Cheap, Low Quality Instruments
Q. So why is there an explosion of low cost/low quality instruments
A. People will buy them...
The music industry is innundated with an explosion of manufacturers making "affordable" instruments. There are tons of these out there and the price and quality compared to mainstream instruments a generation earlier is not at all the same. Many of the instruments sold a generation ago at the student level are still in use today. I highly doubt that we can say that many of the "entry" level imports of today will be in similar usage for the next generation..
But they are popular..why? Well, they're cheap enough that even more people can buy them and try them out. So there are more people who can afford them. There are also those that don't understand that instrument practice over many years is the way to study and instrument. People can't wait that long anymore (or don't want to wait that long.) So for a little money they can try it and be done with it. Those that do realize what's involved with learning an instrument will pursue better instruments as they always have. So, the manufacturers of these cheap instruments have found a huge niche for themselves.
So the question is....what type of musician do you want to be? You have to start somewhere.. Unfortunately, many people expect the cheap instrument to work as well and last as long as a better quality instrument. You can't have it both ways...
So make a good choice...
Now if someone can explain to me why some sneakers cost more than a flute.......
Joe B
A. People will buy them...
The music industry is innundated with an explosion of manufacturers making "affordable" instruments. There are tons of these out there and the price and quality compared to mainstream instruments a generation earlier is not at all the same. Many of the instruments sold a generation ago at the student level are still in use today. I highly doubt that we can say that many of the "entry" level imports of today will be in similar usage for the next generation..
But they are popular..why? Well, they're cheap enough that even more people can buy them and try them out. So there are more people who can afford them. There are also those that don't understand that instrument practice over many years is the way to study and instrument. People can't wait that long anymore (or don't want to wait that long.) So for a little money they can try it and be done with it. Those that do realize what's involved with learning an instrument will pursue better instruments as they always have. So, the manufacturers of these cheap instruments have found a huge niche for themselves.
So the question is....what type of musician do you want to be? You have to start somewhere.. Unfortunately, many people expect the cheap instrument to work as well and last as long as a better quality instrument. You can't have it both ways...
So make a good choice...
Now if someone can explain to me why some sneakers cost more than a flute.......
Joe B
2007-05-19 18:50:35 GMTComments: 1 |Permanent Link
News...
2007-05-19 18:31:35 GMTComments: 0 |Permanent Link
Music Business State of Affairs
The Music Business never seems to surprise me. So many trends that so many don't realize are taking place. At best, the average public seems to operate on info that is 10 years old. Information comes in and about every few months there is "Wow" moment...what happened there?
The Bach strike appears to be nearing an end in a rather sad fashion. Talk about long, slow, drawn out destruction. You can read the story here:
South Bend Tribune Article
After a year of feuding it looks like things might end in a fizzle. With the fire gone, the last smoldering ashes will be stamped out without a funeral. At least Yamaha had the decency to get it over quickly. Show up in the US, announce the closure, give 'em two months and get out...chapter closed. But here's a prime example of problems facing the industry. The downward trend in price (and quality) led by "big box" stores has finally come home to roost. Not only have they destroyed themselves, but they've taken the manufacturers with them. Prices in band instruments have been reduced to ridiculous levels cutting quality the whole way to achieve a price edge. The marketing scheme was to sell a million instruments at a $1 profit and make a million. So what happened???
In their zeal to capture the "whole market" with loss leaders, selling below cost started to spread across too many items. One behemoth swallowed another behemoth to gain market share and debt piled up clamping the manufacturers even more. They were able to maintain cash flow but sooner or later these things catch up to you.
Finally we are about down to one behemoth. Who's left to buy them when they fail if they keep up the same failed marketing scheme? That's not going to be a good day for the industry when it happens...
Next time...why are these cheap piece of junk instruments so insanely popular with the public? .....Until then....
JB
The Bach strike appears to be nearing an end in a rather sad fashion. Talk about long, slow, drawn out destruction. You can read the story here:
South Bend Tribune Article
After a year of feuding it looks like things might end in a fizzle. With the fire gone, the last smoldering ashes will be stamped out without a funeral. At least Yamaha had the decency to get it over quickly. Show up in the US, announce the closure, give 'em two months and get out...chapter closed. But here's a prime example of problems facing the industry. The downward trend in price (and quality) led by "big box" stores has finally come home to roost. Not only have they destroyed themselves, but they've taken the manufacturers with them. Prices in band instruments have been reduced to ridiculous levels cutting quality the whole way to achieve a price edge. The marketing scheme was to sell a million instruments at a $1 profit and make a million. So what happened???
In their zeal to capture the "whole market" with loss leaders, selling below cost started to spread across too many items. One behemoth swallowed another behemoth to gain market share and debt piled up clamping the manufacturers even more. They were able to maintain cash flow but sooner or later these things catch up to you.
Finally we are about down to one behemoth. Who's left to buy them when they fail if they keep up the same failed marketing scheme? That's not going to be a good day for the industry when it happens...
