Re: [Harp-L] Seydel Sailor Tremolo harp vs. Hohner 2409 Tremolo harp

[David Payne <dmatthew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm not a big tremolo expert, I tend to gravitate more to octave harps to fulfill my double-reed needs, but I do believe that the Shanty is solo-tuned, like a chromatic. 
The deal with these tremolos is you have a seperate cell for each reed. Where you would have say one hole on a diatonic, you now have four, two top and two bottom. The tremolo configuration is obviously wider. Thus, let's take a Shanty 32, which is RICHTER tuned, it's a little more than an inch longer than a Standard Seydel diatonic. Yet, you only have note coverage up to what would be the 8 hole or so on a diatonic. You wind up with one basic octave for melodies, one for chords. That's the way Dave Payne likes to play tremolo ball, but that doesn't mean it's the only way. 

With your sailor, it is solo tuned. Instead being like poor Dave Payne and only being able to play melodies on the high end of the tremolo, you can play melodies from top to bottom. Right now you're approaching this harp like LIttle Walter on a chromatic, in the draw minor key. That's what you are hearing.

Your least expensive Seydel option would be to get a Shanty, which is a fairly low-class name for a pretty fancy harp of nicely finished beechwood. It's RIchter tuned and more what you're used to.

Dave
__________________________
Dave Payne
Elk River Harmonicas
www.elkriverharmonicas.com 



----- Original Message ----
From: Clifford Bernard <lilcliff@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2009 8:11:41 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] Seydel Sailor Tremolo harp vs. Hohner 2409 Tremolo harp

Good morning:
Does anybody have any experience with Tremolo harmonicas as far as tuning?
For many years I have been using the Hohner 2409 Key of C  for tunes in G
major that I try to get that Cajun/Accordion flavor incorporated into. It
works very nicely. I thought I would give the Seydel Sailor a try, as it was
considerably lower in cost, and was recommended by a Seydel dealer as being
"equal" to the Hohner 2409. It plays very well, and is nice and bright, very
good response with little breath effort, but unfortunately the tuning is not
the same. It seems decidedly minor on the draw cords. Anybody have any
suggestions to another Seydel or alternate brand tremolo harp that would
match the tuning of the Hohner? (or do I need to learn to navigate the new
tuning pattern?) The 2409 has gotten pricey, and they don't seem to hold
tune as well as in the past. Thanks for your input.

Lil' Cliff Bernard
lilcliff@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tel: 516-639-2339/Fax: 516-294-3448
www.lilcliff.com




_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l