Bottom line: I went through some tough times from 2006 through 2011, but people can go through valleys and difficult times, and they can come back. Bushman has done that, and I will see to it that we continue to improve. Over the last week, every day has been a huge shipping day, we have filled and shipped almost every order we have. The only ones remaining are the few we have that require us talking to the customer before we ship it, and we're waiting on customers to call us or email us back. The guy named Brent Clarke from Australia who's been documenting his wait - his order shipped and we emailed him his tracking number 1-7-13. We still have times like that where we can face delays due to holiday factory closings or whatever, but we've come along way, and most of our orders ship promptly.
Sarge, you've been a loyal friend to Bushman through thick and thin - I love you, and I mean it! Old Hickory - well said, thanks for the kindness! Thank you WestVirginiaTom for your post and wishes for us, your order went out yesterday.
To Jim who posted that the Delta Frost is exactly the same as a Harpmaster - not entirely true! Though it's true that recently Suzuki began using phosphor bronze reeds in their Harpmaster, isn't the Delta Frost a different instrument for this one reason - let's see you call the owner of Suzuki 24/7 and to get a problem solved! The Delta Frost is a Bushman! Backed by me. I can be reached 24/7. Nobody gives better after-the-sale service than Bushman - try me! I'm the original designer of the Delta Frost. I think it's more fun dealing with the inventor and designer of a product. My replacement reed plates with phosphor bronze reeds come mounted on the comb for $18.50 - does Harpmaster do that? In a post above, it says something about our reed plates coming on the combs "sometimes", we just mean they always come mounted on the comb until further notice. We may not be able to do that forever, but we would certainly let customers know before we just ship them reed plates without combs. And right now, the key of B doesn't come on the comb, and we tell folks that when they order. Players should be diving all over our reed plate deal - that's the best deal I've seen in years! Price our competitors' reed plates! No Jim, the Delta Frost is not a Harpmaster - me and our reed plate deal separate the two.
Joe, keep your blog, I wouldn't want to take away any relevance or meaning or purpose in life it may be bringing you. I'm sure people on here are imagining what it would be like to be me, and have someone like you with a whole blog dedicated to bashing them. Most folks can appreciate the pain that would cause them. And no matter how much they strive to better themselves, they can't escape the blog - it's always there. And legally there's not much I can do about it. But I can extend an olive branch of peace, and give you two, full weekend tickets to my Bean Blossom Blues Fest or my new Delta Frost Blues Fest. These events are gatherings of some amazing harmonica players, many of which are on this forum. I think that once we meet you'll feel differently about me.
OK, I'm all typed out, I have to get back to work! Adam, thanks for letting me join the fun.
John Hall Bushman Music Works Bloomington, IN 47408 812-334-4420 office 317-250-8156 cell
I'm pretty much a nobody in the blues harp world, but I ordered (slowly) a full set of DFs from John, and his service was fine..a couple of harps were back-ordered, but he let me know, and all was well. Hey, life happens.
My "money" harps are the Seydel 1846s, but the DFs are my first-line backups and practice harps. They are very easy to bend (almost too easy for an experienced player) and have a raspy bluesy tone that I like. I think they are a good bargain for what they are.
John - There is nothing sinister about my blog. I documented my experiences dealing with the Bushman Music Works. I documented my experiences purchasing product from Rockin' Ron's.
If people ask about experiences dealing with your company, I share my experience. I provide similar experiences dealing with car companies like Honda, Toyota, Cadillac and Chrysler.
With respect to the blog entry, I didn't make up the stories that people posted in comments. After each of your e-mail requests, I've considered deleting the entry. I don't remove it because your customers continue seem to have issues with receiving product that they have paid for.
I have no reason to lie about this. I have no vested interest in your success or lack of success. I really have no issue with you personally. I am very sympathetic to the challenges that you've experienced in the past several years.
Hi John, my good friend from Poland - Tomek Kaminski 2 years ago ordered big part of harmonicas (about 1000$). He didn't get harps and he wrote a tones of emails to you and he called to you as well. No harps, no money back. What you could say about this? What is your version?
