clamsharpplayer
70 posts
Mar 13, 2011
9:59 AM
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B-Radical makes Milwaukee Business section of the Sunday paper
http://www.jsonline.com/business/117841268.html
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get off the computer and play some harp
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Matzen
60 posts
Mar 13, 2011
2:37 PM
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Huh... I missed that? Guess I don't normally read the biz section. Thanks for the heads up!
Jimmy Kimmel plays harp?
"I actually think a harmonica for $180 at this level is very doable for everybody," Harrison said. "If your kid wanted to play a guitar, you'll drop $400, $500 easy and for something that's not very good." (but you don't have to purchase a guitar for every key!)
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REM
48 posts
Mar 13, 2011
4:20 PM
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"Harrison is the only harmonica player employed by Harrison Harmonicas? Was there a layoff?"
There are several people employed by Harrison Harmonicas, they're just not harmonica players. Just like the majority of hohner employees aren't harmonicas. Personally I would have thought it would be easier to hire people who are familiar with harmonicas and have experience working on harmonicas. Instead he hired a bunch of lay people and had to speand a large amount of time training them from scratch.
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eharp
1188 posts
Mar 13, 2011
4:48 PM
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i think he has/3 or 4 "harp players" at any one time.
a couple of them even moved to the home base.
dave, from elkriversharmonica, even sold/quit his own harp endeavors to take his family up there as one example.
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Miles Dewar
776 posts
Mar 13, 2011
4:52 PM
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I saw an Ad for the B-Radical about a half a year ago. Where is this place located? I'm about 30 minutes from Milwaukee.
------- Go Chicago Bears!!! ---------
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eharp
1189 posts
Mar 13, 2011
4:55 PM
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guitar city has them at 2-for-1 this past weekend.
all keys, including lows and minors!!
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Miles Dewar
777 posts
Mar 13, 2011
5:01 PM
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It seems to be in Rockford.
Wow! $180.oo for 1 Diatonic Harmonica.
I can get 5 Marine bands for that. It would take 4 hours to close me on that one.
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REM
49 posts
Mar 13, 2011
5:34 PM
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Dave no longer works for Harrison. I was under the impression that Michael Peloquin was working for Harrison still, but after reading this article it seems that might no longer be the case.
EDIT: Last I heard Joe Spiers and Richard Sleigh do some work harrison harmonicas. That makes me a little more confused about Harrison's comment about him being the only harmonica player working for Harrison Harmonicas. Maybe he doesn't consider them HH employees, since they don't work at the "factory", and are just sent harps to help with fine tuning and reed set up (ie. gapping, etc.). Maybe they're considered more like subcontractors.
Last Edited by on Mar 13, 2011 5:43 PM
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
580 posts
Mar 13, 2011
7:23 PM
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Hey guys don't read too much into that story, especially between lines. Take what you know about harmonicas and apply it as you read that story and you will see what I mean. As a former award-winning journalist, im trying to be kind and respect the writer here. Michael is still working with HH in some capacity to the best of my knowledge - I am not.
The "sharp knives" btw are drawscrapers.
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"There are only two things money can't buy - true love and homegrown tomatoes." - Lewis Grizzard
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rbeetsme
389 posts
Mar 13, 2011
8:07 PM
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I didn't know you left Dave, I was going to email you and try to find out if I was going to see any this year. I've been waiting for my last 2 since April 2009, maybe it's time to cancel.
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JBharmonica
7 posts
Mar 13, 2011
8:15 PM
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@rbeetsme...had a friend here in Memphis complain in writing and phone and he got a call from Brad and his Harmonica. Might be time for you to try that route....if not, I would gladly pay out your order to take your place in line.
