Klarinet Archive - Posting 000075.txt from 2006/10

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fbjacobo@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Walmart clarinets
Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2006 10:31:38 -0400

Micheal,
The clarinet-shaped objects at Wally-world play very nicely for the
first few weeks. Then they wear out fast because of shoddy materials
and poor fit-and-finish. Would you call a Yugo a good car??? These are
the Yugos of the clarinet world. Further, tho you might be able to find
replacement parts, they are of the same lousy quality. Further, these
instruments (I have worked on them) are virtually impossible to adjust
because they will not hold an adjustment. The cheap metal is too
soft...And the plating comes off the keys... And the solder points are
weak. And etc... Not to mention, why should you have to have down-time
while your instrument is being fixed (again!). It does no good to have
a cheap car if it is constantly in the shop.
As for the closing of Brooks Mays, They were sued for restraint of
trade, not slander. They were correct and truthful. However, their
salespersons were stupid enough to break the law.
And, poor economy in Michegan or not, you get what you pay for. If
people want to pay for a Yugo, so be it. However, don't bad-mouth
dealers who won't sell them because they are junk.
Ditto for reeds. It is possible that those reeds are of acceptable
quality. Somehow, coming from Wally-world, I doubt they match Ricos or
any others.
In short, in the race to the bottom, the only people who really win
are the owners of the corporations. who make junk and sell it really
cheap so that they drive the quality manufacturers out of business
while convincing the gullible, poor people that price is no indicator
of value or quality.

Fred Jacobowitz

Kol Haruach Klezmer Band
Ebony and Ivory Duo
On Oct 6, 2006, at 12:32 AM, Michael Moors wrote:

> The instruments at Walmart are better then the "hand me down"
> instruments that show up in my program. Not the best, but better then
> I expected. They showed up in my program 2 years ago. I found out you
> can get parts for them, they have regional centers for repairs. Music
> stores say parts aren't available, they are struggling to compete with
> the prices, use that as a defense. In the poor economy we're dealing
> with in Michigan, it's attractive for a parents to get an instrument
> for 200 dollars. The instrument issue is one thing........ I have
> students that buy reeds at Walmart. Less expense then Vandoren, LaVoz
> or Mitchel Lurie...... I give them a free reed, on that plays! They
> realize that 10 buck a box is a scam.
>
> First act sent a letter out to band directors threatening to sue them
> for "bad mouthing" their instruments. An major music company is now
> basically out of businses for stating their opinion.
> At 08:51 PM 10/5/2006, you wrote:
>> At 10:26 PM 10/4/2006 -0500, you wrote:
>>> Are these the ones I see in Wal Mart for just over $ 200.00----are
>>> they any good ? Thanks.
>>> Harvey
>>
>> In a word, NO.
>>
>>
>>
>> Bill Hausmann
>>
>> If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!
>>
>>
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