Klarinet Archive - Posting 000049.txt from 2006/03

From: Adam Michlin <amichlin@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Buffet R-13 Played and Failed
Date: Sat, 04 Mar 2006 12:07:26 -0500

Why? If you don't like what Buffet is selling, don't buy it. If
enough people choose not to buy Buffet, Buffet will have to
reevaluate their business model.

To me, there are two issues:

1. Sloppy set up work/damaged instruments.
2. Inconsistent playing characteristics.

Number 2, I submit, is a non-issue. Inconsistent playing
characteristics seem to me to be a benefit in the world of
inconsistent players. My favorite instrument might be your least
favorite. Vive la difference! I have always had a pet theory that the
common complaint about many Yamaha instruments (including and beyond
clarinets) that they have no character (something I don't find
myself, I should add) is precisely because they are so consistent.
Consistent is good if you like what they are doing, consistent is bad
if you don't like what they are doing. Buffet, in a weird kind of
way, gives more options to the individual player.

Number 1 is a fascinating one for me. Where I grew up, Gemeinhardt
flutes were the fancy step up flutes everyone bought (and, in fact,
later on all my own students bought). It was surprising for me to
learn, when expanding my world view, that Gemeinhardt flutes are
considered to be of rather poor quality on the global market. My area
just happened to have a store which went to great lengths to set up
Gemeinhardt flutes well. They felt there were good instruments with
*very* sloppy set up work and went the extra mile to make the
instruments right. I happily bought many flutes from them at a
premium, although I hesitate to use the word premium since I believe
I was paying for exactly what I was receiving.

It may be that there are so many people that a willing to buy a
Buffet clarinet sight unseen that Buffet has no incentive to worry
about us picky players. So we have to work a little harder and
frequent higher quality stores. Seems like a small price to pay! And
if that price becomes too high, I know Selmer, Leblanc, Yamaha, and a
whole host of smaller makers will be happy to step in!

-Adam

At 10:51 AM 3/4/2006, Rommel John Miller wrote:
[...]
>And we need to demand more accountability from Buffet.

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