Next time...why are these cheap piece of junk instruments so insanely popular with the public? .....Until then....
JB
2007-05-03 01:08:43 GMTComments: 0 |Permanent Link
Snake oils or not?
Well, the forums have been busy discussing all sorts of music related stuff. As for my part, there are always the new products with all the usual claims...improves your sound...more response....like having a new instrument.
I get to examine and come across quite a few new things out there. It never ceases to amaze me that the claims are always the same as if they know exactly what buzz words people are looking for. Now granted, some of these devices actually work but there is so much hyperbole in the marketing that it is really getting tough to take some of these folks seriously. Pretty soon we'll have.."this device improves tone and response AND cures the common cold"
Quite frankly, I don't know how kids learn to play an instrument on many of the instruments that are out there. So many are in much less than perfect shape that it's no wonder kids are struggling with them. It's far more interesting to watch someone get an instrument back that has been repaired to excellent playability. So maybe that's why so many look for gimicks.
When I read so many claims about what devices do from an understanding of what is happening acoustically, I am often amazed at reasons people use to claim their device works the way it does. But we do live in an age where junk science abounds, so I shouldn't be all too surprised. Many people just don't realize it
Joe B
I get to examine and come across quite a few new things out there. It never ceases to amaze me that the claims are always the same as if they know exactly what buzz words people are looking for. Now granted, some of these devices actually work but there is so much hyperbole in the marketing that it is really getting tough to take some of these folks seriously. Pretty soon we'll have.."this device improves tone and response AND cures the common cold"
Quite frankly, I don't know how kids learn to play an instrument on many of the instruments that are out there. So many are in much less than perfect shape that it's no wonder kids are struggling with them. It's far more interesting to watch someone get an instrument back that has been repaired to excellent playability. So maybe that's why so many look for gimicks.
When I read so many claims about what devices do from an understanding of what is happening acoustically, I am often amazed at reasons people use to claim their device works the way it does. But we do live in an age where junk science abounds, so I shouldn't be all too surprised. Many people just don't realize it
Joe B
2007-04-18 12:52:31 GMTComments: 0 |Permanent Link
Industry News
Well, It looks like there's always interesting things happening.
MMR Magazine reported that the FTC is investigating the industry's MAP (minimum advertised price) policy that many manufacturer's have adopted. Subpeonas have been issued and we'll see what, if anything, turns up with the investigating.
One of my suppliers informed me last week that they have an MSP policy...(minimum selling price). Now if the FTC is going to get into price fixing investigations I think MSP is a target that is just to big to ignore. MAP sets a minimum advertised price but a retailer can still sell inventory at whatever price they want. After all, if you own the inventory, bought and paid for...why should the supplier tell you what you can advertise and sell it for. How can an MSP price policy even exist in America???? Even as a retailer, if I bought it and own it, how can they dictate how much or little I can sell it for?
Well, I think the industry is in dire straits that they are willing to do anything to keep dealers from going under from the extreme pricing pressures of the big box retailers. It's at the point where the manufacturers are struggling in the instrument world because their support of the collapsing big box mentality into bankruptcy has practically taken them down as well. And now they want to attempt to price fix to save themselves and dealers.
Well one thing's for sure...change has been the name of the game over the last several years. It's always tough to predict where it will end up, but status quo techniques are proven failures. So, the way I see it, there will either be huge excitement in the industry with new concepts or bitter failures. I think we'll probably continue to see a bit of both for a while.
Next time....a review of my recent discussions on instrument gimick stuff: Fakes frauds, or genius!
MMR Magazine reported that the FTC is investigating the industry's MAP (minimum advertised price) policy that many manufacturer's have adopted. Subpeonas have been issued and we'll see what, if anything, turns up with the investigating.
One of my suppliers informed me last week that they have an MSP policy...(minimum selling price). Now if the FTC is going to get into price fixing investigations I think MSP is a target that is just to big to ignore. MAP sets a minimum advertised price but a retailer can still sell inventory at whatever price they want. After all, if you own the inventory, bought and paid for...why should the supplier tell you what you can advertise and sell it for. How can an MSP price policy even exist in America???? Even as a retailer, if I bought it and own it, how can they dictate how much or little I can sell it for?
Well, I think the industry is in dire straits that they are willing to do anything to keep dealers from going under from the extreme pricing pressures of the big box retailers. It's at the point where the manufacturers are struggling in the instrument world because their support of the collapsing big box mentality into bankruptcy has practically taken them down as well. And now they want to attempt to price fix to save themselves and dealers.
Well one thing's for sure...change has been the name of the game over the last several years. It's always tough to predict where it will end up, but status quo techniques are proven failures. So, the way I see it, there will either be huge excitement in the industry with new concepts or bitter failures. I think we'll probably continue to see a bit of both for a while.
Next time....a review of my recent discussions on instrument gimick stuff: Fakes frauds, or genius!
2007-04-02 21:24:30 GMTComments: 0 |Permanent Link
