Klarinet Archive - Posting 000736.txt from 2000/11

From: "Butch" <captspalding@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Selmer/UMI views
Date: Thu, 23 Nov 2000 14:22:25 -0500

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Another "silent" member of this group has to speak out. I have been =
reading all the wonderful, provocative and entertaining things here for =
about two months since I joined. I have practiced, played, performed and =
fought with the clarinet for 35 years. My degrees are in music ed., but =
I have spent the last ten years teaching privately and managing a =
full-service music store. So when I read the Selmer/UMI statements, I =
thought I should share some inside info.
My company's founder (90 years old and still working) worked for HN =
White in the Thirties and Forties as a road salesman, and we have been a =
Selmer/Ludwig dealer for the fifty-five years the co. has been in =
existence. We were privy to all the behind-the-scenes rumors as the deal =
was worked out. What I can share with you may add a little to what has =
been written here.
The two entities plan to stay separate corporations, so Selmer does NOT =
own UMI. The management teams are all still separate. The Bach/Yamaha =
association will not be renewed, the biggest reason being Selmer needs =
the UMI technology and advancements to give their lines some help, the =
chief area being Bach brass.=20
As for the wonderful Artley clarinets...never met one I liked. They =
have always been a repair tech's nightmare. I can't count the number of =
times we've ordered new lower joint replacements...the tenon sockets =
just snap if you look at them the wrong way. UMI DID make a change in =
the material they use two years ago, (they use a special grade of PVC =
plastic pipe...space-age materials at their finest) but the word we've =
had is that the Artley line is likely destined to fade away as it is =
now, likely to be replaced by a Selmer-produced instrument.
Selmer/Ludwig simply hasn't been big on upgrading facilities, and =
UMI has done well with staying state-of-the-art. As for the competition =
question, I can share on that front later.

Everyone enjoy their T-Day. As a drummer friend says, take a drummer to =
dinner on Thanksgiving if you really enjoy turkey.

Don Hatfield

If you worry, you'll die. If you don't worry, you'll still die.
So why worry?

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