Is the Seydel 1847 Silver Harmonica right for you? (No BS Review)

► Get the full review here: www.harmonica.com/store/seyde...
Here’s the contact info for 2 professionals who do harmonica setups:
Greg Jones (his Overblow/Overdraw set up comes highly recommended by JP Allen.) www.1623customharmonicas.com
Burke Trieschmann (customized a Seydel 1847 Silver for JP with spectacular results.) www.opendoorprod.com/open-door...
Intro 0:20
Bendability 0:50
Comfort 2:14
Tone 3:05
Responsiveness 4:53
Looks 5:54
Durability / Fixability 7:15
Final Verdict 8:39
Verdict - I would not advise beginners to buy this harmonica. However, there are a lot of professional harp players who love this harmonica. Personally, the lack of responsiveness and difficulty bending some of the draw bends makes it hard for me to get excited about, but according to JP Allen these harmonicas shine best when they’re customized by professionals. The stainless steel reeds give this harmonica a beautiful tone that’s much darker to my ear than brass reeds. The stainless steel reeds are less susceptible to corrosion than brass. They make the harmonica more expensive, but they also make it more durable and longer-lasting.
Get my recommendations about which harmonica to buy: www.harmonica.com/which-harmo...
For a fast track to learning harmonica, check out Beginner to Boss, here: www.harmonica.com/lessons/
Any questions or comments about the harmonica just let me know in the comment section below!

[@GrilloTheFlightless]

I recently got an 1847 Silver as I was curious about using steel reeds. Prior to this I’ve used Lee Oskars exclusively for 20 years. I got it because I was told the steel reeds makes it harder to play and I thought the challenge may make me develop and improve my technique, so I expected it to take a while to get used to. Boy was I surprised! The first time I played, straight out of the box, it played like a dream. A very different tone to my Lee Oskars, but almost as easy to play. Bending was a cinch on all notes, and in fact easier to sustain a bend, and I was able to play and blow-bend the higher notes more effectively than I’ve ever managed in my whole life. The only draw back is that the 2 and 3 blow are harder to play without the notes choking. I have to blow quite soft. If I use too much air the note actually stops working. Easy to do if I’m playing slow, but if I’m playing fast I sometimes times lose those notes. I’ve been told that I can rectify this with a bit of gapping soI may have to give it a go. But overall it’s an incredibly nice, fun harmonica to play. Mine came in a very strong cardboard box with a rather nice textured silver paper covering and metal hinges. For a cardboard box it’s extremely nice quality.

[@rauldederichs7400]

I had two session steels set up by Ben Bouman, made them a dream to play! When gapped correctly and with a nice set up the steel reeds are beyond amayzing!

[@Harmonicacom]

Oh cool. that's great to hear. Yeah I'm excited to see what it sounds/feels like after having it customized. If you provide a link for getting in touch with Ben Bouman we can include it here. Aloha, Luke

[@Harmonicacom]

48 / 5000 Translation results Sim, o Golden Melody é incrível. Adoro eles! Aloha from Hawaii.

[@dmfjoker]

I consider myself still new to harmonica. But have been playing for a while. My first was a Hohner S20 in C. My second was a Seydel classic which I love the tone but I agree 100% with you it is way harder to bend on then my Hohner also noticed the Seydel changed how I play. I would buy another Seydel but I wouldn't....Will make sense to some.

[@Harmonicacom]

Right on. Thanks for the note Kevon!

[@bluesman55]

I bought a Seydel Session steel harp. I would say I am an intermediate player. I bend holes 2 thru 6 draw and I love it. I played Lee Oskar for 25 years but these are going to replace those.

[@Harmonicacom]

Ok, cool! Thanks for sharing!

[@jlp6071]

Intermediate player... but you’ve been playing for 25 years?

[@Deffsax]

Thankyou for review

[@Harmonicacom]

My pleasure 😊

[@nekffud6981]

Thanks. I love your Instructions. I sent 3 replies already but can't send lic of the Big 6 mini. It has 6 holes. c.a.Seydel.hormonica. where can I send u a lic.

