MP
1299 posts
Jan 23, 2011
1:33 PM
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was at a gig and poster CaptJon showed up and handed me a B-RAD.(i mistakenly thought he gave it to me as a present but that's another story).embarressing.
anyway.... what a cool harp. just from an engineering standpoint it is very impressive. loud, responsive,great tone, OBs 456 easily.
i checked my pet peeve list. 3 draw bends- excellent separation between 1/2 steps,v, smooth. ten blow bend 1/2 steps-no work involved,light breath friendly, piece of cake.
chords-excellent. low blow notes- no choking when you dump air, loud and clear.
i couldn't find a single flaw. i hope this company does well. it's a fine product.
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
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jonlaing
183 posts
Jan 23, 2011
2:18 PM
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Glad to hear it. Mostly, what I've heard so far as a review has been "Not worth the wait or the money." But I'm patient, and for a completely new product I can live with the price tag for the first one. We'll see how I feel about that once I get one in my hand.
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MP
1302 posts
Jan 23, 2011
2:50 PM
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i don't think you'll be disappointed. i haven't heard of a bad review on the harp yet. only the wait.
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
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rbeetsme
362 posts
Jan 23, 2011
3:04 PM
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I like mine. Only complaint, ordered 3 keys in Spring of 2009, still waiting for the other 2.
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groyster1
777 posts
Jan 23, 2011
3:29 PM
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you can buy custom harps,like joe spiers or deak harp
,where you dont have to wait that long and possibly get a better harp
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jonlaing
184 posts
Jan 23, 2011
3:41 PM
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I'm aware, but I did wanna give this new thing a shot. When you get a custom it's still a Hohner, or Suzuki or whatever, albeit well setup and modified to make it a superior instrument. A B-rad is something new all together, so I wanna give it a chance. I also have faith that the Harrison Harmonicas guys will be able to get up to speed and be able to deliver them as fast, if not faster than a custom builder. I don't think the wait will be a persistent problem.
We'll see I suppose
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Xpun3414
172 posts
Jan 23, 2011
4:02 PM
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@ jonlaing : Now Ive heard just the opposite about the B-rad. Ive seen some reviews & videos of it being played,& all of them say it IS worth the money & wait.
I myself am thinkin of buying one soon. Not to sure yet. Money wise anyway. & MAN,is that a piece of art as well.
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jonlaing
185 posts
Jan 23, 2011
5:31 PM
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@Xpun3414 I guess I'm just going by what I hear on this forum about it, which is less than optimistic. I'll be sure to give my honest thoughts once I get mine. I was told sometime this quarter, fairly recently. So hopefully I won't have much longer to wait.
@groyster1 are you talking about the promo video that was on some news network about the B-radical? I thought that guy was just given one right then and there. I dunno.
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bonedog569
217 posts
Jan 23, 2011
9:25 PM
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My C is supposedly in production now. they do ask for your palying style , your influences and if you OB - so they can set it up accordingly.
I played a buddy's who's had been set up for an 'average' player who didn't OB, - and the responsiveness and OB's where nothing special. Glad to hear this report.
Hope I don't have to wait another year for the D and A.
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jonlaing
186 posts
Jan 23, 2011
9:38 PM
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Yeah, I'm waiting on an A, too. I really hope you don't have to wait another year either, because that wouldn't bode well for mine.
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chromaticblues
519 posts
Jan 23, 2011
9:44 PM
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HooDoo Crossover $125!
Two month wait!
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groyster1
780 posts
Jan 24, 2011
4:21 AM
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@jon
hope he got it on the spot how long can a 95 yr old be expected to wait
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MrVerylongusername
1510 posts
Jan 24, 2011
5:20 AM
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Bonedog569 wrote:
"they do ask for your palying style , your influences and if you OB - so they can set it up" accordingly."
Interesting - finally putting the nail in the coffin of the argument that this is a top end, but essentially off the shelf harp.
It is a custom harp.
Nothing wrong with that of course - just an observation.
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mandowhacker
22 posts
Jan 24, 2011
6:17 AM
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From the Harrison web site:
"We are currently taking orders for our innovative B-radical harmonica for delivery in 6-7 months."
I ordered and paid for two in the middle of December. Come August, I will not be a very happy camper if I don't have two Harrison harmonicas in my case.
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Just when I got a paddle, they added more water to the creek.