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JB
http://www.facebook.com/jbharmonica
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mandowhacker
26 posts
Mar 13, 2011
8:18 PM
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I ordered 2 when the website said there was a 4-5 month delivery time. That would place arrival around tax time-----middle of April. Then the delivery time increased to 7-8 months. That would be around August. Now......they don't take orders. I hope they are working on mine. OK, I'll go with the August time line. Then it's too long. I signed up to order a few harmonicas, not finance anyones business payroll.
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Just when I got a paddle, they added more water to the creek.
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Aussiesucker
795 posts
Mar 13, 2011
8:22 PM
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I think it's always a good thing for people to fully support local businesses. But at what cost? Sadly we in Oz have seen manufacturing in almost every field of endeavour move offshore as it is impossible to compete on price. I hope that your local manufacturer receives a lot of support especially if it is such a good product.
I read the article which stated :'Beloit Precision makes the combs, cover plates, ID tags and reed plates. The cover plates are shipped to Artistic Plating in Milwaukee, where they are coated with a nickel plating.' I really cannot believe that nickel could be used as a coating on cover plates especially with the known allergic reactions to nickel that many people have? If this is so then perhaps they should carry a warning!
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clamsharpplayer
71 posts
Mar 14, 2011
5:46 AM
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@ Miles There is an open jam Tues. nites in Milwaukee. Mamie's 34th & National. I've gone 3 times now and it has been a positive. Starts at 8pm I'm usually home by midnight.........show up
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get off the computer and play some harp
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RT123
88 posts
Mar 14, 2011
7:47 AM
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I really dont want to be critical but this article is filled with misinformation.
"Screws instead of rivets are used so the cover plates can be removed to replace reeds. Other harmonicas can't be opened, which means the instrument is often thrown away when something breaks" *** Almost all new harps use screws ***
"People say it's the best tone they've ever played. I think because of the comb design, it introduces a lot more wood, which brings out a rich tone," *** Tone is not affected by the comb *** http://www.patmissin.com/ffaq/q6.html
"I actually think a harmonica for $180 at this level is very doable for everybody," *** Really??? ***
They are nice harmonicas and I am sure they play very well, but so does my Manjis. It seems like Harrison had this idea when the only choices were wood or plastic combs. Wood falls apart, swells, warps. Plastic protrudes from the reedplates and has a different feel. I just dont see how someone is going to buy a full set of 12 keys of these for $2160 when you can get a set of crossovers or Majnjis for a quarter of the price. Just remember people, you are not getting a custom harmonica, you are getting a high quality production model. If you want to spend your money on it, go for it. I always support American companies, but in this case I thnk they really need to make a more affordable product.
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Barry C.
192 posts
Mar 14, 2011
8:06 AM
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wow now david's not working there anymore?!...why am I thinking this business is gonna flop - hopefully not until after i get my damn harmonica - yes i've run out of patience - who hasn't?!
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~Banned in Boston!
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rbeetsme
390 posts
Mar 14, 2011
8:21 AM
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I believe Harrison only offers the B-Rad in 5 keys currently.
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Miles Dewar
779 posts
Mar 14, 2011
8:31 AM
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@Clamsharpplayer,
Thanks! I'm always searching for places that host them. Why is it ALWAYS on Tuesdays? There is one In Gages Lake Illinois that I go to on Tuesday at 8pm at the "Firehouse" pub on Old Gages Lake Rd. I'll have to get out to the one in Milwaukee sometime. I don't come across many harmonica players here in Kenosha.
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---Go Chicago Bears!!!---
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OzarkRich
410 posts
Mar 14, 2011
10:05 AM
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@JBharmonica: "I would gladly pay out your order to take your place in line." I wonder if they're actually shipping based on orders received.
I placed my order in November of 2009. Has anyone received a B-radical who ordered after that date? It would be nice to confirm or dispel my suspicions.
When I first placed my order I made a deposit of $35 and put the balance aside. I've since gotten tired of waiting and have used the money for other things. At this point, if I get notice that it is ready to ship, THEY will have to wait while I save up the money!
