Re: Lucky 13 in Diminished Tuning - Just Released
Posted: 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
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