Newbie here. Been playing not quite 2 years. I searched the forum archive to see if there were any recent discussions about the Bushman Delta Frost, and the most recent I saw was from April. So, I thought I'd just go ahead and start a new thread to see if there was any updated info. Sorry if this topic has been played out.
Anyway, I've been trying different brands of harps, and I tried a Delta Frost in C and really liked it (ordered it from Coast2Coast). I liked it so much, I decided to order a few more keys (G, A, Bb). I went back to C2C, and saw that they only carried them in C. So, I went to the Bushman website and ordered the 3 harps direct. That was about a month ago.
Since I placed my order, I have read some reviews that mentioned slow service, non-responsiveness, etc. Should I be worried, or will I eventually get my DFs? I'm not in any huge hurry; I've got plenty of harps to keep me busy. I just don't want to get ripped off.
Delta Frosts are sweet harmonicas. I have them as my backups, as they are very hardy and very nice harps. I used them almost exclusively until I could customize my own Marine Bands and got more of what I was looking for.
About ordering directly from Bushman - Well... I might not suggest it. They have a great customer service policy, as long as you don't mind waiting patiently. There have been many frustrations on ordering directly through them. I think Bushman is usually at the mercy of their suppliers and have no real way to speed up what gets to you - especially if they won't get the parts for some time.
Sam Ash is selling Delta Frosts now. You can walk into the store and buy one. I would suggest that over ordering directly from Bushman. Now if you are looking for keys other than A C D G then Bushman might have something to you right away. I have been to the Bushman Music works, and bought some directly. They also didn't have all of the keys I wanted there, so I waited SOME time before they arrived. I still never got my G - instead I got a 2nd low F. Instead of bitching I went ahead and kept the low F instead of going through another wait. My time is just not worth it.
man im glad you mentioned slow service there running a sale of delta frost on the website for 25$ a harp free shipping,i thought that was a good deal but ive heard they were slow,there no way im ordering now im glad you mentioned it,Ill order from musicians friend they have it at my doorsteps in 2 days.5$ more a harp but free shipping ill pay the extra and not have to wait. ---------- Hobostubs
I just found this @ the bushman website, It is a posting in the Bushman harmonica forum written by John Hall and dated September 7th 2010:
"We've sat back quietly and patiently while we let two big dealers attempt to supply Delta Frosts to the harmonica playing public. We just can't leave the sales-shipping-servicing of our harmonicas to anyone else. The dealers don't pay timely, and they don't have knowledgeable personnel available to help our customers get what they need. So we are cutting out the fat, and we're putting our prices low. Delta Frosts are now $25, free shipping! It doesn't matter how many you buy. It doesn't matter how famous you are. Nothing matters except this: You're buying what I consider to be the best out-of-the-box harmonica for under $30 in the world! Period. We've just received a large shipment, we are shipping all existing orders now. We'll be completely caught up and ready to ship your orders. We will not charge any credit cards prior to shipping as competitors have alleged. Tell anyone you know who might be interested in getting a good harmonica - The Delta Frost is only $25 and it's free shipping. To order, click here or call 812-988-8200 from 10am - 5pm eastern time".
Yep, Rockin Rons is the place to go if you want two@ $26 each. You need to place the order by phone or e-mail IIRC though but I've read a lot of good things about Delta Frost harps.
I've ordered directly from Bushman and it was slow. Ordered 4 harps, waited about 4 weeks received 3. Waited another couple of weeks to receive the 4th. My order was also free shipping and got charged $12 for shipping. I called and they removed the shipping charge from my card. They do not charge credit cards until items are shipped. I will order from Rockin'Rons the next time I order harps. DF are the best out of box harps I've tried. I like Suzuki Bluesmasters also. For what ever reason, when calling Bushman about an order or problem with an order, Randy not John is the one that gets things done. At least that has been my experience.
Last Edited by on Sep 21, 2010 1:19 PM
I personally would order from Rockin Ron's everytime I want to buy something online - Delta frosts included. I usually save my money for harps as cash I set aside until I have enough to buy something I might want. Then I want to walk in and put my grubby hands on it. Plus the wife need not be involved in another harp purchase - for her, one more harp is one more incident of my grief.
I placed an order on 09/13/2010 for a Delta Frost in A from Bushman after reading John Hall's message on his forum. I received an order confirmation on 09/14/2010. I have not yet received a notification stating the harmonica has shipped, nor have I received the harmonica.
Yep, Delta's are somtimes slow in arriving. But they play really nice. I've got a few and love 'em. Sounds like Rockin' Ron might be the way to go, if he has them in stock. ---------- I used to be young and foolish. Now I'm not so young.
Rockin' Rons got me the harps I've ordered from CA. to TN. in two days. Order on Tuesday, got em' on Thursday, awesome service. Great place to buy harps, prices are great too.
Love Delta Frosts. But I wonder, what is the real difference in the Suzuki Harp master MR200, the Suzuki bluesmaster MR250, and the Delta Frost, the reed plates are the same on all three and are interchangable., whats going on???? All three play good out of the box.
