Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2010-06-24 02:35
Never make a purchase on price alone. (One of Deming's, the quality control guru, fundamental strategies.
Yet, so many parents do exactly that when equipping their children to undertake their first instrumental music experience. It's stupid, give a beginner a tool that doesn't work and expect them to overcome not only the unknown handicaps built into their instrument, but to accomplish some significant learning, too.
In an effort to "get by on a budget," I rented a Jupiter student-grade tenor sax from the company that supplies virtually all of the rental instruments in eastern Washington and north Idaho. I took it to the local big band. SHEESH. I simply would not play. I had it "fixed," and it would not stay in adjustment.
After a few frustrating weeks, I surrendered and returned the Jupiter for use by some other "beginner."
This was a generation or two behind the more respected Jupiter horns getting reviewed now, but it is still in the gene pool and frustrating the next generation of kids.
Perhaps, later generations of Chinese instruments are "acceptable," but in my opinion they are not worth the gamble.
Bob Phillips
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The Clarinet BBoard
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