I think that bad news are faster than good news... ==============================
www.bleczycki.com
Last Edited by on Jan 10, 2013 2:27 AM
A note from Adam: John Hall called me this morning and we had a long talk. I personally registered him on the forum. I read this entire thread before I did. I noted to John that he had defenders here as well as those--and not just Joe L.--who are critical of his (apparently past) business practices.
If somebody has made mistakes, I believe they should be given the chance to rectify them. This forum has certainly given those who dislike Bushman products and dislike John's business practices plenty of space to air their grievances. It is only fair, in my opinion, to give John a space within which to defend himself and communicate directly with this community.
So John's post has my blessings. That being said, I'm forced to note that membership in the forum carries responsibilities--the chief among them being to adhere to the forum creed. Casting personal aspersions on the integrity of other forum members is prohibited. The words "lie" and "lying," regardless of the truth-value they may or may not have (and I have no basis on which to judge their truth value) are not permitted.
John, if this is your one and only post, we'll allow them to stand. If you intend to post anything else to the forum, you'll need to change that wording before you do. I was happy to make a space for you, but we do have rules. Thanks.
Mr Frost Man - I have a number of things I'd like to say on this subject. Please do not misconstrue my post. It's not meant to be a "bashing" post. It's simply the facts as I understand them and a couple of questions.
1. You state regarding Joe Lempkowski "Joe's Blog in which he has spent the last 26 months bashing me!" and "But now Joe has made it his mission in life to harm and embarrass me, and to hurt my business."
Well sorry John but this isn't true is it? Joe made one simple blog entry (after much deliberating over it) that documents his experience doing business with you and your company. He simply reported the facts. The comments on his blog from other people have been consistent in demonstrating that he was not alone in his experience. He did not comment further on the issue other than to reiterate the facts already stated. It would also seem that these issues are not/were not simply just with harmonicas. I have read similar reports elsewhere online from Ukulele buyers, including one from Bean Blossom winner.
2. "To Jim who posted that the Delta Frost is exactly the same as a Harpmaster - not entirely true!"
The whole paragraph of this particular post seems to almost be an attempt to hide something. I may well be wrong, but it sounds like the Delta Frost is just a Suzuki Harpmaster with different cover plates.So I have one simple question. Are the reeds and reed plates the same as the Suzuki Harpmaster?
3. "The only ones remaining are the few we have that require us talking to the customer before we ship it, and we're waiting on customers to call us or email us back."
Have you called or emailed the customers to say that you need to speak to them? I find it extremely difficult to believe that people waiting on a product that they have already paid for and that has not arrived, would be lackadaisical about such things.
For what it's worth, I received my Delt Frost harmonica, key of C yesterday and so far I find it to be an exceptionally well made harmonica. It reminds me more of the Crossover than the Harpmaster. In fact, I don't hear or feel the similarity at all when I play the instrument; the DF has easier , more flexible bending, a more steadfast tone and better dynamics than the Harpmasters I've owned. Harpmaster is a quality mid-price instrument, of course, but based on this one instance, DF is the better purchase. I also received the instrument promptly and suspect that I will be ordering more DFs soon.
John Hall, good work. ---------- Ted Burke http://youtube.com/watch?v=-VPUDjK-ibQ&feature=relmfu
Delta Frost a "Car harp" get real. Maybe a Johnson, or Kay, or Piedmont Blues, or a Hohner Blues Band, but a Delta Frost would never be a cheap "Car Harp". Its not a custom harp but it plays great out of the box, and I find them easy to bend and play.. Calling it a "Car Harp" is just not fair.
seems like posting the blog is an attempt to get one more slam on bushman.
kingley- i work at a furniture store. folks buy stuff not in stock. we give them an ETA for when it will be in. there have been times when we called for a month to let them know their $1,000+ in furniture is in and try to schedule a delivery. AND I DONT GET PAID TILL IT'S DELIVERED! trust me, for every "hard to believe" there are stories of just that happening.
My "car harps" have often been marine bands, SP20's, and MB deluxes. I don't see why "car harp" is a put down, they may not be your top drawer favorites, but I wouldn't want something in my car I wouldn't play. Mr Frost is being way too sensitive if you ask me. I believe in personal responsibility. Blaming someone for telling the truth about their business experience with you, is just trying to place the responsibility on "the other guy", not a trait I have any respect for. I hope my carefully chosen words have not crossed the line. Poor business practices lead to bad referals, why this surprises anyone I will never understand.
