Klarinet Archive - Posting 000531.txt from 1999/02

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Horwath
Date: Sun, 14 Feb 1999 16:14:04 -0500

Bill Hausmann wrote:
>
> At 02:04 PM 2/14/99 -0600, Roger Garrett wrote:
> >My wife tried 12 cellos before choosing one that she liked. 10 of them
> >were not good for her at all - all made by the same maker and costing the
> >same. Is her cello bad? No - but each one will turn out slightly
> >differently .
> >
> But could each of them be adjusted by a trained technician so they would
> ALL work for her (or someone else with particular requirements)? In an
> instrument like a cello where the vibration of the wood itself is so VITAL
> to the sound, maybe not. I guess the question is, can Francois, or someone
> else, take ANY clarinet off the production line and adjust it to YOUR
> specifications? I realize that that question may be beyond the area of
> your expertise, though. Mr. Ridenour? Anyone? It sure would be nice if
> M. Kloc were still here.
>
> >My understanding of what
> >you have been saying is that, if a person pays $1700 plus tax for a Buffet
> >clarinet (or any clarinet I think you were saying), it should come already
> >tweaked and ready to go.
>
> Either that, or have the final adjustment included as part of the pro-line
> clarinet package, conveniently available, and announced up front.
>
> 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
> ICQ UIN 4862265

Let me throw in my two cents worth to the above (last conversation)
between Bill Housmann and Rodger Garret.

Let's just assume that shop time at Buffet or Leblanc here in the US
adds up to $100 per/hr./per skilled person doing the final regulations
on newly arrived instruments from France. Let's also assume,
hypothetically, that each company spends an additional hour on average
to further fine tune and regulate these instruments beyond what they are
now spending. Let's further propose, hypothetically, that their schedule
includes ten instruments per day. That is $1,000 per day, times five
days a week, times four weeks per month, or $20,000 less profit per
month for the companies.

To the buyer, the price increase would be somewhere around $200 to $300
more added onto their buying price.

Now lets assume that at present, only one out of five complains to the
factory and wishes to have additional work done and all other complaints
are fielded in house by the retail or discount company that sold the
instrument to the customer. If the factory only has to spend 20% more to
satisfy unhappy customers they're still way ahead.

News groups, like this one, is slowly but surely changing the ways many
of us do business. They are enlighten the reader, making him more aware
of best prices, best brands, best service and all of those kinds of
things. Right now, those who investigate through a news group before
making a major instrument purchase probably represent 1 or 2% of all
instruments sold.

If Buffets are Leblancs or Yamahas keep showing up in places like this
with reports of gross inconsistencies or unhappy customers, sooner or
later, the companies will be forced to take note and take steps to
change the situation. Presently, it seems that most customers are
satisfied with these products. Those few who are the most discriminating
and who know what additional tweaking makes a difference, are seeking
out that additional work and consider it part of the process.

I could be all wet. My figures are pulled out of a hat and does not
necessarily reflect any factual data. All has been put forth just for thought.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org