[@norfolknwhey4787]

I had a similar experience with the silver. After some adjustments it plays nicely, but a $100 harp shouldn’t require the player to open it up just for the playability to match the price tag. Overall, it’s a very nice, well made harp that I would not buy again. If I’m playing a Seydel, it’s the classic.

[@Harmonicacom]

Agreed.

[@lolwhittingham]

Glad i listened to you on here i was going to buy it, but, as i'm only 'intermediate' The 3 bend issue has put me off (for now )

[@Harmonicacom]

OK, yeah. I think you'll have an easier time working on that on a Special 20 or Lee Oskar.

[@lolwhittingham]

@@Harmonicacom K Thanks

[@robertbrunston5406]

Thank you.

[@Harmonicacom]

You're welcome Robert!

[@thewiz8895422]

Coming in a Cardboard box IMO gives it more stars. Some of the plastic boxes are a hassle to open up, plus the fact that there is way too much plastic being used these days . Hemp would be a perfect medium to use

[@steveb9525]

Thanks

[@Harmonicacom]

You're welcome Steve!

[@Richard.W7]

I bought a Seydel Big Six. It is cheap and comparable. Greetings from Saxony.

[@Harmonicacom]

Hey thanks for the heads up!

[@paulcook68]

I bought one a while back and not happy with it. I had to do alot of work to get it to play half as good as the manji or special 20! Maybe I got a lemon but it just feels like a big tank to me! Not worth the money at all! Great review though Luke!

[@Harmonicacom]

Thanks for sharing, Paul! Glad you liked the review.

[@emfietzi]

Nice Review! SEYDEL's 1847 CLASSIC Low Vs SEYDEL's 1847 NOBLE Low - Whats the differences ?

[@Harmonicacom]

The classic has a wooden comb, and the noble has an aluminum comb

[@TOMASZG-jz2gl]

The difference is simple. Noble is unhealthy because aluminium is poison for human.

[@patrikduller8449]

I think steel does not vibrate as easy as brass and that is why it is not as responsive. It lasts longer though. Thanks!

[@Harmonicacom]

Interesting. And true about the durability!

[@amolawarkar5830]

do review of suzuki promaster rgard

[@Harmonicacom]

It's on the to-do list, Amol. Mahalo!

[@stuffnuns]

Do a little gapping on the #3 hole. If you are player and don’t know how to do it, learn. Brendan Power has a great harp gap vid on YT. The 1847 does have learning curve, becaus it is a different metal than other brass / bronze reeded harps. I have no trouble at all with deep, clean bends on 2 and 3, but, it took some weeks of adapting my technique to the harp. Agreed that it is Not aa harmonica for beginners. I think it’s better to learn to play with some control on one of the Hohners, first. i have Golden Melodies in my kit, and I love those harps, too, but my workhorses are the Seydels.

[@Harmonicacom]

Thanks for sharing!

[@dmitryk.1748]

I am first! Greetings from Russia! Luke what harmonica is easy for banding?

[@Harmonicacom]

Right on! Lee Oskar or Hohner Special 20 if you can afford it. Fender Blues Deluxe if you're on a budget. www.harmonica.com/which-harmonica-to-buy/ Aloha, Luke

[@dmitryk.1748]

@@Harmonicacom thank you!

[@nekffud6981]

We need more Instructional Music Sheets. For the Big 6. Thanks ken duff in va

[@Harmonicacom]

Hey Ken - what is the Big 6?

[@paulcook68]

@@Harmonicacom seydel makes Luke. It's a 6 hole diatonic. Supposed to be nice little harps..

[@emdfilms5785]

I don’t have one and want to buy one eventually but currently I’m about to be a broke college student so I can’t yet. But I would say someone beginning to play harmonica should NOT start on steel reeds. They should start in brass.

[@Harmonicacom]

I'm a brass guy myself.

