Klarinet Archive - Posting 000148.txt from 2003/01

From: "Russell V. Conjerti" <rvconjerti@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Re: klarinet Digest 7 Jan 2003 21:15:01 -0000 Issue 4274
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 20:06:42 -0500

I saw some good Chinese made student violins; ~$1000+, that compared
favorably with others in that range when I was helping my daughter find her
violin. I don't believe these were assembly line manufactured but rather
seemed to reflect good workmanship at low labor costs. That approach
probably can not translate well to making clarinets.

Russ Conjerti

----- Original Message -----
> From: Mark Gresham <mgresham@-----.com>
> Subject: Re: [kl] Kegelstadt (Was Clarinet in Movies)
> Message-ID: <3E1AF25C.3060501@-----.com>
>
> Just curious,
> Are there any inklings of improvements in Chinese made clarinets?
> I ask because in pianos, everything used to be garbage, but things
> are changing. My understabnding is there are 4 piano manufacturing
> facilities in mainland China, 2 produce junk, and 2 produce adequate
> pianos due to investments, materials and production standards brought in
> by experienced European and North American firms. None of these are
> either "middle" or "upper tier" products, but are beating out (in
> quality) some well-known brands from elsewhere in east Asia.
> Are any "western" clarinet manufacturers (the word used to
> distinguish assembly line products from the best instruments) investing
> to produce any better "beginner" instruments in China than at the
> "garbage" level?
>
> --
> Mark Gresham, composer

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