I just orderes 3 sets of Delta Frost reeds from Rocin' Ron. I'm gonna repurpose an old A Delta Frost and 2 Suzuki's. I have put Suzuki Promaster reeds in my Delta Frost. Now I'm doing the opposite.
It was a money based desicion. I needed an Ed, Dd, and B, so I found 3 dead harps and ordered reeds for about $17 a set. It will do the job I want.
I like the fact tha you can order reed sets. You use to be able to order a single reed plate, BUT I also experienced a LONG back order from Bushman direct. ---------- intermediate level (+) player per the Adam Gussow Scale, Started playing 2001
@ WestVirginiaTom Where abouts are you? I have an event this Saturday and Sunday, here in Huntington, WV. We could find a place for you, and you could even pick up a few bucks.
---------- intermediate level (+) player per the Adam Gussow Scale, Started playing 2001
Suzuki makes Delta Frosts. The comb and cover plates from the Harpmaster with the reed plates from the Bluesmaster is what makes a Delta Frost. You'll notice the reeds are spot welded on all 3 of them.
I noticed that the BluesMaster by Suzuki and the Delta Frost by Bushman both have the PB reeds but the covers on the Delta Frost look like the ones on my HarpMaster. Guess the Delta Frost is kind of a hybrid between the HarpMaster and BluesMaster. I wonder if Bushman has sub-contracted with Suzuki to make the reed plates and reeds for em'?
"The bendable laser tuned brass reeds produce the clarity and rich, mellow tones you would expect from much more expensive harmonicas." Suzuki says the HarpMaster is Brass.
Last Edited by on Sep 21, 2010 3:57 PM
I ordered a Bushman Delta Frost from www.rockinronsmusic4less.com and got it in 2 days and I live about 1700 miles from Rockin' Ron's. I will be a repeat customer.
Couldn't agree more Brendan. The Harpmaster is a fabulous instrument & very responsive, but most of all the tone is so good. It has to be one of my favourite harps and very reasonable.
Here is a clip of the late, great Igor Flach using a Harpmaster on his arrangement of 'Let it be'
So if I understand what I just read..... Once the Harpmaster has phosphor bronze reeds, it's a Delta-Frost ---------- intermediate level (+) player per the Adam Gussow Scale, Started playing 2001
John Hall Of Bushman Music claims to have designed the Delta Frost.
Is this true,....is Suzuki using John Halls design partially (bluesmaster reedplates comb....harpmaster covers)and fully with the Harpmaster or did he simply mix and match stock Suzuki parts to "create' the Delta Frost?
My bet would be mixed parts to "create" the Delta Frost. And a nice little story about an obscure old German harmonica factory to build them. The power of advertising. LOL
The story of the obscure German factory could be true, if he was talking about the Souls Voice, his first harmonca, and Seydel, that is reported to make it. ---------- intermediate level (+) player per the Adam Gussow Scale, Started playing 2001
Per John Hall, "We will not charge any credit cards prior to shipping as competitors have alleged."
This is not entirely true. My credit card was charged on 09/14/2010. My order had not been shipped. I called Bushman today. I was told that Delta Frost orders would be shipping on Monday, 10/04.
If you want a Delta Frost, buy a Suzuki Bluesmaster or Harpmaster and avoid all the bullshit of dealing with that LIAR!
Last Edited by on Sep 30, 2010 5:18 PM
You placed an order with Bushman, and your credit card was charged on 9/14. Was it shipped on 10/04 as promised?? You should have received it by now.
@WestVirginiaTom
We haven't heard from you. And I was just wondering.... Did you eventually get your order from Bushman, placed sometime in August I believe. When was your credit card charged??
Last Edited by on Oct 08, 2010 6:12 AM
am i wrong in remembering that the delta frost was the first harp on the market with the phosphor bronze reeds, and then the suzuki's followed shortly after?
I'm wondering if anyone getting the DF since the price was lowered has noticed if the reeds have rivets or spotwelds. I've seen replacement plates that have rivets. That indicates to me they're Chinese made, instead of OEM Suzuki/Japan, which are fused. I'm not China-bashing, just observing.
The DF is or was (see above post) merely a rebranded Suzuki product. If they were "first" at anything, it would probably be first to advertise the phosphur bronze as something special, rather than first to use it. Hohner went from yellow to a reddish brass in diatonics in '99, after using it before that in chromatics. Wonder if that red cast comes from phosphorus....
From what I understand on the DF's, John Hall designed the instrument and had Suzuki manufacture it to his specs, but they came out a couple of years later with the Harpmaster and so John terminated his relationship because of that, as I understand it, and now has another company making them, and I'll bet the lower prices means that it is now being manufactured in China.
Suzuki is the only company that spot welds their reeds and everyone else uses rivets. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
@Jaybird & Bob - I haven't received my order, yet. I called on 10/05. The guy who answered the phone said he would have the owner call me. I've also left voicemail message on 10/06 and 10/07. I haven't received a return phone call.
