Re: [Harp-L] New synthetic comb phasing in for Seydel Chromatic DeLuxe

[David Payne <dmatthew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I looked at the Seydel site today, the default is the acrylic comb, but there is a special request form where you can order the wood body with a surcharge, although there was no indication anywhere of what that surcharge is. 

What I don't think a lot of people realize is that plastic combs are cheaper to make than wood and the Chromatic DeLuxe has an artifically low price. In the 1990s, it was priced the same as a Hohner 270 at $100. More than a decade later, it is still $100. I calculated this once, for it to have kept up with the decling dollar, rising Euro and all that stuff, it would have been priced around $175 now.
Plastic ones aren't available at the moment in the United States. At Elk, the only thing I actually have any control of, I can't see charging a surcharge until the synthetic ones are available, so I won't.

I should say this: the acrylic comb will probably not be easily interchangeable with existing wood-body horns. The Chromatic DeLuxe has screws holding the reedplates. How this is done is the reedplates are nailed on the body with two nails on each side, then the harmonica is drilled out for screws. It's done by hand and one of the neat little quirks about making these by hand that way is the holes from one may not line up perfectly with the another. That's why when you buy a replacement wood comb, it has to be drilled out. At least that's been my experience with these.


Dave
________________________
www.elkriverharmonicas.com


----- Original Message ----
From: Vern Smith <jevern@xxxxxxx>
To: David Payne <dmatthew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wed, October 21, 2009 7:07:52 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] New synthetic comb phasing in for Seydel Chromatic DeLuxe

Seydel is to be applauded for offering their Chromatic Deluxe with a plastic comb.  Getting rid of unstable wood and abominable nails is a great step forward.  Offering stainless steel reeds in a reasonably priced upscale Saxony harp is also very progressive.  There is no longer any valid reason to buy a wooden-combed harmonica. Seydel is giving Hohner some serious competition in the 12-hole straight-tuned products.  We the players are the beneficiaries.

Vern

----- Original Message ----- From: "David Payne" <dmatthew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Harp L Harp L" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 5:36 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] New synthetic comb phasing in for Seydel Chromatic DeLuxe


The Seydel Chromatic DeLuxe is phasing into a synthetic comb. First, the C will be made with the new synthetic comb, then, I presume other keys.

I talked to Rupert Oysler yesterday about it, there are none of the new comb Chromatic DeLuxes in the U.S. yet. Not sure when they will arrive.
Once the synthetics are in place, Seydel will continue to offer the wood C, as I understand it.
But ultimately, the deal is, wood is more expensive to make, so the wood C chromatics will go up in price once the transition is complete.
So, if you want a wood C, they are, for the moment, at least, still $99.95. That's actually four cents cheaper, I believe, than it was in the 1990s.


http://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel.sf/secVeKpzDzF4JI/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Seydel/Categories/News/%22Neue%20Chromatic%20Deluxe%22

Dave
____________________________
www.elkriverharmonicas.com

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