[@felixtoto8110]

Are ready to fight Luke? Golden melody

[@Harmonicacom]

Wait how's this a fight? I'd take a Golden Melody over an 1847 Silver any day of the week. (An OLD Golden Melody. 😉)

[@raiders345]

I'm curious: in your written review of the Seydel 1847 Classic, you basically said it was great straight out of the box. Are they different in that regard?

[@Harmonicacom]

Hmmm. What written review are you referring to? I haven't played a Seydel 1847 Classic...

[@raiders345]

It's on the website. Has your picture, but perhaps written by someone else?

[@norman-gregory]

@@Harmonicacom...Look forward to when/if you do review the "Classic" .

[@KJ0NES-FL-HAM]

My Session Steel came with a leatherette cover

[@Harmonicacom]

Hey Casey - thanks for the note! Yeah, I think mine did too, now that you mention it. It's gotta be around here somewhere..... ;-) Mahalo, Luke

[@KJ0NES-FL-HAM]

@@Harmonicacom i took a pic and then realized I couldn’t post it, lol

[@gilleslaurin2165]

I won't SI you play with Suzuki promaster mr-350 plz

[@Harmonicacom]

Suzuki ProMasters are great harps, alongs with Manji's and Hammonds. Hammonds are actually my favorite Suzuki harps. I'm not a big Suzuki fan all in all. But can't really knock these 3. Rock on, Luke

[@djratino]

I guess these don't come in minor tunings. I use an Em to play, "Last Dance With Mary Jane." I'm not sure what Tom Petty uses, but to me it sounds better than a standard tuned harmonica. 🐀🐾

[@Harmonicacom]

Hey DJ Ratino - Seydel DOES make minor tunings, they're just Wilde Minor tunings. www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel1847.sf/en_US/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Seydel/Products/16201/SubProducts/16201C&ChangeAction=SelectSubProduct Not cheap, but I suspect you might love it! But Tom Petty plays Mary Jane's Last Dance in 3 position on a G harmonica, key of Am: -56 56 -45 45 -56 56 -45 -56 56 -45 45 -56 56 -45 56 -45 I teach it in my Beginner to Boss course, which you might be interested in checking out: www.harmonica.com/lessons/ For a GREAT, reasonably priced Natural Minor Harmonica, look no further than the Lee Oskar Natural Minor in my opinion!

[@norfolknwhey4787]

Try playing a D harp in 3rd position 👍🏼

[@studogable]

Brass guy here ;) Also a Hohner Special 20 partisan for no real reason.

[@Harmonicacom]

I'm a brass guy myself!

[@raiders345]

It sounds as if fine harmonicas are like fine wines. Paying more doesn't necessarily mean that you're getting something better than one which is more reasonably priced!

[@Harmonicacom]

Well said John.

[@DavidNance-gn2ly]

Does it make you play better?

[@Harmonicacom]

No sir.

[@MrSpanky2001]

It seems to me that in 2022 prices, a $100 Seydel, get it set up or "tweeked" now your looking at a $175-200 instrument. Pretty steep price to pay for a harp. IMHO.

[@Harmonicacom]

Actually Greg Jones only charged me $10 to set one up, so $110. The argument is that they last 3 times as long, so you actually end up saving money, but still I hear you and agree. I talk about that in this forum post: forum.harmonica.com/t/wilde-rock-tuning-what-will-wilde-is-playing-on-free-bird/10030/9?u=luke

[@franks.2527]

This German GmbH is older as Hohner. Hohner is better ☝,trust me 😉

[@Harmonicacom]

I"m with you Frank.

[@ikust007]

Crazy: paying such a price and then having to tweak it. Nope.

[@Harmonicacom]

LOL. I'm right there with you! 🤣

[@sepultura7771]

It’s kind of unfair to buy one random harmonica from a company, and then do a whole review on it, for example, I’ve bought marine bands that played great and other ones that played horrible

[@Harmonicacom]

Recently? I bought Marine Bands a long time ago that didn't play well, but I think they are consistently awesome right now. If Seydel wants to send me another one, I'd be happy to try it, because they're not cheap! LOL. Thanks for the note. I'm joking around a little bit, but your point is worth considering for sure.