Klarinet Archive - Posting 000616.txt from 2004/11

From: Tom Flavel <tom@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] An Eb quandry
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 2004 07:18:06 -0500

On 22/11/2004 03:25:37, kurtheisig@-----.net wrote:
>
> My personal Eb is a Buffet R13 I bought new in 1976. Now it is truly a SPECTACULAR instrument! However, I had to make a mouthpiece for it, and do extensive work on it. I DID A LOT MORE THAN $300 WORK ON IT!!! Now I have an instrument that is an absolute joy to play!! It is worth EVERY bit of the many hours I spent working on it!

Something I'm curious about: how does one calculate costs for working on
an instrument? I realise that hours translate directly into money, as do
parts required, but how on earth is the cost of adjusting things
determined? By the time and effort it takes?

I guess the same question (and the same answer?) applies to many
fields... as a kid, I used to cycle 'round to people's houses to fix
their computers; I remember being eternally stumped when I'd finished
and they asked me how much they owed. Five pounds for clicking here, but
ten for clicking over there? I just asked them what they thought it was
worth, and (perhaps via guilt :) they'd give me twice what I'd expected.

On the other hand, I'm guessing that perhaps wouldn't work so well for
the majority of the population, now that I'm (alas) more cynical about
people...

Still, there's a guy who sits in the street near here (Brighton,
England) making various origami sculptures; he has a sign saying
"Take whatever you like and pay whatever you can afford", which I respect
immensley. It's a pity that dosen't work at a larger scale; seeing that
sign invariablly puts me in a good mood

Regards,

--
Tom

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