Return policies on reeds…
Wednesday September 05 2007
They are wearing me down. Granted, I want my customers to be happy, and granted, I want to keep a fair and honest reputation as a reedmaker and a businessman, but reed returns are definitely wearing me down. And I can’t even explain why they’re being returned. I am not sure why 6 of 25 of the reeds sent to Jillian are leaking and weird. I can’t explain why the exact same reeds that I made for Mr. Georgia the first time around were “great” and “perfect”, but now they’re too light. And I have no idea why reeds sent to Mr. Delaware were “bright” and “thin sounding” to him, but came back and were absolutely wonderful to me. I can’t explain it.
I’m trying to figure a policy. I hate to do this, but I think it’s going to come down to this; I’ll return “Dead on Arrival” reeds that are received cracked, and I’ll guarantee the reeds of my subscribers, but I think I’ll have to crack down on reed returns.
I’ve decided that if you’re buying reeds, they just won’t always turn out just right every time. Everyone’s climate changes. Everyone’s humidity changes. Many people’s embouchures get stronger or weaker with practice (or lack thereof), and I can’t guarantee that my reeds will “change with the times”.
I really need to get a website up to explain prices, return policies, etc. I’ll have to do that within a week or two.
Read the Rest
A reader’s question
Tuesday September 04 2007
Ok, which is better, Gilbert gouger or Dan Ross and why? I have to buy a gouger—and an oboe. $$$$$$$
Also, how old is too old to win an audition? Is their ‘age-prejudice’ especially if you don’t currently have a permanent gig?
Good question. I personally like the RDG… curve a little bit more, because I found that the blade curve produced slightly thinner sides. But it has been a long time since I’ve used either, so I can’t say which blade curve I like better for sure. However, the Ross is better made, with a nice thick bar which your carriage slides along, instead of a thinner one which can be bent on the RDG…. The Ross is also about $300 cheaper if you’re comparing the cost of a new machine for a new machine.
I recently noticed that Forrest’s Music currently has a used RDG… for $900. There is also a used one on ebay for $250 starting price. This is actually a pretty reasonable price for a used one, and it’d be worth calling them up and asking them who set it up. If John their repairman set it up, it’s probably halfway decent. If you bought it, tried it out and wanted to sell it again, I doubt you’d lose a whole lot of money because you probably could sell it for the same price. Meanwhile, sometimes you’ll see a Ross machine on ebay selling for $400 or so, which means about a $600 price loss.
All of this is assuming you’re stuck on a single radius gouging machine, which I really don’t enjoy to begin with. I have three double radius gouging machines, and would like to sell one of them. If you’re interested in buying a used double radius gouging machine, let me know!
As for your age prejudice question, I’m not really sure, but I do know that John Ferillo just won the Boston Symphony job and would be considered “middle-aged”. Most audition preliminary rounds are behind curtains, so everyone is on an equal playing ground through then.
Read the RestA reader’s question
Tuesday September 04 2007
Ok, which is better, Gilbert gouger or Dan Ross and why? I have to buy a gouger—and an oboe. $$$$$$$
Also, how old is too old to win an audition? Is their ‘age-prejudice’ especially if you don’t currently have a permanent gig?
Good question. I personally like the RDG… curve a little bit more, because I found that the blade curve produced slightly thinner sides. But it has been a long time since I’ve used either, so I can’t say which blade curve I like better for sure. However, the Ross is better made, with a nice thick bar which your carriage slides along, instead of a thinner one which can be bent on the RDG…. The Ross is also about $300 cheaper if you’re comparing the cost of a new machine for a new machine.
I recently noticed that Forrest’s Music currently has a used RDG… for $900. There is also a used one on ebay for $250 starting price. This is actually a pretty reasonable price for a used one, and it’d be worth calling them up and asking them who set it up. If John their repairman set it up, it’s probably halfway decent. If you bought it, tried it out and wanted to sell it again, I doubt you’d lose a whole lot of money because you probably could sell it for the same price. Meanwhile, sometimes you’ll see a Ross machine on ebay selling for $400 or so, which means about a $600 price loss.
All of this is assuming you’re stuck on a single radius gouging machine, which I really don’t enjoy to begin with. I have three double radius gouging machines, and would like to sell one of them. If you’re interested in buying a used double radius gouging machine, let me know!
As for your age prejudice question, I’m not really sure, but I do know that John Ferillo just won the Boston Symphony job and would be considered “middle-aged”. Most audition preliminary rounds are behind curtains, so everyone is on an equal playing ground through then.
Read the RestA reader’s question
Tuesday September 04 2007
Ok, which is better, Gilbert gouger or Dan Ross and why? I have to buy a gouger—and an oboe. $$$$$$$
Also, how old is too old to win an audition? Is their ‘age-prejudice’ especially if you don’t currently have a permanent gig?
Good question. I personally like the RDG… curve a little bit more, because I found that the blade curve produced slightly thinner sides. But it has been a long time since I’ve used either, so I can’t say which blade curve I like better for sure. However, the Ross is better made, with a nice thick bar which your carriage slides along, instead of a thinner one which can be bent on the RDG…. The Ross is also about $300 cheaper if you’re comparing the cost of a new machine for a new machine.
I recently noticed that Forrest’s Music currently has a used RDG… for $900. There is also a used one on ebay for $250 starting price. This is actually a pretty reasonable price for a used one, and it’d be worth calling them up and asking them who set it up. If John their repairman set it up, it’s probably halfway decent. If you bought it, tried it out and wanted to sell it again, I doubt you’d lose a whole lot of money because you probably could sell it for the same price. Meanwhile, sometimes you’ll see a Ross machine on ebay selling for $400 or so, which means about a $600 price loss.
All of this is assuming you’re stuck on a single radius gouging machine, which I really don’t enjoy to begin with. I have three double radius gouging machines, and would like to sell one of them. If you’re interested in buying a used double radius gouging machine, let me know!
As for your age prejudice question, I’m not really sure, but I do know that John Ferillo just won the Boston Symphony job and would be considered “middle-aged”. Most audition preliminary rounds are behind curtains, so everyone is on an equal playing ground through then.
Read the RestMaking reeds… trying to solve the leakage problem.
Tuesday September 04 2007
So I’m doing two things, and will be doing a couple more steps to ensure maximum sealage.
- I’m using thicker sides. I hate doing this, because I think it works against the flexibility of a reed, but I’m using thicker sides with this Opus 1 gouging machine.
- I’m not using old, worn down plaques. Sometimes you can cut the sides of the reed with worn down plaques that have sharp sides. So, out with the old, in with the new!
- I’m making reeds in stages. Yes, I hate making reeds in stages, (I always make them from a pregouged piece of cane to a complete reed, and will continue to do so for my own reeds,) but for the purposes of stabilizing my reeds the best so that they will be better prepared to go out and face the rest of the world, I’m learning how to scrape in stages accordingly.