Re: [Harp-L] Seydel 1847 and Session Steel side by side

[Ben Bouman <benbouman16@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Michelle

I’m not sure if this answer came through, I hope it explains a bit more.

copy:

When you make a recording using a 1847 and a Session Steel, both without coverplates, there’s not a difference in the sound to hear.
It may ” feel” different but that because the harps will not have an identical set-up ….. plus, the massive comb of the 1847 gives a bit more ”compression” to the overall feel where the Session Steel looses very little air= less compression.

The back of the coverplates of the Session Steel is more closed so most players think they sound ”warmer” but that is mostly because less sound/overtones reach the ears.
The 1847 is not louder but sounds more bright/open because of the comb/coverplates and that may give the feeling of a louder sound.

I’ve tried all possible combinations of combs/coverplates, from corian to brass combs, from 5mm wooden combs to handmade plastic combs etc etc.. but when I recorded the harps ( without coverplates ) they all sounded the same to me.
Yes, when it looks beautiful and it feels nice, you may play better which could lead to a different/better sound :-))


kindest regards, met vriendelijke groeten, 

Ben Bouman
www.benboumanharmonicas.com <http://www.benboumanharmonicas.com/>
www.harmonicainstituut.nl <http://www.harmonicainstituut.nl/>
www.harmonicaheaven.nl <http://www.harmonicaheaven.nl/>
www.marbletones.com <http://www.marbletones.com/>
www.marble-amps.com <http://www.marble-amps.com/>





> Op 8 mei 2015, om 20:38 heeft Michelle LeFree <mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> het volgende geschreven:
> 
> Richard Hunter wrote:
> 
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> As described in this post to my website:
>> http://www.hunterharp.com/the-seydel-1847-is-getting-to-be-my-favorite-harp/
>> 
>> I recently acquired brand new Seydel 1847 and Session Steel harps in the key of A, and I decided to do a side by side comparison.  I recorded the results, and they're very interesting.  When I play these harps, I hear clear differences in the sound.  When I listen to the recording, I can barely hear the difference--in fact, I'm really not sure which harp I'm playing at which point in the recording.
>> 
>> The differences are obvious when I'm playing the instruments--the 1847 is a more enjoyable instrument to play, and to my ear it sounds less harsh (and a little less dark) than the Session Steel, which I certainly hear when I'm playing. But if you can hear clear evidence of that on the recording, you've got better ears than me.
>> 
>> Take a listen for yourself--the recording is about 30 seconds long.
>> 
>> Regards, Richard Hunter
> 
> That's interesting, Richard, as it largely echoes the player's experience at the Brendan Power and Vern Smith fated 2010 multi-player "Does comb material make a discernible difference" experiment (at which I was the official inter-player harmonica sanitizer. ;^) ). Players could tell the difference but listeners could not. Some harps "felt" different, I think because some comb materials transfer resonant vibrations to the hands and lips more than others. Other times players, as you say, could hear the difference even though the same cover and reed plates were used each time (Marine Band reed plates and combs with side vents).
> 
> I wonder if you or others could offer an explanation for why the two Seydel harps sound different to the player? Aren't the reed plates and reeds essentially the same? Could it be the difference in the comb designs, sandwiched vs. enclosed? Also, can you expand on why you feel the 1847 is more enjoyable to play? Does the difference in combs and/or cover plates account for it or is it the set-up or resulting "feel" of the reeds or simply the sound you hear as a player?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Michelle
> 
>