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Ozark Rich
__________
##########
Ozark Rich's YouTube
Ozark Rich's Facebook
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Miles Dewar
782 posts
Mar 14, 2011
10:53 AM
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November 2009!!!!!! Doesn't seem like things are in order...Sounds like you wasted $35.oo. Or they stole $35.oo.
These aren't Bears Season Tickets! They are harmonicas.
Pay to wait over a year with NO contact! Ha!
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So if I buy a set of B-Radicals, in 2 years I Might get them..... When one of them breaks, It will take over a year to get it replaced!!!! Maybe that's why hohners are the mainstream. You pay $30.oo and get Your product NOW.
Who cares that it is a magical custom? Over a year AFTER paying roughly 20% and NO contact? Are there ANY businesses that work like that?
Last Edited by on Mar 14, 2011 10:59 AM
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RT123
89 posts
Mar 14, 2011
11:00 AM
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@ OzarkRich
Hang in there a little longer, it will be worth it, Remember, you are getting:
a wood comb
Screws instead of rivets
and its only $180 which is doable for everyone!
What a F'ing joke
Get your $35.00 back and use it towards something from Rockin Ron. You will have it before Friday!
Last Edited by on Mar 14, 2011 11:01 AM
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Sausagescoffer
34 posts
Mar 14, 2011
11:31 AM
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I have to say, I really wanted to order at least one of these harps, but, just couldn't part with my cash knowing I was going to have to wait so long for it to turn up.
With the benefit of hindsight, I am relieved I never placed an order having read some of the comments above! I don't understand where their income stream is coming from since they halted orders being made....how long before the payroll cheques stop arriving and HH falls by the wayside? I find it hard to believe there is a loyal customer base out there that will flood HH with more orders after so little production and so much customer dissatisfaction.
I really hope HH does succeed - I just have a bad feeling....
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rbeetsme
391 posts
Mar 14, 2011
1:57 PM
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I received a notice today stating that the A harps ship out in April, the D harps shortly after. I think they are built a key at a time. The first harps to hit the customers were Bb, I received a C in September. Now the A's are slated to ship. This reminds me of slot machines. Never played one but a friend once told me the lure of the machine is that you keep feeding one with the thinking that it has to hit eventually. You don't want to leave a machine you've been feeding coins all day in case it's time is up. Maybe I can sell futures on upcoming harps!
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eharp
1190 posts
Mar 14, 2011
2:22 PM
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dont you find it a little odd that the next day after you post on this thread and start another somewhere else, you get a notice?
maybe it is the cynic in me.
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Miles Dewar
786 posts
Mar 14, 2011
4:12 PM
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I think you hit it right eharp.
......Next they will start selling Harmonica "Options".
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rbeetsme
392 posts
Mar 14, 2011
4:57 PM
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Or it could be that email I sent them...
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eharp
1192 posts
Mar 14, 2011
5:12 PM
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oh. you didnt mention that, rick.
i find their reply even more dubious now.
i'd sell both spots.
or if you are a gambling man, i'll wager dinner at the bean that the A isnt there by the end of april.
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Rift
43 posts
Mar 14, 2011
5:31 PM
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I agree with RT123, this is crazy. Go to Rockin Ron and get 8 manjis or 6 crossovers for what you paid for your 2 B-Rads. You will have them in a few days and you won't have to chase them down. He runs a business the right way. He will call you before you call him if there is an issue. I didn't order a Harrison but I feel bad for you guys that did. That's just bad customer service. And honestly, do you think you will sound any better playing a Harrison? Probably not. To me it's not worth the aggravation.
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RT123
93 posts
Mar 15, 2011
8:52 AM
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@rift
I would think it over, maybe it is worth the aggrivation.
Remember:
a wood comb
Screws instead of rivets
and its only $180 which is doable for everyone!
