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We founded our business on a simple philosophy of value and trust. We decided set up this blog to enable open conversation with anyone that has a passion for music and its future. Please, feel free to comment on any of the issues listed on this site.
17 comments:
QUALITY is the #1 factor. Price is very important but it is a one time expense, while I plan to hold on to an instrument for many years. With that being said price is a VERY close #2.
I agree. Quality is extremely important, as well as tone quality(if you play a wind instrument). Quality and price are really two related aspects of an instrument, because a higher priced instrument is likely to be of better quality. For me, durability and longevity are also very important, because I would want to keep my instrument for a very long time without any depreciation in quality.
Quality is always important, but I always shop around for the best price, and quality service! You can get quality instruments anywhere, but everybody doesn't always sell them at the same price.
Yes, to Quality and Price as important factors to consider when purchasing an instrument. I strongly believe that you get what you pay for, in regards to musical instruments. Another factor I have my students consider is what they want out of the instrument in terms of long term use. Are they just dabbling -just rent or do they foresee themselves persuing a a musically related career - save for the quality instrument needed.
We debate this on 'Sax on the Web' all the time...come join us sometime.
I think quality should be broken down into several categories, but I will concentrate on these - Sound, Durability, Functionality (feel) and Style. I rank their importance in the following order:
(1) Sound - The instrument's sound is THE most important factor...once you have played for 10+ years, you know the nuances that make a great sound.
(2) Durability - If the instrument is designed and built with great components, methods and craftsmanship, it will be more durable to the player. Those instruments made well today are tomorrows 'vintage' classics.
(3) Functionality - If the instrument functions in an ergonomically pleasing manner, and it is adjustable to player preferences, you have something that will allow you to be your best.
(4) Style - goes hand in hand with the ergos issue and it looks cool. I rate looks as the last of my quality issues because the great players usually had beaters that sounded awesome. Today, Fender is making replicas of instruments that have all the nicks and gouges down to a science to give you the closest thing to Stevie Ray Vaughn's Strat that you and I can buy...Amazing!
Just my 2 cents worth!
Of course quality vs performance vs cost is always the major consideration. Not everyone can afford the best quality instrument, nor is it really appropriate to put a very expensive instrument into the hands of a beginner. A beginner needs an instrument that is of sufficient quality as to not be a hinderance to developement, but has sufficent durablity to take the bumps and bruises normally associated with the beginning student. An intermediate player needs an instrument that is a little closer to pro quality and needs to consider things like tone, intonation, if the instrument blows freely, etc. This horn should be able to transition the player from a "bundy screamer" to a more refined tone. The professional needs an instrument that will give the utmost in performance. Durablity isn't as much of an issue since a pro will likely have the habbits necessary to keep their instrument in top shape even if it's a bit finicky. The really fine pro instruments seem to be much more tempramental.
I'd say quality is the #1 factor. Price may determine if you can afford the quality. Shopping around can get you a quality instrument for what you can afford and don't be afraid of a used instrument if it has been properly cared for.
A kid learning how to play can quickly become disenchanted if the instrument is hard to play because of poor quality or if it just sounds crappy.
Family members are more likely to encourage practice if the instrument is pleasant to listen to even in the early stages of learning.
My son learned on a poor instrument but quickly became enthusiastic when we purchased a good instrument for him to play. It was easier to play and sounded better.
Quality is very important, selection, the ability to try before buying. This is where local shops have a problem. You can try before buying but there are a limited number of brands/models of pro brass instruments that a local shop will carry. So your prices/selection are better than local stores, but I can't easily try them before buying. In selecting a pro trumpet, there's no way I'd order one without having the chance to compare many different horns and hand select the one that best fits my concept of what a trumpet ought to be.
Greg
I won't buy from WWBW. I called a salesman and left 2 voicemails and never heard back from him then I wrote 2 emails to WWBW regarding the unanswered voicemails and never once heard back from WWBW.
Most on-line music stores do NOT put enough pictures of the products they are selling on the applicable page/s.
Close up shots are most important.
I want to see what I'm buying ...since I can't pick it up and check it out! (buying the product sight unseen).
Clearance products should have a link on that item page for purchasers to make an offer...
The first big music store that installs a Ebay like format will be successful...
Gas_wyo, Thanks for the invite and I signed up. Would you mind posting a few links to your favorite SOTW forum threads that discuss this issue? I’m sure I wouldn’t be the only one that would find those conversations interesting. Thanks.
Anonymous, I agree 100% with your statement about the need for retailers (us included) to place more pictures of the product they sell on their web sites. If we were going to improve the presentation of our products, what should we do? What would you find most helpful?
Here are a few examples of how some websites from an unrelated industry, choose to display their products, which one do you prefer?
A)Lands’ End
B)Pacsun
C)Endless Shoes
D)Working Person’s
E)Shoes.com
F)Onlineshoes.com
James, I’m truly sorry to hear about your experience. I talked with our Sales Manager after receiving your post this morning. We would like to get a moment your time to figure out what happened. We’ve built our company around the concept of hiring musicians with superior credentials. These musicians work one-on –one with customers by providing personal contact and follow up. On rare occasion this higher level of service can skip a beat, which it obviously has here. We apologize that you did not receive the good service and prompt reply that you were owed. Our process isn’t perfect, but we are always striving to make it better. Any feedback you can supply can only help us achieve this goal.
Contact me directly through this blog and I’ll make sure you’re taken care of. Again, I want to apologize and we thank you for this valuable feedback.
With quality as a given, the instrument has to have a soul. My violin, "William," feels right and smells right. I have two others that are just pieces of wood. My grandson praises his "Malcolm" for singing well when he plays well and got after me for talking bad about the beat up piece of junk someone left behind in my case when my first violin was stolen. He has taken it under his wing even if it will be 10 years before he can play it.
The most important factor in buying an instrument is how well does it play for you. With that instrument are you able to make music, or just create noise. Brand, price, warranty, and all the rest are essentially irrelevant if you can't use the instrument to create music.
I agree.
How well you play the instrument is the most important factor. No matter how expensive or "Name Brand" the instrument is, if the action or feel or sound doesn't fit with you physically, cormfortably, and even spiritually, it will never sound right to you. The flute I play is not one of "the" best manufacturers but I play better with it than with them.
For me (a trumpet player) the most important factor is how I sound when playing the instrument. I have a predetermined concept of the sound that I want to achieve when playing. I've developed this over the years by listening to as many other musicians as possible and taking an element or two from many of them. I have spent many years and owned many instruments until I found the trumpet, cornet, and flugelhorn that I own today. I'm still searching for the perfect pic and C trumpet.
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