Re: [Harp-L] Seydel Session Steel

[Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>]

I can also say these are high quality and durable instruments.  I practice
1-4 hours per day, and have been since November.  As a
beginner-intermediate player, I am very hard on them both in terms of hours
played and overplaying them while learning techniques.  I don't overplay
them anymore, but of course when I was learning the draw/blow bends were
hard on the instrument.

I have MBs, Spec 20s, Harpmasters, and the Session.  The Session is my main
instrument (mostly because its the only powerdraw harp I own, and powerdraw
has won out as my tuning of choice).

I will say that the wider hole spacing, larger holes, and hole edge
chamfering on the Sessions and similar recessed reed designs do make for a
less responsive harp when playing faster licks.  They have a fuller, softer
mouth feel, but *none *of my harps can come close to the stock MB for
dexterity and razor sharp clean notes (and making my lips bleed)

I got my Session from Greg Jones.  He was a pleasure to work with and does
some nice powder coated covers, and will do any of the Seydel covers that
fit the Session guts.


On Sun, Apr 21, 2013 at 3:58 PM, Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:

> Last August at SPAH I bought a Seydel Session Steel harmonica in the key
> of A from Rupert Oysler.  Since then I've been playing that instrument
> frequently and hard, and it still plays and sounds pretty much the way it
> did when I took it out of the case for the first time.  That makes it the
> most durable instrument I've ever owned, easily on a par with my Lee Oskar
> harps in that sense, but louder, punchier, and more responsive.
>
> I just took delivery on three more Session Steels in Bb, C, and D, and I'm
> looking forward to putting them through their paces. If they're up to the
> standard set by the A harp, I'll be very impressed. These harps aren't
> exactly cheap, but they're certainly price and performance competitive with
> the Hohner MB Deluxe and Crossover, Suzuki Olive, etc., and so far they
> seem to be more durable than any of those.  Stay tuned for more as I work
> with the new ones.
>
> Regards, Richard Hunter
>
> author, "Jazz Harp"
> latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://hunterharp.com
> Myspace http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp
> Vids at http://www.youtube.com/user/lightninrick
> more mp3s at http://taxi.com/rhunter
> Twitter: lightninrick
>