[Harp-L] Seydel Harmonica Model: SYMPHONY 48

[a ash]

I uploaded a YouTube video (audio with big captions) of the story I posted
on Oct.22, 2025  for those who don't like to read long posts.  The AI
female voice is quite amazing.  The link is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZGGJc384g0.  You can also find it by
pasting "My Horrible Experience with Seydel Harmonicas, part 1" in YouTube
search bar.

On Thu, Oct 23, 2025 at 6:48 AM a ash <ashylau777 at xxxxx> wrote:

>
> In July, 2025, I emailed and warned music stores about stocking Seydel
> Symphony 48.
>
> Henk Kuik wrote on 24 Jul 2025, "You should mail this to Seydel. Their
> service is very good, so I really don't understand the purpose of this
> mail."
> and
> Muziekhuis Lyana wrote on 24 Jul 2025, "I agree! No problems with Seydel
> and their service."
>
> *MY BELATED RESPONSE:*
> Sorry for my belated response. My horrible experience with Symphony 48 and
> Lars Seifert, President of Seydel Germany, is very long. I tell the first
> part of the story in this email. I will tell the rest next time.
>
> This email is somewhat lengthy, but it is a learning experience. You will
> see a case of "The biter is bit" or "He is hoist with his own petard", a
> phrase in Shakespeare's Hamlet.
>
> First, be aware that bulk purchasers like you are treated very differently
> from individual purchasers like me. Once I visited a jewellery shop in
> Bangkok to browse. An employee smiled at me, but when she realized I wasn't
> a bulk purchaser, the smile changed to an unwelcome look.
>
> I received my Symphony 48 from Germany on *May 20,2025* with severe air
> leak out of the box. I emailed on the same day to Lars Seifert about this.
> He replied quickly with many canned paragraphs (*see his full reply below*
> ).
>
> He said that I need time to break in the harmonica or I need to change my
> embouchure. I have been playing chromatic harmonica for over 50 years and
> that was the first time I heard the term embouchure and that improper
> embouchure leads to lack of harmonica volume. I highlight that part of the
> email in yellow. I heard of the break-in crap used by harmonica customizers
> when purchasers complained their customized harmonicas lack volume. In
> subsequent emails, he kept saying I need to change my embouchure,
> deliberately putting me on the defensive.
>
> Please watch the harmonica-comparison videos (most are shorts) on my
> YouTube Channel @HarmonicaInfo (paste "@HarmonicaInfo" on YouTube search
> box to find the channel). I have no problem producing expected volume on
> other harmonicas (including Seydel Saxony, which has SS reeds). The problem
> with my Symphony 48 is air leak and no amount of break-in time or any kind
> of embouchure will make it sound louder.
>
> Please notice the sentence, "We occasionally hear some players report
> that they initially feel that their first SYMPHONY 48 is leaky and
> unresponsive." That suggests there are other buyers who have received
> Symphony 48 with air leak and complained. That is why I warned you about
> stocking the model. I am doing you and consumers a favor.
>
> As you may see, Lars Seifert was denying my unit had any problems and
> fooling me around, duping me to keep my poor unit. He also discouraged me
> from returning my unit by saying that the factory most likely wouldn't find
> any problems with it. I highlight the two paragraphs in which he tried to
> discourage me from returning the unit in light blue. (His behavior reminds
> me of government officials who always deny any wrongdoings. I live in Hong
> Kong and there is a recurring problem with drinking water. Even when one
> can see particles in the water, officials still say the water is safe to
> drink, but when they are asked to drink the water, they refuse.)
>
> We had many communications on the following days about issues with my poor
> unit, including valve noise and slide noise. He showed disrespect and
> deceit (he is very skillful in twisting facts) and kept denying my unit had
> any problems. I will provide you the details next time.
>
> Fast forward to *May 27, 2025* when I decided to return the unit, asking
> to exchange for a lower-value chromatic model(s) rather than a refund or
> repair. Lars Seifert asked me to make a video before I sent the unit back: "BEFORE
> you send it back, I kindly ask you to record and send me a short video in
> which you play the SYMPHONY 48 , so we can see and evaluate your playing
> style and embouchure. This will help us a lot. " I wonder how a video
> would help him see if I play Symphony 48 correctly, but anyway I made more
> than one video to show him.
