Klarinet Archive - Posting 000661.txt from 1999/05

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl]Hans Moennig's solution the Dark Clarinet Tone
Date: Sat, 15 May 1999 03:34:27 -0400

At 07:34 AM 5/14/99 -0500, Roger Garrett wrote:
>On Fri, 14 May 1999, Bill Hausmann wrote:
>> If the design deficiencies of the Buffet A clarinet (or any clarinet for
>> that matter) are so well known, why do the manufacturers not take steps to
>> revise their tooling to correct them? And why do players continue to buy
>> them in spite of the inherent problems? You would think normal market
>> forces would take care of these matters. I don't want to take away
>> anyone's lucrative aftermarket business, but I just don't get it!
>
>For someone who has been on the list as long as you, and for someone who
>has seen this argument and discussion so many times, I wonder why you ask
>the question yet again? In fact, you have participated in this discussion
>at least four times since I have been on the list.
>
>Ulterior motives??
>
I guess the question still hasn't been answered to my satisfaction.
Regardless of the manufacturer, a deficient product should be corrected.
Depending upon aftermarket people like Moennig and Brannen to do it is
ludicrous. A company that does this deserves to lose its customer base. I
am nonplussed by the continued loyalty some players show in spite of poorly
made, or even poorly designed instruments. If I was the manufacturer and
realized I was making an instrument that people loved despite a few KNOWN
deficiencies, I would be killing myself trying to get it perfect. I'd then
OWN the market!

Before we get into a shouting match over particular brands, I want to make
it clear that I am not taking sides. If ANY manufacturer had been making
perfect instruments all this time, the discussion would be unnecessary.
And the problem is hardly confined to clarinets. I have been complaining
about the awkward, archaic Bundy saxophones for years. Finally, Selmer has
replaced the Bundy II alto with the vastly superior AS300, but the matching
tenor is not even in development. I have the same complaint regarding the
new Conn 24M alto sax and ITS obsolete stablemate tenor. The reason as
explained to me is that the market is too small to justify the expense of
the change. But in these days of CAD/CAM, can it be all that difficult to
completely redesign a horn, much less make small revisions?

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

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

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