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OzarkRich
358 posts
Jan 24, 2011
6:54 AM
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"they do ask for your playing style , your influences and if you OB - so they can set it up accordingly."
I've yet to be asked anything since Nov 2009.
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rbeetsme
365 posts
Jan 24, 2011
7:03 AM
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All we can do now is wait...
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bonedog569
219 posts
Jan 24, 2011
8:45 AM
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re. 'customizing' I got the following email from Amanda Guedel a week ago. I seem to vaguely remember a question about who my main influences where when I ordered the harps ye those many months ago (last March or April).
re. harps other than C
Harpwrench and Richard Sliegh were supposed to be setting up those harps. - Anything you can tell us Joe ?
Hey Noam,
We're in the process of making your B-radical harmonica but we need some information in order to personalize it just for you. So if you could answer these three questions and get back to me as soon as possible that would be wonderful.
1) How long have you been playing?
2) Who are you major harmonica player influences?
3) Do you use overblows?
--
Best wishes,
Amanda Guedel
Client Service Representative
Harrison Harmonicas, Inc The Only Harmonica Made In The USA
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HarpNinja
1013 posts
Jan 24, 2011
8:46 AM
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I have one on order...but for that price point, there are a lot of options out there that will play extremely well to a particular style.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
Updated 1/11/11
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shbamac
72 posts
Jan 24, 2011
9:06 AM
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They never asked me anything about my order either. Other than please be patient, it's all most ready to ship out. Maybe two weeks from now. That went on for months and months. I'll never buy another B-rad. I don't care for mine. OOTB Sp20s play better than mine. FUCK Harrison Harmonicas! Their customer service sucked piror to the sale! I don't think it was worth waiting well over a year.
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harp honkin
75 posts
Jan 25, 2011
11:21 AM
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Just got my B Rad in C. I got to be honest, for 180 dollars its not that impressive to me!!!I'd rather fork out 90 bucks for a Seydel or 30 for a delta frost. Very disapointed . just my 2 cents
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rbeetsme
366 posts
Jan 25, 2011
1:16 PM
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How many Delta Frosts will you take for it? (I have every key)
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sammyharp
82 posts
Jan 25, 2011
1:44 PM
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@ shbamac- Have you contacted Harrison to make them aware of your dissatisfaction with your harp? If not,you should contact them. They are very helpful. Do you really think it plays worse than an OOTB SP20, or are you just upset about the long wait. Sounds like a case of sour grapes to me. Seriously though, get a hold of the company and I'm sure they will get you're harp working to your satisfaction. It'll be a lot more productive than just stewing in your own anger about it.
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Buzadero
715 posts
Jan 25, 2011
1:49 PM
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Yes. To quote the little sidekick on Fantasy Island, you need to get in touch with "D Payne, D Payne", at Harrison.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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rbeetsme
367 posts
Jan 25, 2011
2:01 PM
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harp Honkin, if you want to trade for Delta Frosts let me know:
rbeetsme@hotmail.com
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nacoran
3712 posts
Jan 25, 2011
2:33 PM
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Buz, jokes of that elk will be the death of me.
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Nate
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BigBlindRay
80 posts
Jan 25, 2011
2:38 PM
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Good work Tattoo!
And for the record shbamac: If your OOTB SP20's do play better than a B-Rad then I have a SP20 in my collection id be willing to swap you!
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Buzadero
717 posts
Jan 25, 2011
2:38 PM
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"jokes of that elk will be the death of me."
Very nice.
I was going to say "payne in my ass". However......
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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shbamac
75 posts
Jan 25, 2011
4:08 PM
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I'm not pissed at them. I'm not "stewing". Yes, I think OOTB SP20's and Crossovers for that matter play better than my B-rad. And I prefer the sound of them over the B-rad. SP20 are more comfortable to me as well. I would sell it but it was a gift from my woman and it's engraved. It has value to me for that reason only. No, I haven't contacted them. But even if they "fix it up" I still say FUCK'M. You don't like my opinion... the same goes for you.
I wish them the best and hope they succeed. I think what they are doing is wonderful. But they will never get any more of my money. It all has to do with how they handled the order and my woman. And for that... F'm...
Last Edited by on Jan 25, 2011 4:20 PM
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robbert
25 posts
Jan 25, 2011
4:39 PM
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Yes, there is a long wait for the B-radical. I believe I waited for a couple of years, and stayed in regular email contact the entire time. They were always very responsive, and I understood they were getting the company up on its feet.
