Lucky 13 in Diminished Tuning - Just Released

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dastultz
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Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2020 2:25 am

Re: Lucky 13 in Diminished Tuning - Just Released

Post by dastultz » Thu Dec 17, 2020 2:40 am

In February 2019 I discovered Alfred Hirsch's "Black Hole Sun" cover. I was immediately hooked. I tried learning the harp years ago, both standard diatonic and chromatic but didn't get far. I've been playing (almost) every day since.

I play a Seydel Solist Pro, diminished tuned, half valved. I've been pretty happy with it. The valves are Seydel's "PT Gazelle" valves. They are OK, they occasionally stick and sometimes slow the blow/draw switch responsiveness. I'm not crazy about the performance/sound of the lowest three notes (12-hole). I can bend all 12 draws, but the highest 2 tend to "snap" into the bend, I can't do a "curved", slow bend, they just pop into the lower position which unfortunately is a bit flat.

I thought I might get another dimi someday shifted by a semi-tone to give me more options for playing a certain song and getting the expressive draw bends in the right place. Mine is in "C-dimi" like the Lucky 13, I believe, so no advantage there.

The Seydel reeds are stainless steel. They are difficult to gap, hard to change the shape/position. I wonder if the stiffness of the steel contributes to the problems with bending the 2 high notes. Perhaps the L13 with phospor-bronze reeds is easier to gap? Easier to bend the high notes?

I like the gasket valve system as well. Ideally all 13 reeds on the bottom plate would be valved, but it's not a big deal if the top few aren't, my Seydel has only 10 of 12 valved.

The tone is important, too. The Seydel has a wood body, but still sounds a little bright to me. Maybe the L13 sounds a bit warmer, darker which I would like. Not sure if the plastic comb makes it brighter?

So I'm wondering if the Lucky 13 would be a good buy for me, or if it's pretty much the same thing, maybe not as good, I think the Seydel was $140 USD including the dimi-tuning fee.

Thanks for any help!
/Daryl

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Brendan
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Re: Lucky 13 in Diminished Tuning - Just Released

Post by Brendan » Thu Dec 17, 2020 8:26 am

Of course I would say this, but I think you'll like the Lucky 13 version. The bends are easy and it's half-valved all the way. And quite a bit less expensive 🙂

dastultz
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Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2020 2:25 am

Re: Lucky 13 in Diminished Tuning - Just Released

Post by dastultz » Sat Dec 19, 2020 3:00 pm

I sent an email to the enquiries address the other day, haven't heard back:

I'm interested in a Lucky 13 harp in diminished tuning with gasket valve system. I don't see diminished as an option for tuning for the gasket system. How do I get that? Brendan said in the forum that there is a gasket with valves on all 13 holes, but I don't see how to order it.

Thanks!
/Daryl

EdvinW
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Re: Lucky 13 in Diminished Tuning - Just Released

Post by EdvinW » Sat Dec 19, 2020 11:17 pm

dastultz wrote:
Sat Dec 19, 2020 3:00 pm
I sent an email to the enquiries address the other day, haven't heard back:

I'm interested in a Lucky 13 harp in diminished tuning with gasket valve system. I don't see diminished as an option for tuning for the gasket system. How do I get that? Brendan said in the forum that there is a gasket with valves on all 13 holes, but I don't see how to order it.

Thanks!
/Daryl
You could most likely order the gasket valves for PowerChromatic tuning. The various models of gasket valves are different because the tunings differ in which holes have bendable draw notes, and which holes have bendable blow notes. In the Diminished, as well as the PowerChromatic, all draw notes can be bent, so you want all the valves on the inside in either model.

There should probably be an option in the drop down list of for Diminished tuning(they likely just haven't had time to add it) , but it choosing it should give you the same product as you get if you choose PowerChromatic.
Last edited by EdvinW on Sun Dec 20, 2020 12:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Edvin Wedin

dastultz
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Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2020 2:25 am

Re: Lucky 13 in Diminished Tuning - Just Released

Post by dastultz » Sun Dec 20, 2020 3:42 am

Great, thanks!

dastultz
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2020 2:25 am

Re: Lucky 13 in Diminished Tuning - Just Released

Post by dastultz » Sun Dec 20, 2020 3:21 pm

For those following, I heard back from David, he says the L13 diminished comes with valves on all 13 bottom reeds.

/Daryl

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