I may be missing the point, but you could buy a custom and get it before or around this harmonica comes out. Why it is more than a custom harmonica goes against my logic.
Tryharp I do work on all of my harps. In fact, I'll work on most anything that I own. I find it very difficult to hire anyone that will do a job right or at least give the care and attention to the task that I will. I've got Seydel's, Lee Oskar's, Suzuki's and a Golden Melody that I have massaged on. Some alot more than others. In fact to bring some harps to their potential it takes alot of time. Ironically the harp that has required the most work is a Seydel 1847 "A" harp. A hundred dollar Harp. The damn thing gave me fits at first and then I realized one of the reed plates was warped from the factory.
I have been contemplating on rewarding myself with a custom harp. In fact I have wanted to ask Chris if he has any completed harps for sale. When I saw what Brad and Jason are doing it sparked my interest. Going where no Harp Manufacturer has gone before as far as making an out of the box custom harp so I jumped in and placed an order. The ergonomics are certainly a radical change and from what they say, so too are the internal workings of it. I hope that I am not disappointed in laying down my cash for something I could've created an equal to in my garage. But if so it wouldn't be the first time.
Well said, I like your style a lot. Let me know how it goes.
I think it will be great to get a harp by a great builder, you can look into it and work out how to do it yourself. I hope its as good as a Buddah harp.
I don't have completed harps. You have had to catch me in the first week I was offering harps when I made up 33 of them and sold them. Since then the wait has been 2-4 months.
I've tried the B-radical. Is it good YES but was it as good as I can make for myself or others? NO, not even close. I also have to take into consideration, B-Radidicals (More than a couple) I've played were hand tweaked and hand put together by Brad Harrison. Tell me that a Machine is going to do a better job than the creator and I'll tell you to take a blow from your crack pipe.
Without naming names, there are others who CURRENTLY have and play B-radicals who have ordered multiple harps from me since having the Bradical in their hands for road and gig tests.
Zack P, recently got a Brad Harrison custom harp which he favorably talked about but his tuned changed when he got one of my harps last week. I have known Brad Harrison personally for nearly 10 years (met him in 2000) he makes a damn good harp, some of the best I have every played but he question is, can you bottle that and sell it as something better than an artist made, high-level player made harmonica? (not talking about just me here - Spiers, Harrison, Filisko boys all apply) NO NO NO NO
Leaving myself out of the equation can Brad build a harp as well as Joe Spiers? NO As well as Joe Filisko? NO as well as Richard Sleigh? NO. If Brad's handy work were THAT fabulous, you wouldn't have his current endorsees buying harps from other builders on a consistent basis. So how can one logically conclude that a manufactured harmonica is going to be better than a custom harmonica that costs you less than a B-radical especially when the creator isn't even the best at what he does?
Last Edited by on Jun 27, 2009 7:35 AM
if you ordered today, I could easily have one for you before the bradical ever arrived which I thought was supposed to be a year ago... :-)
Last Edited by on Jun 27, 2009 7:38 AM
I have to agree entirely that a production line harp will never be as good as a custom.
I set my own Marine Bands up so that they have sanded and sealed combs, screw assembly and then I gap, arc and emboss them. They are without a doubt the best harps I have ever played.
Of course I have yet to try a Joe Spiers or Buddha harp.
The Pignose 7-100 is a cracking little amp for practice and busking. Great sound, wonderful tone and looks so funky, I love it!
The HarpGear Double Trouble is my main amp. HarpGear amps in my opinion are the best custom amps out there bar none.
I have played through friends Sonny Jr amps, HarpKing, Fender Bassmans, Fender Super, and so many others amps new and vintage. All good amps but they just don't even come close to the HarpGear.
It's the same with Marine Band harps.
I have played Suzukis, Lee Oskars, Bushman, Huang and Hering. But they just don't have that wonderful expressive tone you get from a Marine Band to my ears.
Last Edited by on Jun 27, 2009 9:15 AM
LIP RIPPER, there is A LOT more that goes into a harp than just sanding a comb, simple reed work and screws.
