Seydel 1847 Classic vs 1847 Silver

Seydel produces a number of harmonicas within its 1847 range, of which the Classic and Silver are two of the most popular models. Let's look at their differences and determine which is most suitable for your needs.

Both harps use fundamentally the same architecture – a traditional ‘sandwich' design, with the cover plates being folded towards the ends of the harmonica. The reed plates themselves are German silver – a nickel, copper and zinc alloy that, confusingly, doesn't contain the element, silver – and the reeds themselves are stainless steel. All parts from the 1847 range are interchangeable, and the reed plates are identical.

The main differentiator between the two harmonicas is the comb. On the Classic, it is a traditional wood affair, being lacquered maple, while the Silver utilises plastic. As they share a common architecture, the Silver doesn't have recessed reed plates like some other plastic combed harps.

From a tone point of view, the comb makes a small difference. The Classic is slightly warmer sounding than the Silver, but the latter fights back with slightly easier bends, due to marginally better airtightness (as ABS combs can generally be made more perfectly flat than wood ones).

One other area where the two harps differ is in availability of keys. The Classic, like the 1847 Noble, is available with the larger Bold cover plates, which enables the fitment of very low tunings. The Silver doesn't off this option, so the tunings only extend as low as Low C.

The Classic will suit players seeking a traditional sound and feel, and also those who wish to utilise the extra range of very low tunings. The Silver will be more appropriate for players who want a modern harp that is extremely durable but still sounds great.

	vs
Harmonica Name	Seydel 1847 Classic Harmonica	Seydel 1847 Silver Harmonica
Harmonica Type	Diatonic Harmonica	Diatonic Harmonica
Number of Holes	10	10
Comb Material	Wood	Plastic
Number of Reeds	20	20
Spare Reeds Available?	Yes	Yes
Tuning	Richter	Richter
Valved?	No	No
Musical Styles	Blues, Rock, Pop, Folk	Blues, Rock, Pop, Folk
Available Keys	A, B Flat, D, Low F, G, C, F, E, B, E Flat, G High, F Sharp, D Flat, A Flat, Low E, Low D, Low F Sharp, Low E Flat, Low D Flat, Low C, Low B Flat, Low Low F, A High, A Flat High, Low B, Low Low F Sharp, Low Low E, Low A Flat, B Flat High, Low G, Low A	A, B Flat, D, Low F, G, C, F, E, B, E Flat, D Flat, A Flat, Low E, Low D, Low F Sharp, Low E Flat, Low D Flat, Low C
Price from	£59.99	£62.99
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