as new.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
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Hobostubs Ashlock
13 posts
Oct 06, 2009
4:51 AM
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I got a seydel pro soliest in bflat just for adams lessons and i love it.but i backed off the reed plate screws a 3rd of a turn so it would not be so touchy im a rookie and use to Lee oskars and blew my 5blow after a week so i ordered a new set of plates from Dave of elk river harmonicas and he told me i could learn to play softer or loosen the reed plate just a little and it would let me play like i do my lees.I decided to back it off some while still trying to soften my force of playing cause i didnt want to take a chance it still plays great its my best playing harp.ill be getting more.I got in my 1st band after only playing 2 months and we had a gig and they had me turned down a little to low and i blew out 2 harps in 1 night trying to compensate.A blues bender and a hering i sence then decicded that no matter how excited i am if they wont turn me up loud enough im not going to try and make up the difference cause blowing to hard will destroy a harp quick,whats weird is i have 4 lee oskars ive been playing for about 9 months and they work great but i like the tuning and how nice the seydel is its a toss up tuffness or finess
Last Edited by on Oct 06, 2009 4:54 AM
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LeonStagg
36 posts
Oct 06, 2009
8:14 AM
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What's up chopper,
I agree with Ant and Mick.
I have Hohners, Oskars, Delta Frosts, etc. When I got a couple of Seydels they became my favorite, especially for ootb, with no modifications. I am primarily a tounge-blocker, and plastic combs work best for me. So I went with the 1847 Silver. Later on I tried the 1847 (wood comb) and it instantly became my new favorite. The comb is well sealed and smooth, plenty loud without using too much effort. They are more expensive that some brands, but worth it to me. Good luck!
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
285 posts
Oct 06, 2009
8:30 AM
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It's a lifelong instrument, only if you repair it, or get it repaired. In general, the 1847 lasts a long time. But it is not indestructible and it depends a lot on the player. I got one of the first 1847s back around March 2007. It's my main C and gets played a lot. Here it is 2 1/2 years later and it is still my main C. It's never gone out of tune. A brass-reed harmonica as my main C harp, lasts about six months.
But it's not that way for everybody. There are some who blow them out in a few weeks. There's a thought that maybe folks get the steel reeds and play them 5x as hard cause they think they are indestructible, or maybe they are used to something with a sloppier reed slot and play with the same force. What I don't and can't know is how long a brass reed would last if played with the same force they poured into the steel.
The thing is harmonicas are so, so subjective, you just have to find what YOU like.
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www.elkriverharmonicas.com
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Randy G. Blues
92 posts
Oct 06, 2009
8:52 AM
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Most of my playing (and all of it over the last decade or three) I have played Lee Oscars, Bushman Delta Frost, Seydel 1847 Classic, and a couple of other Suzuki harps including one 1847 Silver.
I do not at all like the LOs any more since playing better harps. They are less responsive, take more air, and IMO have a choked sound. The Bushmans are OK, but the customer service couldn't have been much worse. Blew out three reeds in just over a year.
I have been playing the 1847s for around 18 months and have broke one reed. That was replaced by the US representative of the company (Rupert Oysler). I like the narrower dividers on the Classic compared to the Sliver. If the Silver's dividers were shaped like the Classic I would get those because they could be placed n the dishwasher for cleaning. The wood comb is more comfortable so I play those.
My guess on the volume- I think you are perceiving that they are not as loud because of the open covers broadcast the sound away from you where the closed off covered (like the LOs) might keep the sound nearer you.... Maybe?
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walterharp
80 posts
Oct 06, 2009
6:45 PM
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i got an 1847 in A and lost a reed about at the same time as other harps (3-6 months) when i am not lucky and they go quicker. other harps i play have reed failure anywhere from 3 months to years. seems like a finicky thing to me. it was a 5 reed and happened because i am a bit hard on that reed with a double bend on mystery train with the 4 reed (harder to control breath pressure with the double reed bend, and i know the 5 can't really get a bend but it sounds cool with the 4 bend), still my cheaper delta frost (cost less than new reed plates for the 1847) has lasted longer, 3/4 year so far, in that key than Seydel.
it is a loud harp, and sounded fantastic.
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Bluzdude46
222 posts
Oct 07, 2009
2:56 AM
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Different strokes for different folks. I do agree that the Seydel 1847 hold tune very well are well built to last. I should preface to say that I have no MB's without the backs opened up and they are considerably louder then Seydel. I guess, like many of you that are playing Seydel, that I'm getting so use to playing MB's and SP20's that I set up myself that the Seydel seem so much different that I'm finding them uncomfortable compared to the Hohners. Anyone into used harps I'd be willing to deal the A and F 1847's that I have. I'm not even using them to practice anymore. Let me know.
On Lee Oskars? I think they are great beginner Harps. Very consistent from key to key, easy to bend, bright sound and consistent tuning OOB. For me(and me only) they just don't hold up
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snakes
364 posts
Oct 07, 2009
1:16 PM
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Well chopper if there were not Suzuki harps I'd play Seydel's. I've purchased just about all the diatonic Hohner models, three Seydel model's, many Lee Oskar's, and four Suzuki models. I have an 1847, a Blues Session, and two 1847 Silvers and they are all great harps. I haven't played them long enough to know how long they last, but I do know they are loud and responsive. They only gripe I have is I wish the holes were a bit smaller on the 1847 as I like it the best - nice comb. All in all I like the Suzuki Fire Breath (sealed rosewood comb). You should give one of those a try as well.
Last Edited by on Oct 07, 2009 1:16 PM
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