Re: [Harp-L] Introduction Michael from Seydel

[Mojo Red <harplicks@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the great introduction, and welcome to
Harp-L!

You'll find this group is an interesting mix of
harmonica maniacs coming from every perspective
imagineable. Quite a community. I've learned
volumes here over the years.

I hope to hear more from you as your background
with Seydel is a great asset. There is a gentlman
who posts here who works with Hohner (Fernando
Bresslau) and he is always very helpful and
informative. Okay, you two play nice now!
(kidding!)

Anyway, thanks for logging on and joining our
community!

Harpin' in Colorado,
--Ken M.

--- Michael Timler <mail@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Hello group,
> 
> this is my first time reading Harp-L and I would
> like to introduce myself 
> herewith:
> 
> My name is Michael Timler from Germany.
> Some of you may know me as the former owner of
> Harponline/Germany.
> 
> Being a harmonica maniac like most of you,  I
> started playing Bluesharp when 
> I was about 10 years old, and -what was very
> uncommon at that time in 
> Germany- I always played the Blues and Rock'n
> Roll stuff that was overcoming 
> the German culture with the US troups that were
> here in Germany after Word 
> War 2 and the upcoming Rock'n Roll bands from
> England as well.
> Playing Blues was outspaced, and far more
> outspaced was to play the Blues on 
> a harmonica, looking at it as a full instrument,
> using this distorted amps, 
> playing loud........... you know what I mean.
> Don't ask me, why I started that way, it was
> inside myself and it was years 
> later, in a world still free from computer and
> internet, that I discovered, 
> that there were people like Little Walter, Magic
> Dick, Paul Butterfield and 
> others.
> The harmonica has always been the 'better' part
> inside myself, it lead me 
> through all downs (and of course ups) during my
> lifetime, though I merely 
> couldn't make my living out of it.
> I was a car mechanic, a lorry driver. Worked as a
> smith and later as a 
> mechanic for water supllies, air condition and
> central heating. At least I 
> even became a teacher at a vocational school in a
> workshop, training people 
> in that profession. Married twice, have a
> wonderful wife, two lovely 
> daughters, that are up to leave us now to live
> their own lives........
> However, I never lost the harmonica track inside
> myself, always playing in 
> different bands.
> The break came, when Internet was introduced. My
> knowledge about harmonica 
> technics spread all of a sudden. I started to
> look after my reeds, and I 
> learned about Howard Levy and the Overblow.
> I got the idea, that repairing a harmonica, and
> furthermore to improve it 
> was a dire necessity for every serious player.
> What people like Joe Filisko 
> invented (just to name him as a symbol for all
> others that did the same, 
> please apologize, it would be too long a list to
> name you all) should be a 
> standard available to every player. Not for
> saving money. I had learned 
> that -with the day I started working on my reeds-
> I became a better player 
> without any practise, just by getting an an idea
> what happened inside with 
> my breath.
> I founded Harponline, put some workshops online
> how to exchange reeds and 
> the request was amazing.
> What was originally a non profit thing became an
> online shop, at least 
> selling single reeds on demand worldwide.
> 
> Some months ago I got the offer to work for 
> C.A.Seydel Söhne GmbH in 
> Germany, the oldest still producing harmonica
> factory in the world.
> I had no idea, where this track could lead.
> However, because I will end up 
> in harmonica heaven anyways, what did I have to
> loose?
> Therefore I accepted at the drop of a hat (almost
> :))))
> 
> Well, that is.
> 
> Now I subscribed here, just to know about
> discussions and may be to be 
> someone to ask questions to, may be give a
> statement, if Seydel harmonicas 
> are involved.. We take players needs very
> serious.
> What I will NOT do is to say something like:
> ".......if you have a problem 
> with your moustache, play Seydel harmonicas and
> you never will........"
> 
> In the short time I am involved in the work
> inside a harmonica production I 
> found out, that there are very few informations
> given to players, how 
> manufacturing processes actually work.
> F.e. the demand for another cover form (because
> of the above mustache 
> problem) is nothing simple to solve inside and at
> least always a question, 
> how many harmonicas we would sell more because of
> this changement. And how 
> many other problems may this change cause at
> another side of the production 
> process.
> 
> Means, we can not solve any problem that you
> discuss here all of a sudden, 
> and we will not be able to react on one persons
> personal likings. Again the 
> moustache: Seydel has the Blues Session modell
> were you will hardly have a 
> moustache problem. But the moustache friendly
> cover also influences the 
> sound of the harmonica, and may be a moustache
> friendly cover you demand on 
> a product of one of our competitors may cause a
> sound at least only 20% of 
> the players would finally like.
> You may be angry because of the torture loosing
> one hair after another, 
> however, manufacturers must keep a track selling
> their harmonicas.
> 
> You understand what I mean? We always have to
> find a balance between 
> personal needs of players and our sales, that are
> keeping us alive. Which is 
> sometimes the same, but not always.
> 
> This is, how I see my role here.
> Keeping the balance and trying to listen to your
> needs.
> 
> As far as you would like to have me here among
> you cracks at 
> all.............
> 
> Thank you very much !
> 
> Yours
> Michael from Seydel.
> www.seydel1847.com
> 
> _______________________________________________
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