Re: [Harp-L] Session Steels? Don't buy!

["Juke Geezer" <bigbandrhythm@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for sharing your experience.  I, too, am a fan of lower harps in the 
Sax range and have an Low Eb Special 20 and a Low F Manji that I prefer over 
the high versions.

I blew a reed on a brass Solist Pro 12 Low D. I was trying to blow-bend the 
reed corresponding to 7. I can be quite an idiot after a beer or two.. even 
stupider onstage going for a note that isn't there.

I wanted you to know about a cheap repair solution.

I contacted Rupert Oysler via his email address on the Seydel web site, and 
he set me up to order a replacement reedplate set at a huge discount.. a 
steel reedplate for the 12! -- so my harp is upgraded.  I am very happy. I 
have since switched to Seydel and play several hours a day -- not hard, but 
I DO overblow which can't be easy on the harps.. No problems so far. I am 
playing low configured Session Steels and consider them my top harps. 
Caveat: I am not a "high harp" player normally, so wailing on the 7 blow 
isn't my style. It is possible I haven't tripped on the reed-breaking bug 
yet.

If you broke two harps, you can probably get a big discount on reedplates in 
new keys, if you chose, and have two more harps in your quiver.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Steve Shaw
Sent: Friday, November 08, 2013 5:16 PM
To: harp-l harp-l
Subject: [Harp-L] Session Steels? Don't buy!

I posted a few weeks ago about a Seydel Session Steel that let me down badly 
after very little playing.  I'm very easy on my harps these days (an SP20, 
played hard every week in my pub sessions, will last me a year before any 
adjustments are required, for example). I'd bought two Session Steel low D 
harps following the lamentable decision by Hohner to discontinue the SP20 
low D. Ben Bouman was kind enough to fix my Session Steel on that occasion. 
But now my second Session Steel, after just two nights out of fairly light 
use (the pub has been quiet so I've mostly been relying on my low D XB40), 
has also gone south - the 7-blow again. I've been playing harmonicas in pub 
sessions for over 20 years and this level of failure is, for me, 
unprecedented, even with cheapie harps. I had been prepared to believe that 
the failure of the first harp was an unfortunate one-off, but now, having 
wasted ninety quid on two useless harps, I'm minded to suggest that anyone 
contemplating buying Session Steel harps should think very hard before 
laying out the dosh. Way too risky if you ask me. I'm not cross enough to 
say that Seydel Session Steels are *all* rubbish, but I will say that the 
two specimens I bought were a complete waste of money.  And rubbish.
Steve (feeling very angry and ripped off).