I’m curious to Why do some people seem to shy away from this brand of harps? I’ve performed for a good many years, primarily blues but also other genres of music. Starting out in the mid 70’s ,like many of us, l played Marine Bands until around the late 90’s the quality began to drop, stiff reeds, poor response loose or poorly fitting reed plates and on. After a few frustrating years, I gave Sydel a try. A little more break in time but beautiful tone and response.Any thoughts on this ?
For me, I had to really break those things in. The steel reeds are a lot stiffer than the brass. When I first got my sessions, I hated them because it felt like I couldn’t blow a decent note. They are a lot thicker than what I was used to but now they place effortlessly andI love them.!
I bought a power bender really early, not really knowing what it does. I just thought it would bend easier than a regular Johnny. I didn’t realize that the note layout was different. I hated that thing too! Now that I got the hang of it, I can really whale on those draw bends and blow bends all over from end to end!
I haven’t played a Sydel, but you and @jasonnitz510 have raised that ol’ chestnut of breaking in harmonicas. Many say it’s a myth, there is no breaking in, maybe just the player getting used to something new and different. Personally, I’m not arguing against you, I’m only asking a question, not providing an opinion. When you say they need breaking in, what is it that you are perceiving? What difference do you notice from the first time playing a new harmonica to the point where you say it’s broken in?
I have heard this too. Harps don’t break in that I have noticed. They do need some adjustments out of the box occasionally, but even that is pretty limited.
Thanks for getting back to me. I first picked up a harmonica in1975. It was a Golden Melody in the key of F, not exactly the easiest key to bend but in any case, l ended up bending notes in a week. No brag just a blind pig catches a nut, sometimes.
What l have learned over the years with any harp is to not play balls to the walls with it right out of the box but rather play softly up and down the scale, drawing bends blow bends everything you would normally do, just keep it down, low & slow. Typically if it’s got brass reeds the metal is soft and will settle in quicker than stainless steel. By nature reeds need this initial period to loosen up enabling easier bending. l usually carry an extra one in each key, one veteran and one in progress. Stainless reeds take longer but l have found with a little patience they can kick ass and last much longer than brass reeds.They also don’t corrode.
Being a scientist and an engineer and an artist and a trumpet player for 55 years I know a little bit about breaking in but with trumpet it’s all about your embouchure with Harps it’s about wind on metal but in reality it’s metal and metal because there’s a pivot point and also because you have to break the stainless steel where it’s rubbing so that’s what it means by breaking in your actually making the metal more pliable and you’re also teaching your embouchure and your your muscle memory on how to bend and draw when I picked up a harp in 76 I was 13 and I just played it you know I didn’t go online it wasn’t anything online I didn’t get trained or taught I just learned because I already knew how to read music I was excellent it flew the phone and that’s how I started music and from there he just grow you know so by the time I was 13 I was a really good traffic player and some other trumpet player brought harmonic and of course I was envious and so I went ahead and picked up a harp and then I would just play now that I’m 63 I don’t know squat about Harps and I just listened to everyone and I watch the videos and but it makes sense to me that steel is needed for the electrified harp and so they sell a steel Reed upside down but if sidel was the originator of course they’re going to make better herbs I personally have all the best Harps in the world and I still don’t know how to play them because I haven’t started yet so you guys are encouraging me to start
@PapaCurly Seydel, particularly the stainless steel models, theirreed plates are much thicker than the brass reeds on, say, a Horner or Suzuki. As you play your harmonica, the reeds flex and vibrate, and with time, those reeds will become more flexible and therefore become easier to use. So there is absolutely a break-in period for ALL harmonicas.
Seem to work well for me, better than others I’ve tried, but then, it may be, i’m used to them now so when i play different brands, they are different, so i don’t like them as much - and I can guess the reverse is true with Seydel.
Got to admit I do love my Sedel’s although I prefer the feel of the Session Steel covers to the 1847 but prefer the sound and playability of the 1847. When gapped they play even better.
Seems like some people just prefer the sound/feel of brass, and some prefer the sound/feel of steel. I happen to be a brass guy. If the shoe fits, wear it!
Same, the 1847 Feels a lot better than the sessions cover. I just purchased the Seydel soloist blues pro, and I am in love! They have brass reeds, wood combs, and sound amazing!
I think there’s a place for both, but I agree brass has a great tone, especially with some good wood in between! Brass is easier to play right out of the box, at least for me,