(sarcasm)
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rbeetsme
393 posts
Mar 15, 2011
12:44 PM
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Rift, I do have a C, and it's a nice harp. Ergonomics are great, good tone, easy to play, all around well made harp that is also supposed to last many years. But waiting 2 years or longer is nuts. And as I said elsewhere, I usually play out with a full set or at least 5 or 6 keys. Harrison currently only lists 5 keys, so at the rate they are shipping, it might be 5 years before I'd have a set. The Harrison could be a tad more responsive, my customs are a bit easier to play. As for the Manji, never tried them, but I do have a set of 8 custom Promasters that I like, my working set. I ordered the Harrison because I liked the idea of a totally re-engineered harp, built in America. I still like the concept and the finished product, too bad they can't figure out how to efficiently build them.
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mandowhacker
27 posts
Mar 15, 2011
7:51 PM
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OzarkRich "When I first placed my order I made a deposit of $35 and put the balance aside. I've since gotten tired of waiting and have used the money for other things. At this point, if I get notice that it is ready to ship, THEY will have to wait while I save up the money!"
I think you did better than I did. I paid the full $380, up front, for two engraved harps.
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Just when I got a paddle, they added more water to the creek.
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rbeetsme
394 posts
Mar 16, 2011
4:25 AM
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Same here, paid for all 3.
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rbeetsme
396 posts
Mar 16, 2011
12:52 PM
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I just listed some Harrison harps on the for sale thread. JBharmonica, couldn't contact you via your facebook page, you'll have to contact me.
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HarpNinja
1221 posts
Mar 16, 2011
1:06 PM
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How many harps have they sold? I don't understand how you can make the harmonicas and have it take so long...unless the process is really that time consuming.
Unless they've sold thousands, I don't get the delays. I am not complaining, I just literally don't get what slows them down.
I wish them the best and hope they can speed things up soon!
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
Updated 3/14/11
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sammyharp
94 posts
Mar 16, 2011
1:22 PM
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My B-Rad that I recieved shortly before christmas is serial number 000910, so assuming (logically) that they are made in chronological order, I think it's safe to say they have thousands of orders to fill. They did get huge advertising boosts from their features on TV and stuff. I Honestly don't think theyre making them slowly, just a TON of back orders.
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eharp
1196 posts
Mar 16, 2011
1:46 PM
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how long did it take you to get your's, sammy?
rick- what number and how long?
i didnt know they came with serial numbers! if they didnt put the 3 extra 0's on the serial number, i wonder how many more they could have cranked out.
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rbeetsme
399 posts
Mar 16, 2011
1:50 PM
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000686 received 9/2010
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LSB
20 posts
Mar 16, 2011
1:50 PM
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I'm with Mike, I really hope to see the company succeed, however the production backlog and delays seem out of line and could easily kill the company before it gets going. As a former professional woodwind maker, I am very familiar with small scale production of the sort required to get this kind of work done, and something does seem to be very out of wack for them to be this far behind. It was a good call to stop taking orders in an effort to reduce the backlog, just should have happened much sooner, imo.
Also, it is usually a very bad sign when high quality skilled employees who have relocated to work with a company leave within their first year.
I think the most important mistakes they are making is in the communications dept., if there are going to be delays you have to deal with that by letting people know why, and also when the issues are expected to be resolved. You also can't post something on your FB page saying "ETA's Coming in the next week or two! and then completely blow it off. That stuff REALLY pisses customers off.
I am rooting for HH, I just hope they learn what they need to before it's too late for the business.
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sammyharp
95 posts
Mar 16, 2011
1:53 PM
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I ordered it in June 2009, got it in December 2010.
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mandowhacker
29 posts
Mar 16, 2011
5:37 PM
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"Per our previous update, we are excited to give each of you an accurate ETA of your B-rads in our next update."
That's the last "update" I have recieved from Harrison Harmonicas.
It was sent 1/18/11.
My excitement of an accurate ETA is dwindling.
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Just when I got a paddle, they added more water to the creek.