>
> He aksed me to return my unit using couriers like UPS and FedEx to help
> him avoid customs duty. So I returned my unit to Germany using expensive
> UPS (around 64 Euro), at my own expense. I specifically asked him not to
> rework my unit because I wanted to exchange for a lower-value chromatic
> model(s). Unfortuately, he ignored my request and went ahead to rework my
> unit and said getting back the reworked unit is the only option I have.
>
> *Incredible*: He said the rework is a courtesy from Seydel because I
> voided the warranty by dissembling/assembling the unit (he uses the term
> alteration, very tricky of him). OMG!!! Disassembly/assembly of a harmonica
> (to work on reeds/valves and to clean) is a regularity for harmonica
> owners. Why would disassembly/assembly void warranty? Can you provide the
> name of another harmonica manufacturer that says disassembly/assembly voids
> warranty? I followed the instructions of Greg Jones's YouTube video on how
> to dissemble/assemble Symphony 48 when I dissembled/assembled my unit (Greg
> Jones is Seydel serviceman in USA). My unit was no better or worse
> afterward than when I received it out of the box.
>
> Fast forward to *early July, 2025*. He hadn't (and still haven't)
> remedied my purchase and so I decided to put those videos on YouTube for
> the world to see. If Lars Seifert didn't ask me to make a video, I won't be
> able to show people how poor a very expensive Seydel harmonica could be. I
> guess my YouTube videos would reduce the sale of Symphony 48. This is a
> case of "The biter is bit" or "He is hoist with his own petard". The
> universe has its way to deal with bad guys.
>
> My purchase could easily be dealt with at the beginning. In USA, just
> refund or replace the product, no question asked. Unfortunately, Lars
> Seifert chose to alienate customers.
>
>
> *Greg Jones, Henk Kuik, Muziekhuis Lyana ...:*  The reworked unit is at
> Seydel Germany.  Should you want to help mediate, please ask Lars Seifert
> to provide me exhchange for (i) One solo-tuning VOLCANY  *or*
>  (ii) Two DE LUXE STEEL's, one in solo-tuning C and one in A, all with
> regular warranty and hopefully testing before shipment to avoid another
> saga of poor product.  If the exchange has no problem, that will be the end
> of the matter and I won't write another email with details that will
> embarrass Lars Seifert and I won't file complaints with consumer
> organizations in Germany/EU (complaints will have a permanent record and
> damage trade reputation).  However, the videos about Symphony 48 on YouTube
> will remain for interest of the public.
>
> Sincerely,
> Rudy Hung
>
>
> *Tuesday, May 20, 2025*
> Hello Dear Rudy,
>
> I´m sorry to hear that you are not 100% satisfied with your new SYMPHONY
> 48. I´m very shocked of what you describe, because usually we hear exactly
> the opposite. ( However, not many players change from the SAXONY, but from
> other brands.)
>
> Of course the SAXONY feels different from a SYMPHONY 48 ( it better
> should) because it´s different in a number of ways. Above all in the
> dimensions, the slide the covers ... simply everything. All harmonicas have
> different dimensions, but those two models differ more from all the others
> than they differ from each other. We have different holes, channels and
> reeds. Some players get used to the differences easily, while others take a
> while to train their muscle memory, especially players who have been
> playing for a long time a different model ( wether SEYDEL or a different
> brand) and are used to a certain size and materials.
>
> We occasionally hear some players report that they initially feel that
> their first SYMPHONY 48 is leaky and unresponsive. But after a short
> break-in period, the vast majority of players find that this model responds
> better, are louder and the feeling of air leakage disappears completely.
> After this initial experience, they replace all their instruments from
> other brands with Seydel.
> It could possibly also be just a minor issue with the reed gaps that could
> be adjusted within a few seconds to fit your personal playing style
> perfectly, but without any experience about how to do that I wouldn´t
> suggest to try that on your new harmonicas.
> Maybe you could try to adjust your embouchure slightly, just to see if
> that makes a difference. Some players did this and find that it makes the
> harp play fine and this way they realize that it´s not an issue of the harp
> itself.
>
> *Producing high volumes and good sounding notes is not a matter of high
> playing pressures but a result of playing with the right embouchure.*
>
> Good tone and clear, clean notes do not come by playing forcefully, but by
> playing with proper embouchure.
>
> Try different mouth-cavity shapes if you want to play notes in different
> pitches - low notes require a longer air-column than higher notes - so if
> you find the right "room" for a particular note you will find out that you
> can make it "sing" without raising the playing pressure too much.
