Klarinet Archive - Posting 000816.txt from 1999/12

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Some disturbing news?
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1999 00:10:49 -0500

At 09:04 PM 12/23/1999 -0500, Ken Wolman wrote:
>I wrote to Prestini yesterday and asked them straight out if their horns
>are made in Taiwan. The sales and marketing manager replied this
>afternoon (yes, I was surprised) that indeed their keywork and bodies
>ARE manufactured in Taiwan, but not in the cookie-cutter factories that
>turn out Jean Baptistes and Winstons, etc. The horns are assembled in
>Taiwan, but are shipped to the factory in Arizona, and are tested before
>they are shipped to dealers. He said he makes 3 or 4 trips a year to
>Taiwan to make sure standards are being met. So, as he put it, it's a
>USA factory that happens to be located in Taiwan.
>
Sounds like the way L.A. Saxes are made. Parts are shipped over from
Taiwan, the colored lacquer finished are applied here and the horns
assembled and tested. Also not much different from the way most student
and intermediate Yamaha instruments are made - parts shipped from Japan for
assembly in Grand Rapids.

>What's scarier are those persistent rumors that Selmer USA is going
>offshore with their instruments, but are going to charge Selmer prices
>for them. If the rumor is true, THAT is real exploitation.
>
Hasn't happened yet, and I doubt that they would take the risk. They are
fully aware of what happened to Conn!

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://homepages.go.com/~zoot14/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

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

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