Pretty much man. $180 plus shipping which, if you ask me - Is a pittance. When you consider the price of a custom shop guitar/bass/drum kit/brass or woodwind instrument. Harp players have it pretty sweet!
I was thinking about putting a review vid up. I like the style you used, particularly on the playing side. Great playing.
Interesting you demonstrated the 2 and 3 OB. Are the B-Rads set up to get these? It's all extra notes and places, which is good, but from what I gather, most customisers only work in 1,4,5 and 6 on OB's. Did you tweak them up yourself or is this OTB (I didn't notice you mention if it was. Apologies if you did.)
On a full set-up, my harps OB or OD on every hole. I think, though, most players are content with 1, 4, 5, and 6, so your comment might be valid. I would say that so far, it is 50-50 on the higher end harps I do if the buyer wants the ODs or even OBs.
Generally speaking, if you are setting up a harp to OB, like you can order the B-Rad, the gaps will be tight enough to OB on 2 and 3 - unless that is not desired. The only person to specifically state they want those OBs on one of my harps is Clint Hoover.
One thing to think about, and I know I wrestle with this, is whether or not a harp has even been tweaked to OB. By this I mean, you can get a B-Rad set-up to OB or not set-up to OB. If you try one not set-up to OB and then are disappointed with the OBs, it isn't fair.
I've actually moved to labeling harps as OB or non-OB on the reedplates on my higher models so there would be no confusion, especially if one were re-sold. I was sent a half dozen or so Sleigh harps from around '95 to clean/fix. I was initially disappointed with the overbends, but it turns out that they were specifically set-up to NOT overbend. I had no clue until checking with the owner (I also want the record to state that even at 15yrs these harps are EXCELLENT).
I have tried several B-Rads and thought they were pretty sweet. My parents ordered me one for my B-day and fortunately a few people at Harrison knew I'd want and OB setup (my parents wouldn't have a clue, lol). I am excited to get my hands on it. I have a lot of respect for that product, although, I've been critical of their business model. I have not played one since SPAH '10 (where the owners were all OB players and I had top end customs to compare them to), but I've heard they are getting better all the time.
While I am usually not in total agreement with Kinya's assessments of various harps, this article seemed to be exactly what my impressions were...
http://harmonicasessions.com/?p=138
I thought how they used the bolts on the reedplates was interesting as on some models, it is hard to do the draw reeds like that and not hit the comb. Obviously, that isn't an issue here.
I don't charge more specifically for an OB set up, although the more expensive harps have more options pertaining to OB readiness.
Regarding why they wouldn't want that set up, I think there could be differences in performance depending on the key and octave. For example, a harp set up to overdraw might feel a little different than one where that isn't a concern. If someone plays hard, that has to be taken into account too.
I think a OB harp and non-OB harp, though, have a lot more in common then they have different. ---------- Mike Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas Updated 2/1/11
Steve the main reason you might not want an ob harp if you don't ob is because the reeds tend to choke out if you dont relax your breath force. That's the tightrope they have to walk at HH, ease of overblow Vs. Choke, that's why they ask questions when you order, to see if you need an overblow setup or something else. Back when I was working at HH, this call came in at 3 a.m., I listened to the message the next morning, it was Ray from OZ flipping over his new b-rad and playing it to voicemail. One of the best voicemails ever, one of many great experiences I had when I was working there. Ive got a Bb, D and G on order myself. The 3 ob isnt something that is usually set on purpose because 3ob is the same note as the four blow. My B-rad (a C) obs on the three anyway. I use that 3 ob when i want a four blow note that's a little flat and tensiony. ----------
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Last Edited by on Feb 18, 2011 5:07 PM
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Sorry, it sounded like a novice question and in many ways it is. if a harp chokes on me I've always assumed it's due to bad setup, and in fact it is. I sometimes over gap and need to adjust, but I've never had to worry about a harp choking when set up right.
Although I will throw in a few anomalies: One, I tongue block and overblow, which I've heard people say it can't be done (it can, but it is much harder than if you're puckering) and two, I smoke like a train, so I guess I don't put as much force behind my playing as other folks.
Correction: Just did a search here and there are people who tongue block overblow, including Brad Harrison himself, but we are a minority.
Last Edited by on Feb 19, 2011 2:23 AM
the better the instrument the better the control the more talent the more music out of the axe... though, look at the old blues performers,mostly otb harps,cheap guitars[high strings n` slide]sub-par never stopped any blues player from singing the blues on the instrument.how many $200. harp players can ever HONK ! like James Cotton did with cheap ass MB`S it`s the soul not the instrument that does it...
