Re: [Harp-L] Seydel Session Steel

[Bob Harty <bharty@xxxxxx>]

Hi Eric,
I got my first Session Steel several months ago. I've really played it a lot. I love the way it feel and the way it plays. It bends well and handles over blows quite nicely. 
I have since purchased multiple copies of the Steel in all keys, all with standard richter tuned. Right out of he box these are top drawer instruments. 
I've also got a few brass reed Sessions models that are fine, but not the same as the Steel version
I've have a couple other Seydels, a Noble, and one tweaked by David Payne. Therese are very nice. David's reworking the 1847 made it much better.
The only harps I currently have that that, IMHO, totally blows them away are some custom made harps, including David's.
I'm really enjoying the totally customized Suzuki's from Brendan Power! I had him tune them to Paddy Richter. Very fast, loud and super bendable.
Good luck with you Session Steel models.
Bob

Sent from my iPad

On Apr 21, 2013, at 12:09 PM, Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> 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
>>