New Seydel Nonslider Chromatic Harmonica

[Paulc]

I do like the look of this harmonica. I like the big curved mouthpiece - better than the kind of mouthpiece I have seen on the Tombos. I wonder if Seydel have their configurator available for the reedplates for this model - to meet the needs of alternate tuners and flat-sliders .

It’s still a trial so it isn’t on their configuration system yet.

[Edvin]

It’s still a trial so it isn’t on their configuration system yet.

DeLux Steel reedplates can be bought through their configurator, and they appear to be the same.

[Corinto]

Received email yesterday evening; really like this idea: no valves and no slide.
Will try, my birthday is next october, have to add it to my wish-list, 

[Wendellfiddler]

It needs Bebopped. Right Gary?

It needs a button!

Yes, I love my buttons.  I don't like having to clean my slides all of the time, but it's worth it when you use the button effictively.  I would miss the glissando effect of the button and the love of a mechanical tool!
 doug t

[Otter]

I note that the Technical Data states:

"solo tuning in C: the 12x2 channels ..."

I believe this means that the Nonslider has 2 reeds per channel, as with a valved chromatic, which allows the playing of the bends and overblows (if you develop those skills) of a diatonic, as the Nonslider is valveless. It appears to rely on the elimination of the slider to create the desired airtightness.  Chromatics like the Easttop valveless Forerunner use 1 compartment for each reed and thus do not have all the diatonic bends and overblows avialble to them. Is my understanding correct?

I have the Kmise 1040 that's identical to the Easttop, and the separate chambers don't prevent dual-reed bends - they're available everywhere you'd expect. I suppose they're still sufficiently coupled via your mouth cavity. Overblows I'm not sure about - it's a technique I haven't learned.

[Joe Phillips]

I just opened the announcement in my email and rushed here to see what was being discussed.  The first thing I thought of was hands-free playing in a holder (a 50+ years ago experience for me). The valveless, bendable part is an unexpected plus. I'm aware of other slideless chromes, but I always admire  ingenuity and innovation in musical instrument design, especially in harmonicas. I'd enjoy reading about the experiences of those who've got one. This will suit many players, I'll guess. That said, it's probably not for me.

[Keith]

Having now had listened to it being played a couple of times, I can now see where it is aimed - fair & square at bending, & as such, yeah it will probably do well.

[SlideMeister]

<snip> . . . yeah it might will do okay  .

I spoze it might, but it's certainly nothing that gets me too excited.

[Willis]

  I think it's a great idea for playing hands free in a neck rack. I really want to find a chromatic that works for me while playing guitar.  I've tried the Thombos which just didn't work for me.  I use a Eastop Forerunner no valves in a neck rack now and it works for all songs I play in the key of C and a few in the key of G.  I play a lot of songs in the key of G and if I can use that F# note in the melody that alone would be very helpful.  I'm hoping it would make the key of F on the C harp more friendly also.

  Thanks Laina for the link.  The Nonslider sounds a little weak in the video presentation but it could be my computer sound.  I put in an order for the Nonslider today.  I'll report back with my findings.  I can tell you now I will already miss the button.  I'm hoping the Nonslider will work well for use in a neck rack and playing along with the guitar or ukulele in different keys?

[Willis]

  Well...Does anyone know how I could save shipping and handling fees from Germany as I live in California USA?  Is there any place to purchase the Nonslider in USA?

Thank you

[robertpcoble]

I'm in North Carolina. I ordered one directly from Seydel on their English part of their web site; the S&H fee was $8.53. I can't imagine that there would be any difference in S&H for California, but I could be wrong. $8.53 S&H seems rather reasonable to me.

Rupert Oysler, the USA Seydel rep, is in Asheville NC. Maybe it's a different (less?) S&H value if the order is transhipped through Seydel USA instead of directly from Germany?!?

In any event, you do NOT have to pay the European Union VAT (Value-Added Tax). (I can't for the life of me figure out what "value" is "added" to any product by a tax.)