@Joe L: I have just deleted your two most recent posts--the ones in which you repost the original blog post consisting of a lengthy narrative of your trials and tribulations with John Hall and Bushman Harmonicas more than two years ago. You are fully entitled to that blog post, but reposting it here, rather than simply sharing a direct link to it, strikes me as a willful attempt to stir up trouble rather than share information with forum members. Please share a link and be done with it. Thanks.
Last Edited by on Jan 10, 2013 4:04 PM
I am happy to let the quality and value of my Bushman Harmonicas, my Bushman Ukuleles, and my Bean Blossom Blues Fest speak for themselves. I have brought fun and joy into thousands of peoples lives, and I've had a blast doing it. You're right Hoskins - no excuses necessary! Bushman gets thousands of GREAT referrals from people who love our products. Bushman will be setup at SPAH in St Louis on August 13 - 17 - I hope to see you all there, and then a week later is our Bean!
Last Edited by on Jan 10, 2013 4:09 PM
There was a colossal amount of hype surrounding them on another forum at the time. I bought it from Harmonicas Direct. I actually spoke to Peter Byth about them - he was having "supply issues" and wasn't planning to restock so I thought it was probably my last chance to see what all the hype was about.
It was quite an underwhelming experience. Nothing special. Not a bad harp but by no means a great one.
Man you guys aint lying "drama"!! A car harp will do just fine.
My opinion don't mean crap as I have never used one of these harps but at a moral standpoint I do not think it matters if you satisfy a million people if 500 get hurt in the process, I wouldn't brag that you have helped so many when so many have been mistreated I think the logical and grownup thing to be done is make an apology to everyone and just move on to making the issues you have now into improvements. In the end we are all playing blues so just chill and make/sell some good harps!!!
Last Edited by on Jan 10, 2013 4:42 PM
I am disappointed with the way this thread has gone. My query as to other board member's experience with the Delta Frost, "yay or nay" was meant to get a discussion going about the quality of the instrument alone, pure and simple. It was not meant to provide a space where some of us can vent spleen about John Hall's problems in running his business. This amounts to picking a scab: the wound, slight or great, will not heal as long as you keep digging your fingernails into it.
I will say again, my delivery was prompt and the Delta Frost I ordered is , so far, a terrific instrument.
Hey Frost man. boo hoo hoo. Do good business, the right way, and you won't have these troubles. You and I finished a year or two ago over the same stuff I'm reading here. If you've lost money why not look at YOUR practices and change YOUR business behavior and attitude?
I do business with vendors who stand by their product- of course- but also who ship in a timely fashion, no excuses and no shifting of blame. If you were ever to grow up and act like a true businessman you might not have so many detractors.
Ironic, I still have a couple of your harps in my case. As backups to my first string Manji's. ---------- http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
I agree with TheoBurke in that I had really hoped to read about other players' experiences with the Delta Frost harmonica, not anger at the man behind it. If the instrument is good, and you have concerns about Mr. Hall and his reliability, then consider buying from Rockin' Ron.
I revisited my Delta Frosts recently after mainly playing Deak Harp Marine Bands, Crossovers, Marine Band Deluxes, a Manji, Special 20s, and a couple of Seydels. I seldom use Lee Oskars anymore except in modified tunings and only when needed.
I was surprised to discover that I really like the Delta Frosts, and I have moved them into regular use.
I hadn't done much overblowing when I previously used Delta Frosts. They overblow relatively easily. This is a technique I am working to improve. They bend easily, are loud with a raspy tonality, and they seem durable. They have a reasonable price, lower than many of the harps I have tried lately. I don't think they will replace my few Deak Harps, but they will certainly be put to regular use now that I have rediscovered them.
I really would like if other players would focus on their likes and dislikes about the way the Delta Frost plays. I have heard enough opinions about Mr. Hall. Plenty of stones have been cast already... ----------
@jbone: It pains me to point this out, because you've been a great citizen of this forum, but the statement " If you were ever to grow up and act like a true businessman" directed at another forum member, which John Hall now is, is edging very hard towards a violation of the forum creed. Let's not get personal with other forum members.
