 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: moose6589
Date: 2003-10-09 09:49
Err, I just found out that the "Buffets made in China" thread has been closed! Is this the first time for something like this to occur? I've never seen it happen at least.
However, I do have a comment on that thread. I really do not believe it matters where the clarinet is made. Just because they are made in Germany doesn't change the more important observation by Mark that the quality of Buffets has been declining. It really doesn't matter if Buffets are made in China, Germany, India, or anywhere else for that matter. This seems to be just a small technical nitpick, but shouldn't the more important topic at hand be the cause of Buffet's decline in quality?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Pam H.
Date: 2003-10-09 11:29
No, it's not the first closed thread. I wouldn't be surprised if he shuts this one down too. If he closes one, it's for a good reason and Mark C. as the administrator has the right to do that as he feels necessary.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: hans
Date: 2003-10-09 13:52
Moose wrote: "shouldn't the more important topic at hand be the cause of Buffet's decline in quality?".
IMO it should be restated as perceived decline in quality, since it is nearly impossible to determine trends in quality without access to the manufacturer's data and/or large surveys of some kind.
The opinions on quality by individuals, while they may be well-intentioned, represent too small a sample to make an accurate judgment of this nature.
Similarly, the opinions on whether one manufacturer's products are better than another's (which resurface so frequently) are of limited usefulness. The reason that some of us prefer one manufacturer's clarinet over another (which may have little or nothing to do with quality) is that people are not built identically and do not have the same concepts of tone. Additionally, uses differ; e.g., some instruments are better suited to smaller ensembles while others are better suited to larger orchestras. Personal taste is an issue too, since some performers like or need more "resistance" in their instruments than others. The "feel" of an instrument can affect a performer's comfort if the instrument is, or is not, designed so that hand muscles do not become cramped. Last, but not least, most people have budget constraints which influence their choice of instrument.
Hans
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda
Date: 2003-10-09 14:44
Keep in mind though, that if an experienced repair person notices problems with the actual build of the instrument, ragged edges, unfinished this or that, he's seen enough of what a good instrument should be to identify a dud.
It's like the pearl merchant who took on an apprentice. The first day on the job the apprentice was given one of the best pearls and was told to keep it in his pocket. Over time as the boy would handle the pearl in his possession and work with in the shop with his master, he would become so accustomed to what a precious pearl looked and felt like that he would instantly recognize a fake. Our experienced repair people know what they're looking at when they see it. Their comments would carry some weight.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: moose6589
Date: 2003-10-09 15:11
Hans, you are right, of course. It is definitely a perceived decline in quality quality. However, I believed that the purpose of this BB is to offer educated opinions and hold lively discussions about subjective matters, is it not? If everything could be looked up, then what would be the point of discussions? But since the posts on the BB are mostly opinions, I think it would be reasonable to assume that anyone reading them would take them with a grain of salt? And even though it may not mean anything to some, an experienced repair tech's opinion is still much better than not discussing the matter at all.
On the matter of checking the records of a manufacturer, I don't think I'd be inclined to believe everything in these records. While clarinet companies might all be righteous and honest, they are still run by people, and nobody is perfect. I don't think it ought to surprise anyone if a company's records aren't perfect, whether intentionally or not.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-10-09 15:29
If you're going to impugn a manufacturer or person, you better have something other than speculation. I won't allow it here. Period. I've seen it too often here, and it's gotten far out of hand. This BBoard has been the source of harmful rumors in the past, and Im not letting this kind of thing happen anymore.
There's plenty of room for complaining and opinions (saying you've experinced problems, etc.). It's first hand experience, and doesn't need any supporting facts.
If what you want to say needs facts to support it - then either get the facts or don't say it here. This BBoard is way too public a forum.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ken
Date: 2003-10-09 18:04
Some of us will not be seeing eye-to-eye on the China clarinet topic anytime soon. I don't agree with the Webmaster's position on the subject but he did respect the panel enough to provide a full explanation for shutting things down. Maybe we could respond positively and press on to the next topic, and if not, take it up with him privately.
Off topic but in step with Brenda's post:
I like that tale, and it's strikingly similar to what a Secret Service Agent told me over dinner one night. I asked him, with all the counterfeiting of U.S. currency still going on around the world, and even with the improvements the Treasury has made do he and his colleagues still have trouble identifying phony notes?? He replied. "Nope, we don't study the fake to spot one, we study the real thing. v/r Ken"
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
