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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000046.txt from 2004/08
From: "Angela Wells" <oneflute1oboe@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [DR-L] Those awful Chinese instruments
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 01:42:30 -0400
Hi Jim-
I hear you, and I wish I were as optimistic as you. I would like to see high
quality instruments from a larger variety of makers on the market. Not that
I wish to see prices driven so low that these skilled craftsmen aren't
getting what they deserve for their hard work.
I've never been to China and I don't have detailed knowledge about what
things are like there. I've heard that it's bad. I also don't know what it's
like to own, or work in, any instrument-making factory.
I can assume that if I was in China and I needed to make a profit, it might
be hard for me to obtain materials of high quality, as well as labor skilled
and knowledgable enough to turn the materials into something really great.
There's no telling that if I somehow improved things and started making a
profit, that I would pay my workers more rather than keeping more to myself.
I can also assume that in China, there is great wealth- spread among a
handful of people. Just like here in the US, except from what I've heard,
it's far worse for the common people there. So of course, some decent things
are being made.
I don't know how to fix the social situation there or here or anywhere.
Maybe all of the socially unaware people will disappear one day. ("My SUV is
bigger than yours!" ::poof::) Or, maybe they'll disappear slowly if we
educate each other and our children. If not, things worsen I suppose.
And when that happens... play a little louder. See, I told you I wish I was
more optimistic.
:-)Angela:-)
----Original Message Follows----
From: Jim Katz <jimkatz@-----.ca>
To: doublereed@-----.org
Whenever this topic comes up, the Chinese oboes and bassoons and the rest
are roundly dumped on, which is fine as far as it goes. What we really need
is someone who is in the right spot to contact the manufacturer and see if
we can improve the situation. If the keywork is bad because they are using
leftover noodle dough, they could perhaps benefit from a suggestion or two.
The social issues would even improve as they sold more good instruments,
could pay the workers more, etc. Let's face it, if they were making good
knock-offs of Heckels and Lorees we would snap them up. Several old names
and tooling in pianos have been bought up by Chinese manufacturers, and I'm
told that they are making some good instruments; not professional concert
machines, but good mid-level home and apartment pianos.
Jim
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