I don't have time to continually police this thread, guys. But the forum creed is a pretty good guide here, and I'll expand on my own understanding of it, as follows:
You are allowed to objectively describe the experience you've had with ANY harmonica and ANY harmonica purveyor--the instrument, the business practices--whether they're positive or negative. Surely this forum should be a place in which we can all compare notes. But you're not allowed to make personal attacks on other forum members. Nor are you allowed to carry on extended campaigns against specific harmonicas or harmonica purveyors--or amps or amp purveyors. If you've posted something strongly negative on a blog, you may certainly post a link to your blog and direct our attention to the link. (Rick Davis and Joe L., among others, have such blog entries.) But there's no need to copy and paste long negative reviews here that are enjoying sustained visibility elsewhere. Just tell us what you've got and we'll take a look, if we feel like taking a look.
I should add that I took a look at Joe L.'s blog entry about the trouble he had, two-and-a-half years ago, purchasing one $25 harmonica from John Hall and it struck me as a reasonable, non-hysterical narrative of his odyssey. I don't happen to agree with John's characterization of Joe L.'s "campaign." John and I spoke twice last week. The first time I personally registered him for this forum; the second time I hung up on him. I almost never hang up on people. It would be fair to say that I find the current dispute tiresome and irritating. On the other hand, I can understand why John, as a businessman, is frustrated that a two-and-a-half year old blog entry comes up at the top of p. 2 on Google when you search "bushman harmonica."
I think this particular horse has been beaten to the point of decomposition. I'm sure that John, from the present moment on, will be doing everything he can to well-serve those of you who choose to purchase Bushman harmonicas, since he's seen the hydra-headed monster (this forum in its negative aspect) up close. To that extent, an honest public airing of personal experiences purchasing and using harmonicas is a good thing. But there's a line beyond which this forum is being misused, and I'd ask everybody--please--to cool it a little.
Last Edited by on Jan 12, 2013 9:51 AM
I have all kinds of harps in my case. If I could I would have customs in every key, but the less used ones, I am less likely to have them yet. I have LO, Hohner special 20, golden melody, marine band, crossover, souls voice, bushman, suzuki pro master, manji, hering. All have been worked on (embossed, gaped etc). In general I play the best harp first in each key (exception my best customs as I play harder in gigs).
The Delta Frosts are the best harps in some keys and have held their position for some time.. they hold their own with the others with regard to playability, tone, durability and cost. I got started on them back when I blew out harps, did not replace reeds, and John was selling individual reed plates. They were the most cost effective harp at that time given my poorer playing habits as they were durable and cheap to fix when they went out.
While I fell victim to some of the supply problems at times, I think that is offset by the fact that John promotes harmonica music at his festivals. What other company does that in the US?
Adam, I apologize. To John as well. Perhaps I should have let sleeping dogs lie and not made a judgement like that. It's even possible that I may do further business with John at some point in the future. I used his harps for a couple of years and it was my choice to look for other options. My mind could be changed based on other customers' experiences in coming months and years. I will speak no further about this matter. ---------- http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
BUT,i have always had great service from bushman. delta frost is in my top three favorite harps. delta frost was the first harp i was ever impressed with enough to buy a whole set.
my acoustic set is manji,but my electric set is bushman.
BTW, a harmonica with a bushman comb and coverplates and manji or fabulous reeds is hard to beat! ---------- www.shakeylee.com
I can confirm that this is indeed Kaitlin Dibble in this video however I have no knowledge of who that harmonica player is I will ask Kate later. I can CONFIRM that the Bushman Delta Frost currently features NO/NONE/0 affiliation with Suzuki harmonicas in ANY way. They are now currently made in China and any features with the reeds that had once anything in common with the Harp Master are now extinct. It is a different harmonica all together and should be thought of and purchased as such with that knowledge. This I'm not joking about. Fun video though! ---------- www.mooncat.org
Last Edited by Moon Cat on Jul 17, 2016 10:25 AM
