Re: [Harp-L] Low tuned Harps

[pdxharpdog@xxxxxxxxxxx]

I love playing low tuned harmonicas - ever since I saw Rupert on video playing a low C harp at Spah, and now own almost all of the major brand low-keyed versions. I have recently purchased a couple of the new low tuned Manjis and find that the draw side cover plate bulge (to avoid reed rattle) to be very excessive and difficult to adapt to. Do others feel the same way? I think Suzuki does most everything well in the Manji line, except for their cover plates - which in addition to being super fat on the draw plates for low-keys are a bit too wimpy for my linking in general. . The Hohner T-bird also has a wider draw cover plate but the bulge is not as big as Suzuki's so it doesn't bother me. 

I prefer the Seydel 1847 Classic with the single draw #1 relief bump out to the Manji mouthful. Interestingly, the legacy Hohner SP20s have no difference between the blow and draw cover plates - although I have to admit that on occasion I have made the 1 draw reed rattle against the cover plate. I wish Hohner would never have eliminated their low tuned SP 20 versions. I do like the T-bird, but they're almost 3x the price that the SP20 legacy harps used to sell for it's tough to justify $125/per. 

For my money, Seydel has the best performance and cost bang for the buck on the low-tuned harps. 

Ross Macdonald 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Steve Hayes" <bigbandrhythm@xxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: Phyllis731@xxxxxxx, "bad hat" <bad_hat@xxxxxxxx>, harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Monday, June 8, 2015 12:04:22 PM 
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Low tuned Harps 

I really think the modern harmonicas are all very good. If you like brass 
reeds, the Seydel Session Standard harps are about $15 cheaper than the low 
Manji's and there is a wider selection. I'm really liking the stainless 
reeds. A Session Steel is about the same price as a Manji. They all play 
about the same as long as they are not leaky and gapped reasonably. I don't 
prefer harps put together with nails, however I am very fond of my four 
year-old Eb Marine Band. 

Low Manji harps are available in C, D, E, Eb, and F 
Low Session Steels are likewise available in those 5 keys plus Db and F# 
The Seydel Blues Favorite is available from LowLowF to HiA 


I have a Low F Manji and a legacy Low Eb Special 20 and and many Low Seydel 
Pro 12, Session Steels, and Session Standard harps. I like the Suzuki and 
Seydel harps out of the box, but usually find a reason to go to the dark 
side and open them up to tweak them. 

-----Original Message----- 
From: Phyllis731@xxxxxxx 
Sent: Monday, June 08, 2015 6:23 AM 
To: bad_hat@xxxxxxxx ; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Low tuned Harps 

I'm curious how you would all rate low note harps in terms of brands: 
Suzuki Manji m20...Hohner 
Thunderbird...Seydel. Any info about differences or comparison would be 
appreciated. 

Blues Girl Phyllis 
Isn't it wonderful the way the world holds both the deeply serious, and 
the unexpectedly mirthful? 




In a message dated 6/8/2015 7:30:47 A.M. Central Daylight Time, 
bad_hat@xxxxxxxx writes: 

On 6/7/15 1:24 PM, Steve Hayes wrote: 
> I'm playing Seydel Solist Pro 12 Steel SBS-type low harmonicas when 
> possible. The low-notes are very saxophone-like and are great for 
> octave-blocking. 


How does that work, the SBS tuning resolves in 13 holes hence Hohner's 
use of a 365-14 comb and plate as the basis of this tuning. Does Seydel 
just leave the top 2 notes off of the harmonica?