Klarinet Archive - Posting 000195.txt from 1995/01

From: CLARK FOBES <reedman@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Buffet
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 1995 03:41:40 -0500

Recently I received a message from Brent Taylor of Boosey & Hawkes
corporation regarding a posting I made in December about a prototype
R-13 clarinet that I had recently played. I also made some generic
comments about competition in the market place. In the interest of space
I have not included the previous postings, but I did forward both
messages to this board yesterday.

Because of my relationship to Buffet and to the clarinet
performing/consumer market I feel compelled to answer Mr Taylor's
response.

First, I believe Mr Taylor misunderstood my statement regarding Buffet
and and the "discouragement" of competion in the market place. Mr Taylor
stated in his fax:

"...I take strong exception to his (Clark Fobes) view that
Buffet has discouraged individual makers. In point of fact, Buffet
encourages the keenest competion in the world by setting the highest
standards in the world."

My original statement was:

"...I am a Buffet fan. I make no bones about that, but the
relative low cost of these mass produced clarinets, their general high
quality and Buffet's monolithic stature in the industry has discouraged
individual makers."

My point was and is that it is has not been economically viable for
small makers to try to produce clarinets at the same price level as
Buffet. This does not imply any cospiracy or intent by Buffet to
discourage competition it is just economic fact.

Mr. Taylor also commented:

" I find it quite remarkable that Clark Fobes or anyone not
directly involved with the Buffet Crampon company would make a public
statement about what the company may or may not do with their clarinets
eighteen months from now."

Mr. Taylor's statement was a response to the information I reported
regarding a recent meeting with Rene Lesieux (head acoustician at
Buffet). At this meeting Mr Lesieux asked my opinion of a protype
clarinet that he had brought to this country for the express purpose of
inviting comments from American players. As he was on tour with my
Buffet representative, Michael D. Wallace, it was my understanding that
Buffet had sanctioned this trip and was putting this at our door step as
the very probable next step in the evolution of Buffet clarinets. Mr.
Lesieux is a man of the highest integrity and intelligence and in my
opinion a "straight shooter". I was extremely impressed with his
knowledge and that he allowed himself to be engaged in a lively repartee
on acoustics and Buffet clarinet design. At no point in our three hours
of conversation did I feel that I was receiving any information that was
not available to the public in general. My reporting of our meeting was
an enthusiastic response to the efforts of Buffet to improve their very
fine product.

Mr. Taylor further questioned why I did not speak about the new Green
Line of clarinets that are now in production by Buffet. Truthfully, I
have not been "totally blown away" by these new clarinets even though I
agree that the concept is terrific. But, I have only tried two of these
instruments and I remain open on the question of how these new
instruments will pan out in the longer run. I do believe that Buffet is
taking a real leadership role in exploring new materials for the
clarinet and I hope that the experiments will continue, perhaps moving
away from wood all together.

I remain a true Buffet enthusiast and supporter. If any of my earlier
comments seemed to portray less than that, then I hope my position is
now very clear.

Clark W Fobes reedman@-----.com

   
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