I don't know what their production issues are now, other than just being behind in their orders. I think it's a good company, and a great instrument with a lot of integrity.
I received a C harp, after getting an A harp and found the C to be even more responsive in the ob dept. The A is still a wonderful instrument, but I assume they were still improving tolerances.
I am also lucky enough to have a Buddha harp. Even though I expect to get a full set(5 keys)of B-radicals eventually, I still use otb harps for a lot of gigging...my ob work is nowhere ready for public consumption. I've found the b-radical a great pleasure to play no matter what playing style, I've just had to be slightly more careful with air pressure.
As others on this forum have at times noted, a better harp can and does improve one's playing. Also, as noted before by others, once you've worked with a better instrument for a while, it is possible to go back and play the lesser instrument in a better way.
Last Edited by on Jan 25, 2011 4:51 PM
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robbert
26 posts
Jan 25, 2011
4:53 PM
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Yes, there is a long wait for the B-radical. I believe I waited for a couple of years, and stayed in regular email contact the entire time. They were always very responsive, and I understood they were getting the company up on its feet.
I don't know what their production issues are now, other than just being behind in their orders. I think it's a good company, and a great instrument with a lot of integrity.
I also found that my C harp which I received after the A harp, was even more responsive in the overbend department, and so I gathered they were still making improvements in tolerances, etc. Even with that, my A harp is a great instrument.
All that being said, I am discovering that my playing has not caught up with being able to take full advantage of the B-radical. I overbend at home, but not gigging. Not proficient yet. Even without overbending, though, the instrument plays really well,
but I have to be gentler with my air pressure than I'm used to, which is hard to remember in the heat of the moment, sometimes.
So, even though I am looking forward to obtaining a full set of five keys of B-radical eventually, I still use ottb harps (mostly Sp 20s, Lee Oskars, Big Rivers)as well as one Buddha harp that I am lucky to possess.
As others on this forum have at times noted, a better harp can and does improve one's playing. Also, as noted before by others, once you've worked with a better instrument for a while, it is possible to go back and play the lesser instrument in a better way.
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oda
430 posts
Jan 25, 2011
5:35 PM
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unfortunately, after a year, I decided I didn't want to wait any longer. Harrison harp were pretty good in refunding my dough.
btw, what's with these posts with folks talking about trying other peoples harmonicas?
eww....
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MP
1315 posts
Jan 25, 2011
6:51 PM
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i'm sure a mouth was on your B-RAD. luckily you changed your mind.
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
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Joe_L
1015 posts
Jan 25, 2011
7:22 PM
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The answer is four.
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nacoran
3721 posts
Jan 25, 2011
7:47 PM
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"...I still say FUCK'M. You don't like my opinion... the same goes for you."- shbamac
You're welcome to your opinions about a harp company, but refrain from telling members to go f themselves.
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Nate
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Last Edited by on Jan 25, 2011 7:47 PM
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nacoran
3723 posts
Jan 25, 2011
8:21 PM
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Joelee, I'm choosing to take that as some good natured ribbing. People are welcome to express opinions, as long as they do so respectfully of other board members. Respectful doesn't mean you can't tell the whole truth or disagree with people.
Okay: I recently had a problem with Amazon where they misrepresented what an item was. The customer service was condescending and the product description still hasn't been updated, weeks later. I'm thinking about reporting them to whatever agency oversees things like that. (True story.)
Not Okay: I hate Amazon (that's okay). They are crooks. (potentially problem, and possibly even libelous). If you don't agree with me you're a jerk. (violation of the forum creed.)
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Nate
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joeleebush
200 posts
Jan 25, 2011
8:59 PM
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1. I do not like "thought police"
2. You obviously have no clue what libel is. As long as the statement is prefaced with "In my opinion"...you can legally say just about anything.(well as of now, that is, but I'm sure some control freak democrat is working night and day to change that also)
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nacoran
3725 posts
Jan 25, 2011
9:23 PM
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Joelee, if you reread my example you'll notice that I didn't say 'in my opinion'. I have a very good idea of what libel is. I minored in journalism and we spent a good deal of time covering what is and isn't libel. Don't confuse what will get you sued. It is also legal to say something libelous. You may just get sued over it. You won't be criminally prosecuted for it unless you somehow manage to endanger public safety in the process.
