Klarinet Archive - Posting 000489.txt from 1998/12

From: David Blumberg <reedman@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] re: inferior instruments
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1998 14:30:17 -0500

Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1998 07:23:13 -0800
From: "Sheryl L. Katz" <slkatz@-----.com>
Subject: Re: [kl] choosing a new clarinet
-----Original Message-----
From: Kenneth Wolman <kwolman@-----.net>
>Even if you are just starting out on the instrument, Rachel, you will save
>nothing by buying a piece of no-name crap. It is probably poorly made and
>will force you into bad habits to compensate. The unqualifiedly good
>instrument makers--Buffet, Selmer, Yamaha, LeBlanc--all produce entry-level
>horns in both wood and plastic that are worth the extra few bucks you might
>have to pay. Avoid names you don't recognize.
---
This is a true story that illustrates exactly why NOT to buy a no name
instrument.
A couple of months ago I was perusing Ebay and saw someone auctioning brand
new flutes - they were a chinese made model with a "brand" name on them of a
cheap brand of saxophone (not Jupiter which makes good flutes). I've always
thought it would be fun to be able to play rudimentary flute, but I've also
always found the flute confounding as I could never get a sound out of one
so I didn't want to invest much in a flute. Anyway I went ahead and got
this Chinese flute for $125.
Well, it seemed to be OK, but I was having a lot of trouble with the lower
register. Since I've got some experience with woodwinds I looked hard at
the keys and figured out I had some leaks. After readjusting the keys a few
times it started going really badly out of adjustment. Close inspection
revealed that the keys and mechanisms were made out of pot metal and the
metal surrounding the adjusting screws was bending out of shape. I took the
flute to a woodwind repair shop where I was laughed at for being such a
sucker to have bought such a thing.
After readjusting the flute as much as I could for about three weeks I was
playing and all of a sudden I heard springs popping and metal parts
literally started flying off the instrument.
The lucky thing for me is that the Ebay seller was a dealer. I called him,
mailed back the flute, and he refunded my money.
I did learn how to make sounds out of the flute and ended up buying a Yamaha
intermediate instrument. Turns out to be a lot easier to play, plays in
much better tune, and I haven't had to adjust the keys once.
A beginner could have bought that Chinese flute and struggled for quite a
while wondering why the flute was so hard. Of course it wouldn't have
lasted that long if the flute "exploded" on them as it did on me. The guy
who repairs my clarinet says the Chinese clarinets are just as bad yet they
are quite popular with parents who want to buy a first instrument for their
kids. It's a shame because a very playable Buffet, Selmer, Vito (LeBlanc)
or Yamaha can be purchased for <$350.
Sherry Katz

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Sherry, you''re 100% correct. It is a shame that poor quality instruments
like that even exist. They help no one. The dealer should be ashamed of
selling crap like that, but I'm sure he is not. You are lucky that he even
took it back, as if he will sell junk like that, usually his policys will
be similar. Those instruments (Monique?) are as bad as the Damark catalog
instruments.
David Blumberg
reedman@-----.com

"My Tempo Accompaniments" for Woodwinds
http://www.sneezy.org/david_blumberg/
Accompaniments on Audio Cd's with YOUR tempo's on them!!

http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/Music/Blumberg.html
http://members.aol.com/cwindz/galper.html

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