I ordered mine (set of 3, paid in full) June 19, 2009, still waiting. Do these things really exist? Anyone actually get one? Are you playing it regularly? Was it worth the bucks?
"Brad makes some of the best custom harps you can get."
Whilst this may well be true, the B-Radical is not and never has been touted as a custom harp. What it has been touted as is an all American production harmonica, albeit a high end model which could explain some of the delays involved in processing current orders.
Considering that on the order page the website states "We are currently taking orders for our innovative B-radical harmonica for delivery in 5-6 months." Then on the individual key page it further states "There is a 6-7 month lead time for delivery of our innovative B-radical harmonica." (admittedly it's probably just a minor typo). It doesn't really instill confidence to a buyer when different lead times are given on the same site, selling the same product. Hopefully Dave Payne will see this thread and amend the website as well as contact Rbeetsme to update him on any progress.
I think that Rbeetsme has a right to be concerned. After all it has taken nearly 15 months and he still hasn't received his harmonicas. Surely Harrison Harmonicas should be filling back orders before taking more? In my opinion for anyone to potentially wait over 15 months for a production harmonica is a sorry state of affairs. I only hope that he receives his harmonicas shortly and is able to enjoy the many benefits that the marketing hype claims from the B-Radical.
Rbeetsme - My best suggestion would be to email them at clientsupport@harrisonharmonicas.com or to email Dave Payne directly (sorry I don't know his email address) to find out the status of your order.
At these prices - whether it is a custom harp or a B-Rad......they should be "right" ----------
Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
@rbeetsme Thanks for your report on this outfit. Sorry you got hosed. It will be my pleasure to advise everyone I know who was thinking about these harmonicas, to forget about it and try to expand on what they presently own. 15 months and they've already spent your money and you have no harps? What a joke...."15 months indeed"
The wait is painful. However Dave Payne reported here last month that they expected to be in full volume production some time in September so hold on just a little longer and things MAY get much better. ---------- /Greg
I understand people's bitterness, but I think Greg may have a good point. The way Brad can win back people's confidence once the business is on its feet and running is by regularly publishing production and sales figures, so that what's going on is completely transparent. ---------- Andrew, gentleman of leisure, noodler extraordinaire.
The problem is was the wait was a promised time and they forgot about these guys. 15 months for a non-custom harmonica that costs like $180. That's crazy. If you wait that long you should be getting a few extras.
greg- you got yours, right? it seems many of the folks who i have read to "hang on", not necessarily on this forum, are the ones who got their order filled. and many of those waited less than a year!
"rbeetsme did not mentions b-radicals he said harrison harmonicas which could have been his custom MBs"
Whilst that is true. Brad only advertises the B-Radical now and apparently seems to no longer be really in the "custom harmonica" business. I also happen to know that Rbeetsme ordered B-Radical harps from another forum.
Last Edited by on Sep 04, 2010 11:31 AM
I ordered B-Radicals and they have responded to my queries. I'm not complaining, I trust Michael, Dave and Brad. But no one has answered my question, anyone have one, do you like them? BTW: I saw a pic recently with Steven Tyler showing off his B Radical. Maybe, you have to be a rock star to get one.
I think pretty much everyone knows there's a backlog, and some unsatisfied customers. rebeetsme asked who has one and what they're like.
It's tiresome hearing the armchair quarterbacks always chiming in with how to do it better. The only real information of value is from people that have them in hand, or from people in the know. ----------
rbeets, I think it all depends on which key(s) you ordered. I ordered a G and a Bb in June 09. Finally got my Bb the end of August. G is backordered. I'm liking it. Feels great in the hand and mouth. Plays way better than a regular OOTB harp,especially high end. But as with any tighter tolerance harp it does take some adjustment in your playing style. Light breath force (BBQB!:) is definitely the way to go. 6OB is right there and if I concentrate I can get a couple others and a 7OD. VERY nice harp that can really dance. However, a real custom harp is another level all together. Got my D Buddha harp yesterday. 9-10 month wait but worth ever second. Like a Brad custom MB this thing is alive in your mouth. But the setup on a Buddha is, again, something else. 4,5,6 OB are easy and for the first time I can allllllmost get a 1 OB. Tuning is luscious and loud. You can make love to this thing.
"It's tiresome hearing the armchair quarterbacks always chiming in with how to do it better. The only real information of value is from people that have them in hand, or from people in the know."
Interesting that this seems to be aimed at me.
Just to clarify. If you read my initial post on this thread, you'll see that I list one discrepancy on the website lead times and then I ask a question about orders "Surely Harrison Harmonicas should be filling back orders before taking more?". I fail to see how that is the action of an "armchair quarterback" or "chiming in with how to do it better." Furthermore the reason for my post was that the original post by Rbeetsme sounded as if he was concerned, which I could totally understand if that was inded the case. Of course by his last post it would seem that isn't the case.
Bluemoose.... "The only real information of value is from people that have them in hand, or from people in the know. "
I disagree.....I think it is important to know that folks have been waiting for well over a year. I hope this venture succeeds ...believe me ! I will most likely order one or more. But we have been told 5-6 months, The website says 6-7 months, and there are quite a few folks waiting for over a year.
