Klarinet Archive - Posting 000825.txt from 1999/12

From: Ken Wolman <ken.wolman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Some disturbing news?
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1999 09:51:01 -0500

bhausman@-----.com wrote:
> >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.

The guy at Prestini was quite careful to indicate that the horns are NOT
Winstons or Jean Baptistes with a different name. A Jean Baptiste
soprano sells for under $400. The Prestini sax does not feel flimsy,
the rods, keywork, and assembly feel quite sound. No misaligned pads or
any of that stuff. And like I said, it plays very okay.

> >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!

I don't know what happened to Conn, in fact, but I assume they are out
of business, and that it had something to do with taking their act out
of the country but not being up front about it.

What's curious to me is that Selmer USA does not even make a soprano
horn: those are all Selmer Paris and oh boy, are they expensive....

Ken
---------------------------
Kenneth Wolman Deutsche Bank, NA 212-469-6494
1251 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020

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