Klarinet Archive - Posting 000354.txt from 1997/09

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Manufacturing deficiencies (was something else)
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 1997 14:00:13 -0400

At 10:59 AM 9/8/97 PDT, C. Henderson wrote:
>Bill (I think) wrote:
>> I guess the people I am upset with are not the repairmen, but the
>> manufacturers who spit junk out the door. This may even be understandable
>> when we are talking about mass-produced student line instruments. I just
>> think that when I am shelling out thousands of dollars for a
>> professional-grade horn, the least they can provide me is an instrument
>> that performs AS DESIGNED.
>
>I'd have to disagree with you on one point, though, Bill. It may be
>"understandable" when talking about student line instruments, but
>that doesn't mean it's *acceptable*, even then. As the teacher of several
beginners (or still close to it) I have a major gripe with Buffet, who turn
>out supposedly good student model clarinets, with mouthpieces even I,
>with over twenty years playing behind me, still find hard to play. It's
>like having a handkerchief stuffed inside the mpce while you play!! When
>Hite can turn out good (sorry, *very* good) mouthpieces which retail at
>under A$40, why can't Buffet do that in the manufacturing process, even
>at student level?? After all, the argument is the same - shouldn't the
instrument come out of the factory in reasonable playing order for the
>general mass of the experience level to which the clarinet model is
>targetted?
>
Yes, it was me. With Buffet mouthpieces the problem is apparently in the
design. They do perform as designed, but the design stinks. It does seem
like a stupid way to squander their good name, doesn't it?

As for whether poor quality is *acceptable*, I agree with you.
Understandable, yes, but acceptable, no.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.