>
> Low notes require a longer air column that higher notes. If you play with
> proper embouchure and understand that your mouth cavity is a part of the
> instrument, you will discover how to make the harmonica sing without
> excessive air pressure.
>
>
> Left: Mouth cavity for playing low notes (like the vowal "U"), middle:
> mouth cavity for medium pitched notes (like the vowel "AE"), right: mouth
> cavity shape for playing high notes (like the vowel "E")
>
>
> *Your embouchure, the shape of the mouth cavity in combination with the
> position of the lips, tongue, and teeth, affects the tone of the
> instrument. You and your harmonica form a “functional unity.”*
>
> Well, it´s always difficult to evaluate an instrument from the distance.
> But what I read in the fault description sounds very much like a players´s
> problem ( a not optimal embouchure) that effects the valve function
> possibly or even the reed vibrations. The reed slot tolerances of high
> quality instruments, especially on the SYMPHONY 48 instruments are as
> narrow as possible in order to create absolute airtightness. However that
> is not a quality issue that can be fixed, but a phenomenon that only the
> player can influence by the playing technique used for the SYMPHONY 48.
>
> Attached you can also find some more information about harpresponse.
>
> I`m very much afraid that if this harmonica will be returned to us that we
> would find nothing wrong with it , but find it in a perfect playing
> condition. So we wouldn´t know what to do with it, but we can only clean it
> and return it to you. But in case you don´t get the correct information
> about it, the same phenomenons would most likely happen again and you would
> be even more frustrated.
>
> It´s great that we have the chance to inform you upfront about those
> things and ask to test the harmonica again under those circumstances. And
> if possible have the issue verified by a second, also experienced player,
> teacher who may confirm that there is a physical problem with the
> instrument OR (more likely) would also find nothing wrong with the
> instrument and give tips about how to play it to avoid the issues you have
> mentioned.
>
> The instrument needs to be in a perfect condition and we are happy to take
> a look at it after it would be returned to our service center. But I want
> to give those information first, because in 9 out of 10 similar cases we
> can avoid the effort and costs of a return by supplying those information
> and have the player look at the instrument again with a different
> perspective. The possibility of returning it later, if the problems
> persist, will not disappear.
>
> If the return should still be necessary, please send it back to the
> factory.
>
> Please enclose a printout of our email correspondence so that we have a
> good description of the fault.
> If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us again.
>
> Best regards,
> *Lars Seifert*
> *SEYDEL HARMONICA TEAM*
>
> From: info at xxxxx
> Sent: Thu, 24 Jul 2025 17:37:46
> To: Henk Kuik <info at xxxxx>
> Cc: gomez <cgomez21 at xxxxx>, info at xxxxx, info at xxxxx,
> info at xxxxx, info at xxxxx, info at xxxxx,
> info at xxxxx, info at xxxxx, info at xxxxx, info at xxxxx,
> fred at xxxxx, apeldoorn at xxxxx, info at xxxxx,
> info at xxxxx, info at xxxxx, info at xxxxx,
> info at xxxxx, info at xxxxx, patrick at xxxxx,
> info at xxxxx, wilma at xxxxx, hendrikvandenbroek at xxxxx
> Subject: Re: Seydel Harmonica Model: SYMPHONY 48
>
> I agree!
> No problems with Seydel and their service.
>
> Muziekhuis Lyana
>
> Verstuurd vanaf mijn iPhone
>
> Op 24 jul 2025 om 13:53 heeft Henk Kuik <info at xxxxx> het volgende
> geschreven:
>
> Hide original message
>
> 
> You should mail this to Seydel. Their service is very good, so I really
> don't understand the purpose of this mail.
> Henk Kuik
> Kuik Muziek
> Ndderland
> gomez <cgomez21 at xxxxx> schreef op 22 juli 2025 00:05:24 CEST:
>
> Dear Music Stores,
>
> I bought a new, expensive Seydel SYMPHONY 48 harmonica two months ago. It
> has severe air leak. Watch this youtube video to find out more:
> *copy-paste* " Seydel Symphony 48: Big Disappointment '' in youtube
> search box to find it.
>
> It appears this Seydel harmonica model lacks production consistency,
> resulting in many inferior units. Please be careful of this model when
> stocking. Your customers would yell at you when they receive a poor unit.
>
> Sincerely,
> Harmonica Info
>
>