HTH,
Crazy Bob

[frankyb]

snip

In any event, you do NOT have to pay the European Union VAT (Value-Added Tax). (I can't for the life of me figure out what "value" is "added" to any product by a tax.)

HTH,
Crazy Bob

Good point! The value is added to the coffers of the government. 

[Willis]

  Thanks robertpcoble you saved me $100.00 S&H. 

[Keith]

I've decided to jump too, my birthday is coming up soon, so that's my excuse...

Actually, I've been thinking about its advantages, & that ability to play it like a big solo tuned diatonic with bending has really intrigued me, I'm not much good on the little 10 holers, so this might just get me into doing it with more comfort.

(Priced at £160 over here in the UK, should anyone be interested.)

[Edvin]

It appears the first batch sold out pretty quickly, but they're taking orders for a new one to be delivered late July.

I'm playing it cool for now, hoping I can buy it custom tuned in the near future, or at least without the solo-tuned plates. I've thought about a handsfree chromatic for some time, but I'm gravitating more and more towards this solution!

[robertpcoble]

The following note is on the Seydel web site on the "details" page for the NonSlider Chromatic:

We are overwhelmed by the great interest for our NONSLIDER Chromatic project study. The first edition was sold out within hours. You can still order and reserve it. All new orders will be delivered at the end of July from your local SEYDEL SALES partner or from the factory directly.

We are happy to inform you as soon as the instrument is back in stock. Please let us know your interest by email to info@seydel1847.com.

Hmmm. . . the first batch was sold out within hours. I must not be the only harmonica enthusiast attracted to the idea of NO SLIDER and NO WINDSAVERS!

Caveat emptor!

No offense intended toward anyone in what follows. However. . .

I get the attachment to familiar things. We spend an enormous amount of effort and time learning how to make music on whatever we can get at the time. Nobody wants to throw all that effort and time away and start over. Nobody wants to throw away all of the instructional materials and beautiful performances either.

I am reminded (regarding the slide chromatic AND the diabolic harmonica) of that old Russian proverb:

"The marvel is not that the bear dances well, but that the bear dances at all."

There are a few of us who are willing to look for something DIFFERENT (which does NOT always turn out to be something BETTER) that will enable us to play as we want to play without as much effort. My foray into alternate tunings on diabolics was driven by that desire. I didn't like the fact that the lower octave was "missing" 2 notes and the upper octave was "missing" one note, with only the middle octave having all 7 notes in the diabolic scale. Additionally, I didn't like the fact that there were only TWO real chords (triads) on it - the tonic chord (all the way across the 10 blow holes) and the 5th chord (only in one place on the draw holes).

While studying Steve Baker's Harp Handbook, I found the discussion of alternate tunings, including the Spiral (Seydel's Zirkular or Circular) Tuning. SERENDIPITY!, as the Geico gecko says. NO missing notes (but only a 2.5 octave range) AND real chords starting on every scale degree AND (as a result of having all the notes) modal scales as well, especially Mixolydian and Aeolian (natural minor).

Why were (and still are) those things important to ME?

Because the genres of music I like (bluegrass, country, folk, gospel) are so much easier to play using this alternate tuning.  I don't have to work my tush off trying to figure out bending and overbending (although I did learn how to do that prior to finding the Spiral Tuning explanation and Seydel's Harp Configurator).

For those who like their "standard" chromatic designs with slides and windsavers, you can keep your "standard" chromatics with the associated problems. I am reasonably confident that this NonSlider Chromatic will NOT overcome the inertia of the harmonica world and cause the Slide chromatics to disappear.

Crazy Bob

[SlideMeister]

Wow!  I guess I muss be really old, cuz I'm actually pretty comfortable as a "stick in the mud"
Harumph
Pull my finger and all that.
Old Age

[brorat]

When I was in college studying engineering, I used a slide rule for complicated computations. It took a long time to become proficient with the slide rule. However, when digital calculators became available I didn’t hesitate to make the switch. I still have two slide rules, and I still know how to use them. However, they’re mostly to amaze my grandkids as to how ancient I am.
If slideless, valveless chroms prove feasible and effective, I’ll have no issue making the switch. The old way doesn’t always remain the best way.

