[Harp-L] Generous responses to my plea for help

[Ron Burton]

WOW!!...So many folks to thank for the replies, constructive suggestions, and offers to help with my issue regarding a blown reed....that's not correct....a reed that  I tried to retune and failed. Bob, Steve, Burke, and Dr. George among others.  To clarify and report my results, I was given a Seydel Blues Session Low F about 8 years ago. I have for been a player, self-taught, for about 25 years.
I became I TRUE BELIEVER, the night I saw Smokey Joe Leone in an open mic venue do a mind-blowing version of SONG FOR MY FATHER.  Back on subject. The group I work with plays on average twice a week.  The Seydel harp became a go-to instrument by accident when the group started closing every gig with the gospel tune: LONG BLACK TRAIN. Seems as though a LOT of local blue collar folks are really into a bad imitation of a coal burning locomotive chugging down the tracks. LOL Anyway, after an estimated 400 plus performances, the reed succumbed to fatigue. Well after reviewing all the replies and weighing my alternatives, I discovered by chance the fact that this is a "low-end" harp with a LOT of high priced competition. Seydel makes GREAT product and I do have others but the BLUES SESSION is still WAY below at $40 and since I use it for ONE tune and the one given to me lasted well over 8 years before failing, I stepped out and bought a new one. Thanks again to all.  Maybe we will meet in August.  I haven't been to a SPAH convention in over a decade.  My bad.  Again I apologize for the long post.  Thanks for reading!
Ron Burton