4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good but not Great, February 26, 2009
This review is from: Hohner Golden Melody Harmonica, Key of D (Electronics)
Play blues, country, and rock harmonica in a local band called iBluz. I've been using the Hohner Golden Melody harmonicas for about a year, having replaced my entire kit of Lee Oscars with them because of their ease of play and full round tone. I also like the mouth-feel of the covers, and overall build quality. Unfortunately, I have already had a reed flat out in 2 harps, each less than a year old: key of A (blow reed), and key of D (draw reed). So this caused me to search for alternatives, and I have found 2 with great potential: Bushman and Seydel. I ordered a Bushman Delta Frost (Bb) through Amazon, and upon receiving it was highly impressed with the responsiveness and great soulful tone of its bronze reeds. Hoping that these last longer than brass. Cost was similar to Golden Melody. Have another on order. (Supply seems to be limited, and some orders apparently take a long time to get filled.)
Last weekend I purchased a Seydel 1847 Classic (key of A) from Guitar Center in SF. This German manufactured harp has a sealed wooden comb with slightly larger than normal holes, stainless steel reeds, and has the richest tone of any harmonica I've ever played. Reeds slightly less responsive to bending than those of the Delta Frost, but still plenty loose for 2nd position blues style of play. Build quality is also tops, as is the price: close to $100 each. Time will tell if the bronze and stainless steel reeds hold up better than the brass in the Golden Melodys, but I am sufficiently impressed with the Seydel to consider a wholesale replacement of my kit. Note: Seydel also makes a low C, D, Db, Eb,E, F#, and F.
Note to Amazon: please start carrying Seydel, or work with a vendor that does...
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