I believe Brian Purdy's amps (Harp Gear) are better because of the things he's into ie Shakuhachi Flute playing. It requires very delicate ears and focused attention. I like to think of Brian as a Samurai sword maker for amps and think of myself in the same way for harps.
ok im going to give out the reason why its so expensive in case any one didnt figure it out yet.
a custom harp is realy a $30 harp "customized" an resold for more money. im not putting them down, i like them. thats just what they are.
the b-radical is a brand new design built from scratch. just lookin at the harp you can tell it cost alot to build one. have you ever seen a MB get built? its just stampin out parts by the shit load an slappin them together like its nothing. the b-radical is shaped all funky an is probobly molded in some way which most likely cost more to build. also its made by a company that is in no way near as wealthy as hohner or others. so in order for them to mass produce such a complex harp an sound an play good too will cost them alot of money. they have to be able to make that money back plus profit. after all it is a business.
that said, if i had a job i would buy one just to have it. they are sexy lookin. but i dont have a job so if i came up with that kind of money id more likely buy a harp from buddah.
I don't doubt that custom harps are great, but to say line harps could NEVER be as good rubs me the wrong way. When you look at the precision that goes into making a microchip I think we have to give the edge to the robots. That doesn't mean that the harmonica market is big enough to come up with the R&D funds to get to that level. I don't believe in the difference between 'art' and 'science'. Art is just the application of science in a from-the-guts sort of way. Given time, science will pass art.
For example, I remember reading an article a couple years ago about a computer program that simulated the different possible ways a race car could be configured. There are, of course, head mechanics who make lots of money to configure their teams cars best. The program had the ability to virtually test and compare thousands of configurations at a time. It took the best configurations and ran another layer of tests. Eventually, it could top the configurations of the very best professionals. Based on the testimonials of those of you who can afford custom harps I'm going to say the robots have a way to go, but that doesn't mean they aren't there in the rear view mirror, driving a specially configured race car.
i dont think a production harp will EVER be as good as a custom harp. the market isnt big enough to require such attention. a custom harp has personal one on one hours an hours devoted to each harp. hohner spends like 1 min. on reedwork. they tune it by ear real quick an move on to the next one. custom builders use digital equitment to tune them making sure there perfect. there is no way you can compare the two.
Jon Sparrow writes: "the b-radical is a brand new design built from scratch. just lookin at the harp you can tell it cost alot to build one. have you ever seen a MB get built? its just stampin out parts by the shit load an slappin them together like its nothing. the b-radical is shaped all funky an is probobly molded in some way which most likely cost more to build."
You mean like the Hohner CX-12???
Nocoran write: "I don't doubt that custom harps are great, but to say line harps could NEVER be as good rubs me the wrong way."
Nacoran,
Do you think a Sex robot could duplicate a real partner?
Have you ever played a truly great custom harp built by Joe Spiers or Joe Filisko? Have you ever played the B-radical?
I have played both, Brad even talked to me about being one of his endorsees. I've played prototypes, I've seen the insides, I've felt the covers. I know what is going into it more than most people.
Buiding a great harp is more art than science. If there were a science to it everybody would be making great harps. As it stands, Brad's work can't even top Spier's nor Filisko's work, heck, he can't even top MY work and I'm the "newbie" so like I said before, how can the creator of such and instrument make one that is better than a custom harp when he can't make a custom harp that doesn't compare to the rest?
Here's a portion of a transcript from a pro player who has a harp from me and brad
[5/20/2009 9:25:32 PM] xxx says: Man, this thing is THE BEST harmonica I have ever played. [5/20/2009 9:25:40 PM] Chris Michalek says: better than the Harrisons? [5/20/2009 9:25:44 PM] xxx says: The Harrisons DON'T compare. [5/20/2009 9:42:51 PM] xxx says: Yours doesn't play like a harmonica. [5/20/2009 9:42:59 PM] xxx says: The bends on the three draw are smooth [5/20/2009 9:43:18 PM] xxx says: more so than Brad's. With Brad's, remember that Prince song I recorded? [5/20/2009 9:43:25 PM] xxx says: The three draws sounded bad.