I'm going to call back on Monday. I'll update the thread when there is more to tell or if the harp arrives today or Saturday.
right bob, that is what i remember, and that means it is not really fair to bag on bushman delta frosts for simply being re-branded suzukis, assuming that is true. I do not remember if it was the first harp to advertise phosphor bronze reeds and a few months later, suzuki started advertising the same thing.
Close your eyes and I'll tell you a bedtime story. Maybe its true, maybe its a fairy tale - who knows?
Once upon a time there was a Giant Harmonica Factory in a far off land. It had struck a deal with a Big Harmonica Company in a neighbouring country to make its non-magical harmonicas. Those harmonicas were cheap and nasty. Lots of people thought they were junk.
One day the Big Harmonica Company showed the Giant Harmonica Factory a new magic harmonica. The Giant Harmonica Factory said it could build it for the Big Harmonica Company.
The Big Harmonica Company did not want people to know it made its magic harmonica in the other country. The two countries had a long and troubled history between them. The people did not really get on well. Also the magic harmonica was going to be a good quality one - the Big Harmonica Company did not want people to think it was junk because it was made in the Giant Harmonica Factory. Secretly it had the parts shipped back its own country and assembled in its factory there.
One day a gentleman from a Small Harmonica Workshop in a land far away came to the Giant Harmonica Factory looking for parts. He wanted to ship them to his country, assemble them there and then claim his magic harmonicas were built in his very proud, patriotic nation - just like the Big Harmonica Company did.
The Giant Harmonica Factory showed him the parts of the magic harmonica it made for the Big Harmonica Company.
Late at night, when they had finished making parts for the Big Harmonica Company, they started to use the same machines to make parts for the Small Harmonica Workshop.
Everything was fine for a while. People loved the Small Harmonica Workshop's magic harmonicas and they sold lots and lots. The Big Harmonica Company started to notice.
Then one day someone noticed that the magic harmonicas made by the Big Harmonica Company were really the same as the ones made by the Small Harmonica Company.
Neither harmonica company wanted anyone to know that they were made in the land of the Giant Harmonica Factory, so they did not make a big fuss, but the Big Harmonica Company had a wicked plan; it told the Giant Harmonica Factory it needed more parts.
The Giant Harmonica Factory had to work day and night to make the parts that the Big Harmonica Company wanted. That meant the Giant Harmonica Factory could not make parts for the Small Harmonica Workshop anymore.
Without parts, the Small Harmonica Workshop could not build magic harmonicas. People who had ordered magic harmonicas had to wait a very long time and got cross. They started to buy the magic harmonicas from the Big Harmonica Company instead.
The Small Harmonica Workshop tried to make new magic harmonicas, but noone liked them. Their magic was not as good as the ones made by the Giant Harmonica Factory.
The gentleman from the Small Harmonica Workshop started to look for another Giant Harmonica Factory who could make parts for a magic harmonica. Some people say that his new magic harmonicas are a little bit different - maybe he has found a new Giant Harmonica Factory?
Maybe everyone will live happily ever after without having to sue anyone or admit their best selling product is made in a country that people think is their enemy and makes bad quality products.
I was given one of the first Delta Frost harmonicas to try out. I liked the responsive play but wasn't sure about the gritty tone, I was playing Suzuki Promasters at the time. The more played it the better I liked it, good volume too. John told me the phospher bronze reeds were his idea, he liked what he heard from the guitar strings. So John commissioned a foundry in Indiana to produce the phospher bronze. What BBQ Bob stated is what I understood as well, Suzuki was contracted to assemble the harps, the reedplates actually came from a different manufacturer. The Delta Frost came out about 6 months later (I know this because I photographed all of Bushmans products) maybe 2 years later Suzuki came out with their version. I understand John is currently using a different company to assemble the harps. BTW: I remember when John invested a considerable amount of time trying to find a way to make the harps here in Indiana, I have some of the wooden and aluminum combed prototypes. He couldn't get it done, the quality control and pricepoint couldn't be met. Check out Harrison, great harps, terrific build quality and design, but not for 29.95! As for delivery problems, I've heard some grumbling as well. Of course I was grumbling for a year and a half before I finally received my first Harrison harp!
Last Edited by on Oct 08, 2010 6:05 PM
Well, John also said that he wouldn't charge people's credit cards until the order shipped. I took him at his word. My credit card was immediately charged. The order didn't ship on that day.
I called last week and I was told all Delta Frost orders would ship on 10/04. I haven't received my order this week. The shipment didn't go out on Monday as promised.
John claimed they had plenty of inventory in stock. The website showed over 4000 units in stock when I placed my order. If that's the truth, why hasn't my order been shipped?
The Harrison problem is a completely different issue. Additionally, I didn't buy a harp from Harrison. I bought one from Bushman. ---------- The Blues Photo Gallery
Last Edited by on Oct 08, 2010 7:28 PM
