Re: [Harp-L] Re: Bushman Delta Frost harps

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Where do you get this information that you can state with such
certainty that Suzuki copied Bushman's Delta Frost?

Your claim that phosphor bronze is unavailable to Suzuki (or in China)
clearly does not affect Suzuki's ability to use it in their harmonicas.
Several Suzuki harmonica models do indeed claim to have phosphor bronze
reeds (try googling +suzuki +harmonica +phosphor), so why wouldn't
Suzuki be able to put phosphor bronze in a DF-like harmonica?

I've also heard from insiders that that the DF is a repackaged Suzuki.

Both stories could be true, but both have elements of unlikeliness. 

While Bushman models are attractive and highly regarded, you probably
know that there are no harmonica factories in the United States.  The
manufacturer most frequently linked to Bushman is the Seydel company in
Germany (which also makes harmonicas for accordion manufacturer
Weltmeister). So the DF could possibly come from Germany, but could
also come from China (or Japan, Brazil, or the Czech Republic, all
countries where harmronicas are made).

So it's possible that the DF is made in Germany. But why on earth would
Suzuki bother to copy it? Every model added adds a cost of
manufacturing and marketing, so it would have to offer a clear benefit.
Delta Frost is not famous the way Lee Oskar or Marine Band are, for
instance. Certainly Suzuki has had no problem coming out with a whole
succession of innovative, high-quality products on its own. I can't see
why they would gain by copying the Delta Frost.

The important thing: If you like the harp that says "Delta Frost" on
the cover, play it. Who cares where it comes from? 

Winslow

--- rbeetsme@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Did you know that the Delta Frost came first, Suzuki copied the harp,
> except they didn't have access to the higher quality phospher bronze
> to copy the reedplates. The phospher bronze used in the Delta Frost
> comes from America, not available to Suzuki or their Chinese reed
> makers.  Just to set the record straight.  (Scandalous!  the Japanese
> and Chinese actually COPIED it! )



       
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