[Harp-L] Seydel Session Steel

[Tony Eyers <tony@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Certainly the Hohner Thunderbirds are more expensive than other premium 
models. Small sales volumes, compared to other Hohner models would 
account for this in part.

However I'm glad that Hohner have stuck their neck out, engaged arguably 
the world's finest customiser (Joe Filisko) to help with the design, and 
created an instrument meant for low reeds, as opposed to other low key 
manufacturuers, who, as far as I can see, simply attach low reeds to 
their regular models, without additional allowances for low key operation.

Amongst other things, the Thunderbird cover plates accommodate the wider 
travel of low reeds, thereby eliminating the clunk common to the bottom 
reeds of low key harmonicas.

Steve: in your case you'd just need one Thunderbird, a low D. Regular 
harmonicas would cover the other keys, as they have no doubt done so 
far. So, the extra cost, while significant, would extend to one 
harmonica only.

There is the wider question of how much should one spend on harmonicas. 
I mix with bluegrass players mostly, and am lucky to be amongst some 
very good ones. None of them play instruments costing less than $3000, 
the money spent is reflected in the great sound they make. I think the 
same way about my harmonicas.

For the most part my music friends are not wealthy, neither am I. 
However they have invested in tools which allow them to best express the 
music they love.

I drive an old (but reliable) car, my other tastes are likewise modest. 
However I've made an exception with harmonicas, and play the best ones I 
can get. In my case, these are Neil Graham custom Hohner diatonics and 
Tombo Premium 21 tremolos (the best, in my view). And Thunderbirds.