[beads]

It's $75 less than the Deluxe Steel on which it appears to be based. If harp players can make the same music for less money it just may be a success. Replacing a button push with a swivel might not be too much of a learning curve. 

[Laina]

I'm not surprised the initial, limited batch sold out within hours as it was well promoted throughout the HUK Chromatic Celebration weekend. I think it's great to see another innovation from Seydel and it offers another option for neck rack players.   I'm looking forward to hearing how those who've taken the plunge find the new mouthpiece layout.

[frankyb]

I think Seydel may have 'created' a new market by offering a very high quality (steel reeds and Seydel quality) valveless/no slider chromatic.  Assuming, chromatic players can get use to the double mouthpiece I think they have a permanent winner and not just with those who want to play hands-free.  Looking forward to getting mine (ordered it last Friday) around the end of July.

[wolfman]

 Would like to hear about it when you get it frankyb.

  Stay safe and keep on harpin'
   Roman

[frankyb]

Would like to hear about it when you get it frankyb.

  Stay safe and keep on harpin'
   Roman

Will do.

[Bernie9]

I am mildly curious, as I get along well with my Tombo S-50, as far as the double mouthpiece is concerned. The thin tone takes it out of the majors for me because I have many more expensive harms to compare it with.  I am sure the Seydel has the same great quality as their others, but at 8 times the price, I will wait and see,

[Bernie9]

I just had one thought concerning the S50, and that is I am forced to play cleaner, as this ain't no chord harmonica.  I realize the pros would think I could play as clean using tongue blocking and the like, but I probably wouldn't,  This might be another reason to look at the Seydel, or, maybe it is gear lust rearing it's ugly head.  At my age, I don't much care.

[robertpcoble]

Just got notified by Seydel that the NonSlider chromatic has been shipped! Eagerly looking forward to trying it out!

Crazy Bob

[frankyb]

Just got notified by Seydel that the NonSlider chromatic has been shipped! Eagerly looking forward to trying it out!

Crazy Bob

Great!  Looking forward to your thoughts on it. I ordered mine on Friday and paid for it, but I was too late and I am not scheduled to receive it until around the end of July.

[robertpcoble]

The NonSlider Chromatic came today - 14 days exactly from placing the order until receiving delivery.

The form appears to be a duplicate of the regular Seydel Chromatic Deluxe model. (Like "brother" John B., I have a special one with Spiral Tuning instead of the usual Solo Tuning.) The covers appear to be identical except for the name change.

The comb is the same size as the Chromatic Deluxe, and is translucent (almost transparent). I think the reed plates are interchangeable with the standard Deluxe with slide (they appear to be the same length/width/thickness, but I haven't tried interchanging them). The "upper" chamber has two reeds and the "lower" chamber has two reeds - standard stuff. The chambers appear to be machined so that the length AND depth varies as the notes get progressively higher in pitch; the first 6 (lower pitch) holes appear to have identical depth and then get thinner as the pitch increases.

First impression while playing: not difficult to move across the mouthpiece, picking out the notes. The tilting motion is fairly small. That should make it fairly easy to play in a rack (which I do not do).

Crazy Bob

[frankyb]

The NonSlider Chromatic came today - 14 days exactly from placing the order until receiving delivery.
snip
First impression while playing: not difficult to move across the mouthpiece, picking out the notes. The tilting motion is fairly small. That should make it fairly easy to play in a rack (which I do not do).

Crazy Bob

Thanks for the update. The fact that you find it not difficult to move across the mouthpiece gives me hope that I made the right decision to purchase it.

[frankyb]

Robert, would love your initial thoughts on how airtight it is and its volume.