[TPIN] Market pricing - buying American and some history

[Vaxtrpts at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/1/2007 6:40:49 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
john.daniel at lawrence.edu writes:

So when  a trumpet is made with a price tag above the 
annual salary of all but 20  (at most) professional trumpet 
players in this country, I would prefer if  folks were not 
too impressed.  I love it when Mike Vax, for example,  (who 
has worked with Getzen, Yamaha, and others) just says  
phooey.



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Well, where do I start.
One of the reasons I left Yamaha after 13 years, was that I saw "the  
handwriting on the wall."  There were new people running the "big" company  as well 
as the band and instrument division.  It was becoming more and more  "bottom 
line" and less about music.  There were many more pressures put on  the people 
running the division, as well as the district managers to "perform"  in the 
market place.  Now I know Cheri is going to say that isn't a bad  thing.  But - 
when it comes to a MUSICAL instrument company, it  is. Especially when it 
affects the product (as in moving to China) and  closing plants in the United 
States.  One of the "biggies" was that the  newer examples of my Yamaha model did 
NOT play like the one I was playing.   I tried to talk to them about that and 
they didn't seem to be very  interested.  They just kept saying that it was 
made the same.  But  - it didn't play the same.  Part of the bottom line, to be 
honest, was  to not fulfill some of the things in my contract with them, but 
that is personal  stuff and not for discussion here.
When I made the decision to leave, I had no idea what company, if any I  
would go with as a clinician.   A couple of companies had talked to me  even 
before my final decision.
When the Getzen possibility came about, I really hoped it would work.   I 
thought the idea of playing an AMERICAN made instrument again was really  
something that I liked.  (After all, before Yamaha, I had played Conn,  Schilke, 
Getzen, Martin and Benge instruments at different times in my  life.)  
Well, as you know, the Getzen opportunity came to fruition and I can tell  
you that it has been the best decision of my life.  It is a complete  pleasure 
to work with the Getzen family and all the employees at the Getzen  Company.  
They are very proud of what they produce, make very well made  instruments, and 
stand behind every one. My trumpet, cornet and flugelhorn  are a joy to play 
on!   I am being treated the best I ever have in my  close to 50 years in this 
business.  
My take on the Chinese instruments is that even if they get better, do we  
want to ship all our business to a country that is out to "do us in???"   NOT 
ME!  Not only would I not buy a Chinese instrument, I am trying (and it  is sure 
hard these days) to not buy anything from China, if I can help it.   Even if  
the product does cost more
Hope this gives everyone an overview of why I feel so strongly about  
supporting AMERICAN instrument companies.  Any of them!  Whether  it be Getzen, 
Kanstul, Schilke, Blackburn, Marcinkiewicz, and yes even Monette  as well as others 
not mentioned.  We really do need to have an American  field of instruments 
to choose from.
Mike Vax



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