Klarinet Archive - Posting 000437.txt from 1999/11

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Crappy mouthpieces
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 16:33:47 -0500

Neil,

Neil Leupold wrote:

> --- GrabnerWG@-----.com wrote:
>
> > Now back to my central observation. Maybe I should have stated it this way.
> > SOME are crap, in that the measurements are such that the mouthpiece is
> > virtually unplayable.
> >
> > What do you do with a mouthpiece where on one side the curve starts at 28
> > (these are half-millimeters) and the other side at 38? You cannot possibly
> > play this mouthpiece with ease. Some fairly extreme embouchure modifications
> > would have to be made to avoid squeaking.
> >
> > This was a brand new mouthpiece, for sale at a very reputable store. Someone
> > will eventually buy it........
>
> Ah, the beauty of a market economy, where specific knowledge and decision
> making rights are decentralized. People buying crappy mouthpieces suggests
> that they are either not trying them out first, or they don't possess the
> specific knowledge necessary to discriminate between good vs. bad.

That is exactly the case. Some buyers don't have a clue as to what they are
buying.
They may have been told by the band director, "Go get such and such." They may
have a friend who sounds wonderful on Such and such, so they go out and buy it.
It is common practice to take an instrument that no one will buy and have the
maker
put in in another store, a different state. This is much easier than fixing it.

> In either
> case, either the consumer acquires the needed specific knowledge, or the pro-
> ducer continues to profit on their ignorance.

Both are true. The consumer is often ignorant and the producer continues to
profit
from their ignorance. The producer might also be ignorant.

> The more discriminating the
> consumer becomes about mouthpieces relative to his budget constraint, the
> closer he will come to approximating the best mouthpiece he can buy within
> that constraint.

There are several people who realize that there needs to be a mouthpiece of
modest
price that the ignorant mother will pop for when she goes into the store.
Ridenour, Hite,
Morgan, and the person you are arguing with all realize this need.

> Until that approximation begins to occur, mouthpiece com-
> panies will continue to have an incentive to refrain from spending the extra
> money necessary to make their mouthpieces more consistent.

Most big companies have failed to produce over a long period of time mouthpieces
with
any consistency. Elmer died. Tom left.

> For those of us
> with the relevant specific knowledge, but also with strict budget constraints,

What is your relevant specific knowledge? You have a mouthpiece you like. Go
practice and enjoy.
As far as budget restraints go, I will pay whatever to have the best mouthpiece I
can find. If
my sound will make me $2500 in two weeks, I'll buy the mouthpiece. If having the
best sound
will get me a gig that makes me $10,000 in two months, I'll consider any price
for a mouthpiece to
be a bargain.

>
> we're thankful that people continue to buy those crappy versions of the "same"
> mouthpiece.

To each his own. If you like what you're playing, it isn't crappie, its
wonderful.

> When the companies are eventally forced to up the consistency,

They never have. That is why individual mouthpiece makers have attracted people
who
appreciate a better mouthpiece.

>
> they will also succumb to market forces

Keep the factory wheels turning. That's all that counts. Quality, schmallity, the
customer be ware.

> and, naturally, raise the price.

They do that anyway.

> Then
> I won't even be able to afford the mass produced mouthpieces, much less the
> hand-made ones.

You will always be able to afford the mass produced mouthpieces. The sliding
scale between what
companies are willing to spend and what you are willing to buy will always be in
synch.

> This is hardly a Pareto-efficient outcome.
>
> -- Neil
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com
>
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