Buddha
2365 posts
Aug 22, 2010
8:07 AM
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I played 6-7 different production model B-Radicals.
They are very good harps production harps.
Do they compare to a good custom harp? NO, not even close however the B-Rads shouldn't be compared to custom harps.
I like the feel of them and especially dig the covers. It's a beautiful instrument. It's not great for low volume playing IMO but it maybe the perfect gigging harp because it allows you to really wail on it and performs well under heavy handed use and high pressure/volume situations.
It also OBs well. It has a more Golden Melody tone than MB tone. Whether or not it's worth the price is something that is up to you, however, I believe everybody should own at least one if for nothing else as a collector's item.
This is a very nice harp.
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"All is bliss"
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walterharp
431 posts
Aug 22, 2010
7:04 PM
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this is the best endorsement i have heard for this harp...
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Joch230
295 posts
Aug 22, 2010
7:25 PM
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At SPAH I was sitting in the back row close to Brad Harrison's girlfriend. Several people asked him questions like how many have been sold, how the do this or that...Brad kept saying it was a secret, especially since Hohner, etc was also in the room watching. I whispered over to his girlfriend that he is the Willie Wonka of the harmonica world with a factory full of secrets and she just cracked up! With the right hat...Brad even looks a bit like Wonka now that his hair is grown out.
Brandon Bailey played one of looping based songs before Brad spoke...he is one of the official endorsers. Brad said that they have 4 designs for new harps in the can and the B-Radical is actually the tamest of the 4. He wants to ease the world into he designs is what he claimed.
-John
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Zhin
546 posts
Aug 22, 2010
7:59 PM
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Great. Now I want one.
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http://www.youtube.com/harmonicazhin
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Joch230
296 posts
Aug 22, 2010
8:14 PM
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I and Todd Parrot jammed with this 10 year old kid that had one. He obviously loved it...I did hear one guy who had said he sometimes has a hard time going between his and his other harps. Todd has one and he said he doesn't have that issue.
Buddha noted that it could be a perfect gigging harp because how durable they are built. I just wanted to mention that I got a good look in Howard Levy's harp case...his harps were custome Marine Bands but none of the backs were opened up like you normally see from custom harps...and he has squeezed/crunched a bunch them quite a bit. Maybe he doesn't have the backs opened since he squeezes the things so damn tight.
-John
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ZackPomerleau
1024 posts
Aug 22, 2010
8:25 PM
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Doesn't Howard use Special 20 coverplates?
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Andrew
1138 posts
Aug 23, 2010
2:51 AM
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From what I've read here, Brad Harrison needs to spend more time working on production and less time working on new designs. New designs mean new production methods, and he needs to iron out the problems with the old methods first.
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Andrew,
gentleman of leisure,
noodler extraordinaire.
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LIP RIPPER
277 posts
Aug 23, 2010
4:45 AM
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I can tell you that Chris is on the money with his assessment of the harp. I have one of Chris's and one of Brad's.
LR
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mercedesrules
8 posts
Aug 23, 2010
12:43 PM
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.....Does anyone know if Harrisons are more "just intonation", "equal temperament" or some compromise?
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barbequebob
1174 posts
Aug 23, 2010
1:11 PM
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About 7-8 months ago, I was on the phone with Brad, and tho he didn't tell me what the formula was, it definitely was supposed to be in a comprimise tuning.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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Todd Parrott
174 posts
Aug 23, 2010
2:30 PM
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Chris is right about the B-Radical. It's a good harp out of the box (or bag in this instance), but nothing beats a custom harp. Chris had some really good custom harps at SPAH also. I got 2 of them.
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bluemoose
270 posts
Aug 23, 2010
4:11 PM
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My b-rads should be arriving any day now. Had a very strange dream last night about them. Dreamt they came enclosed in some blue fabric snuggly sort of shirt thing that you put on. It had all sorts of compartments sewn into it and the b-rad was nested way deep inside several of them.
I'm hoping the real thing won't be as complicated.
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shanester
197 posts
Aug 23, 2010
4:20 PM
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@bluemoose:
Do you mean a harp Snuggie? That's brilliant! Call Harrison now!
;-)
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Shane
1shanester
"Keep it coming now, keep it coming now,
Don't stop it no don't stop it no no don't stop it no don't stop it no no..."
- KC and the Sunshine Band
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Jay Gaunt
11 posts
Aug 23, 2010
4:34 PM
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They're my favorite harmonicas, honestly.
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mercedesrules
9 posts
Aug 23, 2010
7:40 PM
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.....Jay, is there a page on your site that describes your CD with maybe a song list and any sidemen? I couldn't find one.
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bluemoose
272 posts
Aug 26, 2010
9:03 AM
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Sweet! Got my Bb B-rad last night. (Thought I had ordered an A as well but it turns out it was a G so it's back ordered.:)
Lovely hand and mouth feel, a beauty to look at. Plays smooth top to bottom, OB6 is right there.
Didn't have much time to mess with it as we were rushing to get over to see Huey Lewis and the News over at the PNE but I didn't want to put it down.
(Huey was GREAT! What a show, 4 piece horn section, 4 part a cappella harmony. Huey just ripping it on the harp. Made me proud.)
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LIP RIPPER
280 posts
Aug 26, 2010
9:11 AM
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Moosie I didn't know Huey played harp. I didn't know he still performed either. Speaking of best dressed. Flashback to the 80's man.
LR
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Tuckster
736 posts
Aug 26, 2010
9:24 AM
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Dave Payne graciously let me try his C B-Radical at Spah.What a sweet harp! He also said they're trying very hard to fill their backorders. I might get mine in another month.
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bluemoose
273 posts
Aug 26, 2010
9:31 AM
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(LR - do a forum search on Huey Lewis. There have been several discussions with links to youtube vids.
Yes they are still out there and given 'er. 32 years I think he said. He met the drummer in grade 7. Really good lead guitar player. Played a lot but never wanked. Refreshing!)
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sammyharp
40 posts
Sep 26, 2010
2:18 AM
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*sings* "Some day my harps will come, some day my harps will come!"
1 year and 3 months, and still waiting. I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but this is getting ridiculous.
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jbone
406 posts
Sep 26, 2010
6:41 AM
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"From what I've read here, Brad Harrison needs to spend more time working on production and less time working on new designs. New designs mean new production methods, and he needs to iron out the problems with the old methods first."
that may be true, but my plan is, win the lotto for really stupid money and offer to invest in brad's company in a big way. rather than stifle the unique creativity he possesses, i'm in favor of supporting and promoting it, just based on what many players have had to say about the b radical.
guys like this don't come along often, or if they do they don't get the chance to really excel. this should be one exception imho. brad should get all the backing he can use to really get off the ground.
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