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robbert
29 posts
Mar 16, 2011
8:30 PM
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I agree, it's no fun to be waiting for so long for a highly acclaimed product, especially after you've paid.
I pre-ordered when Harrison first introduced the idea of the B-radical. I waited a loooooooooong time to receive the two that I have, but remained in frequent e-mail contact. They always responded to my emails.
In spite of the long wait, I greatly appreciate the quality of this instrument, and love playing them. They are sleek, indestructible, very responsive, loud, and overblow well (My C better than the A)So long as you can tolerate the wait, it's well worth it, imo.
That being said, there are lots of developments in stock harps, as well as lots of customizers doing great things with the instrument, all obtainable within a reasonable time period, I believe.
I am in line to get all five b-radical keys offered by Harrison. I know it'll take a while, but since I know what I'm getting, I can wait. They are worth it.
Just wanted to offer some encouragement to those who are waiting, haven't tried one yet, and who are feeling burned.
In the meantime, I am repairing and replacing harps when I need to and otherwise very slowly building my arsenal, and all on a budget.
I still want to try other brands, and a few more customs...and will do so, as I can.
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Miles Dewar
791 posts
Mar 18, 2011
5:02 PM
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Indestructable? The fact they use harmonica reeds makes it quite destructable. No matter what Anyone tells you.
If Harrison has invented a metal that is indestructable, he needs to call NASA. Not make harmonicas.
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---Go Chicago Bears!!!---
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mandowhacker
33 posts
Mar 18, 2011
5:20 PM
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rbeetsme------
do I understand that you canceled your order for the not-as-of-yet shipped harps??
I could cancel my order and get a few from other sources within a few weeks. Like I have said, the objective of my order was to get a few nice harps in hand, not bankroll someones business.
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Just when I got a paddle, they added more water to the creek.
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rbeetsme
407 posts
Mar 18, 2011
5:26 PM
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Yes, I thought I'd help someone out, shorter wait, but no response, so I asked Brad for a refund.
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robbert
30 posts
Mar 18, 2011
5:32 PM
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O.K. I exaggerated. They seem pretty durable, though.
On another note,I am finding as I proceed along my harp selection journey, that I may prefer a good quality stock harp for some accompaniment playing when it comes to chording, jugging, etc. I tend to put more air pressure through the harp when doing this, especially when it's at faster tempos, and the B-radicals, which react to very little air pressure, can stall on me if I am not really careful.
It's quite an education I am finding, building a collection of the right harps for my playing needs, which varies according to the band I am playing with. As with most of us, I do a lot of accompaniment as well as soloing, so different harps for different strokes, I guess.
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mandowhacker
34 posts
Mar 18, 2011
6:10 PM
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rb---
That's great to know.
I'll get in touch with them....I have an A and a G paid for. If the A's are truly shipping (very soon) I would take one and might be interested in a key that could ship now.
Otherwise, a refund would be great. I just want a few good harps, nothing more.
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Just when I got a paddle, they added more water to the creek.
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eharp
1205 posts
Mar 18, 2011
7:44 PM
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ricks A harp was to be shipped in april.
robbert already has his A.
how does this happen?
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Kingley
1462 posts
Mar 19, 2011
12:21 AM
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This is a ridiculous state of affairs. I would never do business with this character. I feel sorry for all you guys still waiting for these harmonicas. If I were you, I'd be demanding a total refund and going elsewhere.
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rbeetsme
408 posts
Mar 19, 2011
9:09 AM
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On a positive note, it's a great harp, if the serial number is any indication, Brad sold a lot of them! I think he was overwhelmed. I just lost interest. I have other harps I like.
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BigBlindRay
101 posts
Mar 19, 2011
4:13 PM
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People used to wait two years for a Filisko harp. Such a turnaround time frame was Considered to be normal. Im prepared to wait and buy other harps in the meantime!
Big Blind Ray's YouTube Channel
Mavis and her China Pigs
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