You will be able to go to the store (Guitar Center) and ask for a 4 blow (Or Whatever) for a Bb Harrison or any key! Every single reed is easily replaceable by any one with a screw driver as they sit in precise aligning brackets. I can assure everyone on this list (all due respect to Chris/Buddha) that no one has played anything close to the finished version of this harp yet! The end product WILL be the best harp ever commercially built I guarantee it. We have a line of quality control coupled with the best and most modern advanced machines that can be tweaked and changed in ways never applied to harmonica making ever before. The reeds are superior to anything ever made (Material, profile, fractal geometry) simply because the the development process is so much easier for us, we can change profiles, thickness, leangth even materials at the click of a mouse and have a reed ready to try and test. This has put Harrison harmonicas years ahead of all other makers and the future will be absolutely ridiculous! Jason Ricci
wow finally something besides hohners and lee oskars at guitar center- If this actually happens I might try one ---------- "Without music, life would be a mistake" -Nietzsche
I will be saving up for one. I know metal/plastics mfr processes. If the time and $ are put into processes, material & quality control on a solid design, I believe what Jason is saying. There was a time when off-the-shelf harmonicas were a hell of a lot closer to a custom job. Given processes, & technology have improved, there is no reason why you can't produce a bad-ass OTS harp. Throw in an innovative(Radical)design and look out! Keep rocking Jason
I bet it will be the best, but I hope there is another model made that will be cheaper as it doesn't compete very well otherwise. I am eager to hear how the reeds are replaced. Something tells me my local Guitar Center will not have these things. One thing I know, I believe these generation of players: Levy/Michalek, Jason/Del Junco, and now hopefully guys like me, Jay, Brandon, R.J., we can help seal that in stone in a decade or two.
they may carry the reeds. but i dont think they will stock the harp it self. my guitar center only stocks GM in key of C. they refuse to stock any other key for that harp for some reason. not a single music store in all of jersey had a Bb. i had to special order it. one store even laughed at me like "haha no we dont carry harmonicas in flat". like its some rare thing they never heard of.
Buddha- I am not trying to knock what you do. If I could afford it I'd buy one of your harps, and I'm not even saying that science is ready to take on building a super harp without customization, just saying never is a long time. There are lithography machines that print computer circuits just like a photocopier prints copies of a picture. They use them in rapid prototyping now, but in the future I think a lot of things will be made that way and the tolerances will only get better with time.
I know what these ultra modern machine do. I have one in my house and with the right drawing, I can change things with the click of a mouse. The one I have cost a few thousand but you can make one yourself for less than a hundo. Get your self a copy of BobCAD and Mastercam X3 for your computer and you're set.
science can build a super harp with out customization. but like i said before theres no market for it. thats what it boils down to. an we should be thankfull that we got companies like harison harmonicas that are willing to devote there time an money to the closest thing we are gonna get. not every one will buy one but at least the option to is there.
OK, so I pre-ordered one. I had to know. I don't see how it could be better than a Suzuki Firebreath though. It is a very cool looking harp and I am anxious to hear the tone of the Harrison. As for the Firebreath I am very impressed. It bends like butter out of the box. The Firebreath does have a richer tone than the Promaster or Bluesmaster. The rosewood comb is nice and smooth so I almost don't notice that it is wood.
All your questions,doubts concerns etc will be answered soon enough. I don't live in Jersey but I stopped in at the sam ash there near teaneck and picked up harps in a few different flat keys. We already have the deal with Guitar Center...this is not speculation or wishful thinking...Yes certain franchises may not stock everything all the time but theres still the internet and indy business. The prototype I played in this video is plays as good as any custom I have ever used and it's not embossed nor has the action been set PLUS WERE NOT DONE!. It's the truth. Machines or no machines It's just the best harp and so easily maintainable for a lifetime. And yes Zack there IS a cheaper model coming out (Jan 2010) that will be my model and it will look more like a marine band/blues harp.
I believe there IS a market for this harp ( and so do all the loan companies, players, investors and design contests that Brad won!) to any one asking themselves logical questions like these:
1.) How many D/Bb/C whatever harps will I buy in a lifetime? And what will that cost?
2.) How much do real customs cost?
3.) How much do multiple repairs on those customs cost?
4.) How much does a violinist, guitar,piano,drummer pay for a real instrument?
5.) Do I want a company that cares, that I can call, money back Guarantees and speak English to?
Do I want to get it now and not wait a week, month Year etc...
6.) Do I want to support an American company with all American Laborers and parts, metals everything? 7.) Do I want a rust proof instrument for life or a series of basically or eventually disposable harps?
8.) Do I want something new and always consistent incooperating the best modern technology has to offer without worrying about dud harps or metal fatigue from overworked reeds.
9.) Do I want to worry how the customizers are going to respond wiyh new techniques every time Hohner produces a new and crappier cheaper reed profile out of chinese brass? (I have to search for old harps on ebay for BRAD and JOE to customize! Even though those guys do a great Job and I'm sure Chris does too, those reeds suck, I'm sorry, there easier to play for beginners and intermediates but sound thin, wimpy, feel like there going to give out, don't respond well to multiple tunings, and have WAY less spring and memory than older reeds!)
