10 Years Later; B-Radical Harmonica

Hello Harp Techs, 10 years ago, friend and fellow harmonica player, Brad Kava was amongst the few fortunate recipients who received their B-Radical diatonic harmonica. 

The B-Radical was the brainchild of Brad Harrison of Chicago, Ill. Brad had an extremely ambitious goal of becoming the first American harmonica manufacturer in over 100 years. This last weekend, I was reacquainted with the B-Radical harmonica, and was reminded what an engineering marvel it was (is) and how well it (still) plays. Unfortunately, what the harmonica community probably remembers is how the financial collapse of Harrison Harmonica Company left countless customers without their paid-in-advance B-Radical harmonicas.

Top View

Rear view

Left side view of vented cover plates

Right view of side cover plate vents

The fit and finish of the components was (is) extraordinary

Check out this crazy one piece composite comb with brass bushings to secure the cover plates

Rear and side view of comb

Rear view of comb

All twenty reeds are secured in place with 0-90 fasteners (this view shows the opposite side of the reed plates)

Contrasted to the Harpsmith method, where the reed plate is tapped with 0-80 threads, the B-Radical uses 0-90 nuts to secure the reeds over a 0-90 post (fastener). Both methods allow for easy replacement of damaged reeds.

Here is my favorite thing about the B-Radical harmonica. Look carefully at the B-Radical reed and you will notice the longitudinal mill marks. Not since 1933 and the “Hans Eisen and his Trossingen Metal Reed Factory” has there been longitudinal made reeds. The advantage of this is clear to all Harp Techs who have replaced broken reeds. The break ALWAYS occurs at a widthwise mill line. In theory, longitudinally milled reeds should outlast their widthwise made counterparts. In a future forum, I promise to show how and why some Harp Techs sand/polish their reeds in a longitudinal stroke.

Here is a photo of a Hohner reed made by widthwise milling, adopted by all harmonica companies

Readers interested in learning more about the Harrison Harmonica Company and it’s B-Radical diatonic harmonica, click on the below link and read the essay I wrote February of 2011.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KlOePF5GwzG9ivv1NCl8fy_JoEVzx3rH/view?usp=sharing

Your Harpsmith, Kinya