Re: [Harp-L] Seydel vs. OTC harps

["Rick Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Richard;
              When you write of overblowing Lee Oskars, I assume you
have 'done something' to them. I only have to look at an LO harp for my
ears to start ringing with the high-frequency squeal of an ailing
television set, which, to me, LOs seem to produce even when they're not
being subjected to overbending.
             How do you deal with this?
RD

>>> Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 25/08/2007 9:06 >>>
The Seydel Blues Soloist Pro in Db that I bought at SPAH is an okay 
harp, not a mind-blower.  It's not enough better (if any) than a Lee 
Oskar to make it worth the price difference, in my opinion.

The Seydel 1847 that I bought at SPAH is amazing for a mass
manufactured 
instrument.  It's the loudest and most responsive G harp I ever owned.

      I purposely bought a G because it seems to me that problems with

harp designs tend to show up strongly in the lower keyed instruments 
(and not coincidentally, I never seem to be confident in my G harps). 
This thing barks as hard or harder in the low end as any harmonica I've

ever owned.  It sells for $80, but I can certainly tell the difference

between it and a $25, $35, or $50 harp.

Both these impressions are based on a single instrument, and therefore

are not statistically valid.  So try for yourself.  But I'd spend the 
$80 and get the 1847 first, because it makes a useful yardstick for 
everything else.

On the other side of the price divide, the $16 Suzuki Harpmaster in A 
that I bought at SPAH is a responsive harp with a decent, big tone, and

it's holding up pretty well under prolonged playing.  Its only apparent

weakness is that it doesn't overblow very well, certainly not as well
as 
my Lee Oskars.  Otherwise, I wouldn't hesitate to take it to a gig.

Regards, Richard Hunter
hunterharp.com
Latest mp3s always at http://broadjam.com/rhunter 



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