Just some stuff to think about... You guys rock! J
"walk down the street and talk to harmonica players." anybody else notice that walk was about 3'!!
and shouldn't he say that those players are tied to the company and not just man on the street testimonials?
dont take this wrong. i got to play a prototype and it is a very good harp. but i couldn't tell you about overblows, overdraws or things like that. i am just a basic 2nd position joe who was lip blocking.
speaking of blocking, dont those reed plates look like they stick out further than those on a marine band? isn't that one of the big complaints of the mb and dont all customizers sand those down or something?
what intrigues me is what looks like a hole on the side of the harp. it almost looks like you can see the reed plates, to me.
i think i'll be waiting for the ricci model. hope it comes with a t-shirt!
yes Jason, for guys like you, I make some harps out of NOS harps but there are ways around the current metal issues with good results. The harp I built for Steve Baker were current model harps and he says it's one of the very best he's ever played and with impressed so much that he introducing me to the Hohner folks over a meal at SPAH to talk about things.
I'm also working on my own reeds as I have the equipment to do it all in house and a brother who is a CAD expert who designs parts for Medtronics for a living.
Last Edited by on Jun 28, 2009 6:03 AM
i sort of expect the "signature" model, though he is more than creative enough to come up with a great name.
my take on the harp....best sounding harp i ever played! it played easier than anything else i have played. i had a hard time with controlling the bends because i usually play stock harps.
bear in mind that i have played only a few customized harps and wasn't able to make any harp-to-harp comparisons. i've played a filisko. but that was early in my journey and wasn't overly impressed by it, though i guess i should have been. i have one by antione hamel that rocks and is my favorite.
i remember that jason said it would be around $100, either that day or on his forum. for $100, i think i would buy one even with my skill level. but i am going to have to wait for reviews and see if guitar center carries the reeds before i buy at $180.
this is my take because kingley asked for it. when i read a review from somebody i dont know from adam (just an expression my pops was fond of), i wouldnt put much weight on it.
$220 plus in the UK, including shipping, and importers will probably use dollar/pound parity. But it may scare Hohner, which can only be a good thing. On the other hand, with German labour costs, the reeds won't be the only thing Hohner will outsource to China. And anyway, the man in the street may buy one $200 harp, but he won't buy 10 of them. With regret, I'm going to have to stick to tinkering with my MBs.
Last Edited by on Jun 28, 2009 9:52 AM
"this is my take because kingley asked for it. when i read a review from somebody i dont know from adam (just an expression my pops was fond of), i wouldnt put much weight on it."
Thanks eharp, that's why I was interested. It's an unbiased opinion from someone and as such is of huge benefit to people.
Maybe if Jason gets over here in October he will bring some with him, so that us Brits can see what they are like. It would make sense (to me anyway) for Jason and Michael to sell them at their gigs or at the very least have some "demo" models to promote the brand.
Yes that's a good point Andrew. There's also the customs charges. If you get had by them it'll cost a fortune for each harp. I also doubt if UK music stores would stock them as they are bloody crap at stocking harps now.
Also as you quite rightly state they would also no doubt convert dollars to pounds so each harp would be £180GBP minimum which is nearly $300 per harp!
Last Edited by on Jun 28, 2009 9:21 AM
Well, that's good there is a cheaper model. But to say the new harmonicas sound whimpy to me is incorrect. Howard Levy uses 'new' harmonicas and he sure don't sound that whimpy!
Zack the older reeds from 2003 hohners, play and sound better on bends and overblows...try it and get back to me...For Reals...just try it your a smart guy. And How do you know what year reed plates Howard has on his Filisko's? Just asking not saying it's true/false, but what recent recordings/shows his have you seen on post 2003 reed plates? BTW, I have been having to play on 'em too, I dont think I sound wimpy everything is relative in comparison of course. It's not something you can detect right off, its in the overtones particulary on bend notes the 3 draw bends and the two draw bends and of course the over blows. there is a reason joe Spiers, Brad , sandoval and others search EBay constantly looking for older MBS! Those guys dont waste there time becuase nothings wrong. Just try it yourself simple a and B comparison. A and Bb comparison... J
Jason, I hope you know I was just messing with you, because you don't sound whimpy, nor does Levy or anyone else who does it. It's just a joke. I do have those pre- 200's and I also have one prewar that Randy Sandoval was nice enough to send me. It overblows easier, but it doesn't sound much better. Of course, there is a little difference. I'm just messing with you J.
