[Harp-L] Re; Seydel harps

["Barry F. Cohen" <kates-cohen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From: Barry Cohen
Subject: Seydel harps
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx

Hi List,

After exclusively playing Hohner Special 20's for the three years I've been playing harp - I've grown very dissatisfied with there out-of-the-box performance, questionable durability, and lack of sound volume (closed back).  I am another who plays too hard when out live and blow reeds (I know, I know...).  

Anyhow, just ordered and received my first Seydel harp - 1847 Silver - and am totally floored by it! The thing looks, feels & plays like a much higher quality instrument, and best of all, with it's open back and whatever else makes it tick - it is MUCH brighter & louder than the 20's and I now feel for the first time I don't have to blow my brains (and reeds) out to get the volume I'm after and this harp will help my technique (well, that and working on my chops!).  The only caveats before your purchase - as David Payne has already pointed out - the harp is about the size of a Lee Oskar - significantly bigger than the 20's - and the holes are not numbered (who cares?).

For any intermediate players out there who are dissatisfied with their out of the box harps (especially folks who don't work on 
their own harps) and may also play with too much force (per recent discussions on this list), I strongly suggest you try one of these babies out! Now to save up $$ for more keys (shhhh, don't tell my wife!!)...

Barry
http://www.myspace.com/gracieblues
http://www.myspace.com/barrycohenakamash