I'm not even going to engage in a debate about politics with you, although I'm sure we could cite examples on both sides of the isle of politicians willing to infringe on free speech. You'll notice that none of your comments have been deleted. Someone asked you to redact what you said. You chose to do so.
That said, you have to understand that rules on a specific website are not the same as free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment. If someone starts screaming at you from your front lawn you can kick them off your lawn. This forum is Adam's lawn. He has laid down some rules for coming on his lawn. You are not following those rules. If you want to stay on the lawn you have to play nice. You can scream about how unfair the lawn rules are from some other website (the street or another lawn, to continue the analogy) if you want, but if you want to keep playing on this lawn you need to treat people with respect. You seem to be itching for a fight. Go find it somewhere else. I'm saying this with my admin hat on.
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Nate
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shbamac
77 posts
Jan 25, 2011
9:51 PM
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@nacoran: F'm and f themselves are two different things in my book and I don't feel that I told anyone to go f themselves.
But I know what you mean and can see how you (or others) could take it that way... point taken
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nacoran
3727 posts
Jan 25, 2011
10:07 PM
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That's okay shbamac. There is nothing more frustrating than waiting for a new harmonica!
It's a shame to see a company that had so much good will in the harmonica community hasn't been able to keep up with orders. I suppose we could speculate about whether it's too much demand or not enough supply. You mentioned you didn't like the shape. Any specifics? In my hand I like the feel of long cover harmonicas best, followed by Golden Melodies, then regular tin sandwich style. I tend to by recessed reed plate harps because I don't like the way the reed plates feel on my lips, although I have a Seydel with really smooth reed plate lips, which, coincidentally, I got from Dave Payne before he went over Harrison. How did the feel compare to other harps?
What didn't you like about the sound? I haven't played one, or even seen one in the wild.
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Nate
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shbamac
78 posts
Jan 25, 2011
11:26 PM
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Hmm... the front of the B-rad feels to wide, rounded and tall for my tatse. It's not comfortable in my hands. It just feels wrong to me. The reed plates stick out to much. The comb is a little to recessed in relation the reed plates. There are to many sharp edges all over the harp. I can't reaaly pin point what it is about the sound that I don't care for. It just doesn't sound as good to me as SP20s, Crossovers or GMs. Doesn't project as well either. It's not very smooth. Sounds more muted to me, and my friends that I've played it for. They don't care for the sound of it either.
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joeleebush
201 posts
Jan 26, 2011
3:41 AM
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nacoran:
1. You minored in journalism?...well I MAJORED in it.
2. That admin hat you're wearing needs to be a larger size, your head is too big for the one you have now.
"if you want, but if you want to keep playing on this lawn you need to treat people with respect. You seem to be itching for a fight. Go find it somewhere else. I'm saying this with my admin hat on."
It is indeed Adam's lawn, but it sure isn't YOUR lawn. I've never seen it to fail, give some guy a badge and a gun and he tries to throw his weight around. Members of the "thought police" are the worst and get ZERO respect from me.
I don't think you and I would get along no matter what.
Use your "admin POWERS" at will.
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kudzurunner
2292 posts
Jan 26, 2011
5:14 AM
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Joe Lee Bush has informed me this morning that he has decided not to participate in HCH 2011. My initial response was an email in which I asked him to reconsider. My second email, after I read this thread, was an email in which I accepted his decision. HCH 2010 was a remarkably rancor-free event. I want to keep it that way.
For the record, I am extremely pleased with the measured and reasonable way that Nacoran behaved in this thread. He is doing exactly what I have asked him and the other admins to do when confronted with breaches in the forum creed. It's a thankless job.
@Joe Lee: There are no "thought police" on this forum. There are four people who have agreed to help me out by stepping in and trying to cool things down when tempers run short and people forget their better selves. If you've ever gigged in a club where things got out of control and impacted you negatively, you'll understand why I'm a fan of Patrick Swayze in ROADHOUSE. I'm sad that you're unable to recognize his avatar, Nate. In any case, you're welcome to cool down and reconsider your intemperate language and your decision to avoid HCH 2011. For the time being, I'm leaving your name on the HCH 2011 roster. People are welcome to start another thread asking you to reconsider. But they, and you, are NOT welcome to blast Nate, who has my full support.
This thread is locked.
Last Edited by on Jan 26, 2011 5:17 AM
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