Klarinet Archive - Posting 000048.txt from 2006/10
From: kurtheisig@-----.net
Subj: Re: [kl] A rainbow of clarinets
Date: Thu, 05 Oct 2006 08:25:27 -0400
"The current crop of Chinese imported clarinets
>in...non-traditional colors are unfortunately also equal in quality to
>their imported brethren."
There is a danger in listing all of the instruments from one country together.
For instance, France gave us the Buffet, but also the ________ (Several brands of junk can be inserted here!)
There are SOME companies in China TRYING to make good stuff, and starting to succeed. Ridenour seems to be getting somewhere?
I have been doing consulting with the Chinese. One company is making black clarinets that are getting up to acceptable. Their colored stuff PLAYS better---but do you know of any bands playing at 435? So they have a ways to go. This company, however is listening. I have over 30 years of trying to get through to certain American companies to contrast this with!
Like all of the stuff that came out of Elkhart and Kenosha and Cleveland, you HAVE to set it up. Dealer prep seems to be a lost art. I have seen stuff from other states that had dealer prep that was pretty good to quite good. In this area though, I see a lot that has no set-up. Of course these "dealers" beat my prices retail...........
Some of the Chinese instruments are really showing good workmanship. I have a flute made to my specs, and then finish it here. Several pros have played them and told me they were a REAL DEAL at $1,500! We sell them for $500. A couple weeks ago I had a Rampal student in playing them and he was VERY impressed with such an inexpensive "kids flute" that plays so well. I am currently using one instead of my Haynes.....
All are invited to come try the new HEISIG SAXES and FLUTE. The soprano sax has a full 3 1/2 octave range that is fat and full throughout!!!! Ever play a soprano with powerful palm keys and altissimo?? The altos often rival old VI's and the tenors are a good horn.
We also have some wonderful Chinese trombones. These things really play well, and are very inexpensive. Of course, I have to hand pick through them. Quality control is not up to snuff yet. The stuff I reject---what do they do with it? I understand it goes to a BIG BOX store and NOT the W store. I have played the stuff the W store was selling 2 years ago. Awful! Definitely not as good as what I reject. (It is also sold in a huge discount music store.)
One of the Asian manufacturers asked me to evaluate his products going to one of the big "American" manufacturers. He is from one of the more westernized countries, but has them made in a surprising country. The workmanship is surprisingly good mechanically. Much better than Elkhart. Acoustically, some of them are not acceptable, but can be re-made here to VERY GOOD! This is not a dealer prep issue, but an engineering one. However, I can make them into very fine instruments, and nothing coming out of Elkhart is good enough to do that with.
One of the big companies was bringing in some Chinese instruments that were execrable. Several house brands are as dismal or worse. However, some American and European companies are getting the Chinese and other countries to listen, and producing quite acceptable instruments.
I think that the American companies went through a period of ignoring the public.
(Perhaps I am using California mellow!) I THREW the vice president of a major manufacturer out of my store once!
Detroit ignored the public and a lot of us bought Japanese. Our industry has been making a lot of bad stuff and crammed it down our throats. That is not just the Americans either! Advertising is no substitute for understanding acoustics. I remember one company, years ago, that advertised their computer designed saxophones. Since I was the "computer", I was livid. On the other hand, I now am wiser and don't trust them as much.
It may sound strange, but some of the Chinese companies---SOME----are very interested in pleasing the public. I make good stuff because I was raised to always help others. Why do they make good stuff? Are they altruistic, or just good businessmen?
Watch out for the Chinese. Most of it is not good, but getting better. Some of it is very good and getting lots better. Can Elkhart say this? Do they even care?
Kurt
Kurt Heisig Music Stores
Santa Cruz and Saratoga California
(831) 425-5658
-----Original Message-----
>From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
>Sent: Oct 4, 2006 8:08 PM
>To: klarinet@-----.org
>Subject: Re: [kl] A rainbow of clarinets
>
>At 08:41 AM 10/5/2006 +1000, Geoff Secomb wrote:
>>Dan,
>>You really don't want to go there. I've had the misfortune to have a
>>couple of these things come in for repair. Change the picture to "what
>>would a clarinet choir look like with everyone having a different colour
>>clarinet and a small pile of pieces falling off on the floor" and you get
>>the idea of what the quality is like on some of this junk. Unless, of
>>course, he USA gets better quality out of backyard China than we do here
>>in Oz!!!!!!!!!.
>>Best,
>>Geoff.
>
>Of course, the Vito Dazzler clarinets were equal to the black Vitos in
>quality. The current crop of Chinese imported clarinets
>in...non-traditional colors are unfortunately also equal in quality to
>their imported brethren.
>
>
>Bill Hausmann
>
>If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!
>
>
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