5-6 months is a fair amount of time to wait fro a production harp of this quality. When the wait time gets there, I will order. ----------
Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
ness- you should skip all threads about the b-rad for a while. at least until you see folks beginning threads like "my b-rad rocks, too!" which may happen in 5-6 months. or 6-7. or over a year! lol
until then, you're gonna be getting the posts about unfilled orders during any b-rad thread.
I'm with Kingley on this. I don't see how you can have a wait time posted on your advertising that is less than 1/2 the time that some fully paid orders have been waiting. I sent an inquiring note 3 months ago and they said 5 month wait on new orders. I chickened out.. I know nothing about sales, but from my Lazy Boy I can tell ya that first come first served is a pretty damn good policy. I don't believe any of us would stand for this if it was something besides a treasured harmonica. Seems to me with promises, advertising, and customers paid in full that they could get in trouble with the BBB. I'm sure these guys make great harps, but they should have hired a professional new business consultant. I think they are losing money in the long run.
Adam Gussow is a proud endorser of off-the-shelf Hohner Marine Band harmonicas.
-------------------> B-rad incoming............:(
Seriously: Brandon recently spent some time at the Harrison operation and I hope he'll weigh in.
Kingley, you raise sensible points in a measured way. I think nobody--least of all Brad Harrison--can be surprised that repeated delays combined with strong early hype result in gripes. Hopefully all those gripes will become nothing more than a memory once production is up to speed. The real world, especially one filled with passionate, demanding harp players, is an unforgiving place. It's tough to birth something new.
It turns out that those players who weren't quite so invested in getting the newest, hottest, latest thing (brought to you by America, no less) are somewhat less filled with gripes. Interesting. Maybe I'm a traditionalist after all.
Last Edited by on Sep 04, 2010 7:45 PM
The way i saw it from this side of the world was like this:)
WOW!! Ye Ha us Yanks Have got a Bro going to put in the Hard yards and Produce our very own Harmonica:)
so the story Begun it was made clear that it was going to be some time befor Harrison went into Production of Harmonicas:)
and where looking for Investments ie, Pre Orders from the Public Many of you where Proud to invest your money in this Company even though it hadn't started Production:)
Im pretty sure they would have had other cash flow investors but letting, We the People make Pre orders in a way i think was a kind gesture of good will to you me us,
giveing the People a sense that they have helped Build this company every time you picked up that Harp looked at it fine lines you know you had a part in the Harrison Harmonica of the story:)
This was an investment in the Future of Harmonica Production in the United States your very own Brand name Harmonica Produced in the good Old USA:)
i think ya all waiting for the goose to lay the Golden egg befor it can hatch properly:(
come on this guy has worked his ass off to get this far and to be producing some harps to me is a Bloody marvel, since when does a company go into Full production in 2 years being built from the ground up:/
Investments take time to grow they do it slowly the ones that offer big bucks in a short time span go Bust, and so does your money:(
so whats all the Who Ha i havn't got my harp i orderd it 6, 9, 12, 24, months ago you didn't order a Harp or Harps, you made an investment in the future of Harmonicas in the USA the out come is you will get your Harp:)
Yeh we can crawl all over web Pages Bitch like office girls about Typos, if it says that it should be hear in 3 seconds must be true? come on Girls do you think the guys trying to Produce Harps on the floor have got time to look at Guff like that:) ---------- Lighten Up you got a good thing Happening:)
Thanks for being an outspoken outside perspective!
I hate to see so much grousing, and I do get the frustration, believe me, I would be getting impatient too!
I've got no stake in Harrison, can't afford them right now, and I have been playing sp20's since the 90's, so I'm not really shopping, but I do think that they are cool as shit, and I want to see them make it!
One day, I will profit off of playing harp and then I will proudly purchase either an A, Bb, or C (my fave keys).
If I could I would order one now , the instrument is a true work of art and craftsmanship, and dammit, it represents the States! ---------- Shane
counterpoint to NOD's post- "this guy has worked his ass off to get this far" and you know this by what means? his say so? your assumption? i am not saying he has or hasnt. i have no way to judge. do you?
you may see it as an investment, but he didnt ask for investors. folks paid for harps. they went out on a limb and bought harps that werent even made yet! that is a show of good faith and is a testimonial to brad's good name. even if it was an investment, the harps were to be the dividends. dividends are to be paid on a promised time, also!
but, they paid for harps with an understanding it would take some time. then brad changed the design, if i recall correctly. still, no big deal. it just means a slightly longer wait for an even better product. then dealys were announced because things werent up to brad's quality. still, i think folks were understanding.
the problem comes when brad announces that things are now clicking. production is starting to pick up. he starts to give wait times for delivery. and those times arent met.
more problems develop when some folks are waiting much longer than others. in usa it is usually, first come, first serve.
that seems to be a large issue. at least in what i am seeing.
btw- can you keep the cursing down, NOD? other folks read this forum besides us heathens.
I talked to Dave Payne at SPAH about this. He said they're trying very hard to fill orders chronologically. He told me no one should have to wait a year for the harp.This is pure speculation,but I think someone at Harrison mucked up the order list and they have no idea who ordered first. If you've been waiting a year,I'd urge you to e-mail Harrison and make them aware of the wait.
BTW- I did see one person with a B-Radical at SPAH. He was 10 years old!
Eharp it's hard when you read a post and Know there was no need for Rude inuendo questioning from you to me, i believe you have been rude and inmature to me and ask for you to refrain from this nature:(
"this guy has worked his ass off to get this far"
( and you know this by what means? )
( his say so? your assumption? )
i am not saying he has or hasnt.
( i have no way to judge. do you? )
What makes you think i should bow to you and answer your Arogance Mate:(
I got a Bb B-radical in one of the early shipments. When I had a question about the harp, the company was as responsive as one would hope. When I asked about how production was going on the other harps, the comment I got back was, "We need to make a lot of people a little happy before we make others really happy" The implication being that they understand the dissatisfaction that comes with missed deadlines and a prolonged, unanticipated wait.
I've only heard of people getting Bb and C harmonicas, so if you ordered a different key than those....
I wish the wait time was shorter. I like my B-radical and look forward to the rest.
why, to put it back to you, should i answer your inquiry? that is another thread.
my questions, somewhat rhetorical in nature, were just a way for you to back up your statements. if they are just opinions, that is fine and peachy, too. everyone has those. but if you have some knowledge, i think folks would like to know. it could go a long way in questioning the behind closed doors of the company.
i am not trying to get into some argument, nod. we are discussing the b-rad mini soap opera. if you wanna turn my post into a personal attack, this one will probably just fuel your fire.
but please dont take my counterpoint post of yours as any sort of hostile attack. that does us both a disservice and is unproductive as we have witnessed several times in recent history of this forum.
Yo Eharp i been for my morning walk taken my Meds and have patted my dog:)
Bro common sense would answer some of your rhetorical Questions:( wich i found that there was no need for:(
i have been following the mini soap Opera From the 1st chapter:(
i was fine with the core content of your question or explanation to me:)
it should went something like this
NOD the problem comes when brad announces that things are now clicking. production is starting to pick up. he starts to give wait times for delivery. and those times arent met.
My answer would have been more manerable
No Problems mate:)
got no problem with you Bro Please no more rhetoric Thanks mate that way i won't sound like a Cranky old Mongel Cheers:)
i am a rhetorical type of guy, nod. but i will, in the future, try to not direct any towards your vicinity.
ness- i enjoy the b-rad threads. i am glad, however, that even though you may not be directly participating, you are still watching and, perhaps, keeping score.
okay- to summarize; rick hasnt gotten the $180 harps and has waited over a year. aw seems to think his Bb is better than another Bb (not a glowing review, imo) most are confused about delivery times. some are suggesting patience. rick's harp may be in the mail!! ness is bored by the discussion but is still watching. eharp is rude. nod is medicated. ZACK THINKS EHARP HAS THE RIGHT IDEA!! (i am unsure what me means though or i would try to repeat it.)
very glad, nod. when i saw that you posted, i was sort of nervous that a fire fight was going to ensue. i dont have much seriousness in me. inquisitiveness ands sarcasm, plenty. i like to stir the pot.
rebeetsme, yes they exist and I have one in A. I ordered in 6-09 also and it took a little over 400 days to get here. Was I disappointed in that service? Yes but I am sure the Brad was too. Ideally they would be spitting these things out like crazy. You have to figure out all the wrong things before this can happen and with a new design there will be a whole heap of wrong before right. More than anyone anticipated for sure.
Now, right after I received the harp Brad called me for a follow up and asked my thoughts. I told him that the harp took more air that my others and I thought I would open it up and lower the reeds a bit. He said that he does err on the side of caution a bit with respect to reed height for fear of reed choking. He offered to do a skype session and help if I needed it and I appreciate that. In fact , I just put it back together before writing this. I wanted to massage things a little. And now I have it just about where I want it. in fact it may be on the money, I'll have to play later today and see. Does it compare to Chris' Buddha harp that I have? No. But, that ain't apples to apples. Well, I guess pricewise it is. Chris and I talked on the phone before he built a harp for me to determine the type of set up I would need, had me play a little etc. This cannot be done on a production basis.
I'm with eharp...Tuckster...you may be correct but I don't see how you can get orders out of sequence when most orders are done by e-mail or some type of e transaction. Even a phone order would have a date on it.
"I'm with eharp...Tuckster...you may be correct but I don't see how you can get orders out of sequence when most orders are done by e-mail or some type of e transaction. Even a phone order would have a date on it. "
Well, who really knows. But I can sure see ways to get orders screwed up, e-mail, phone, web, whatever. Small company...one guy knows how it's done...he leaves, or screws it up, or deletes it or something.
Anyhoo -- everything I've heard indicates they're willing to talk to you if you have questions. If I had one on order, they'd hear from me. ----------
