Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 5:53 pm
i'll retract my 'scam/ripoff' assertions - that was based on an old ebay ad. the ads i currently see ain't as bad. so apologies, my bad.
The other possibility is that the Pakistani companies (some at least) are deliberatly trying to make beautiful flutes that are out of tune. The reasoning behind this is that the consumer will continue to keep buying inadequate-playing flutes until they finally find one that meets their needs. This is somewhat like the Western idea of planned obsolescence. I'm only joking with this proposition, folks. I have no idea why the intonation of the otherwise beautiful Pakistani flutes is usually so inadequate. What bothers me more is the professional music companies (I'm familiar with USA companies) that falsely advertise these flutes as excellent playing flutes, when they have to know that their advertisement is a lie. I returned two of these flutes several years ago, but the music companies never would acknowledge that, yes, they were bad flutes. They left me with the impression that they thought that I was being over-particular.Gordon wrote:
My point is that - unlike Japanese motivations - whatever Pakistani company is cranking out unplayable flutes and calling them Irish flutes are not trying to be innovative, original, experimental -- or even good - at all. In all the years I've seen them sold, I have not heard or seen any real improvement except that they sure look nice (and just like a good flute), but, fundamentally, are not. They know how to market them. Sure, they're inexpensive, but even an inexpensive PVC flute can be made to play in tune. No one there seems to be trying. The poor workers may need that job, and I sympathize, but the company cranking them out is perfectly happy to make whatever profit they can, while the market is out there.
The correspondence says the company is aware of thejemtheflute wrote:FWIW, I've added the correspondence I had recently with Empire Brass in India to the Beware of cheap ebay (Pakistani) flutes! Sticky.
I don't suppose your prospective customer was this lot, Terry?
I agree. When is the last time any of us bought a product that looked poor but we assumed the quality was very much hidden under the ugly facade? Antique furniture being the exception. Most of us are first attracted by what we see as a fine product only to find out later that 'appearances aren't everything.' They aren't everything, but you've gotta start somewhere. Don't you? Let's hope that these folks, having mastered the fashion are now ready to master the physics.jim stone wrote:
That these companies have concentrated on appearances
as opposed to playability may be an indication
of dishonesty and the lack of any intention of ever making
a good flute. But there are other straightforward business
reasons why they might have put their emphasis
on something that looks good, namely, they are
better able to get an initial market via the cosmetics.
One might take this as strong evidence of a deep and
intractable lack of concern about intonation, etc,
but I don't see that one must.
Not quite, Jim. My point in my post about Empire Brass flutes specifically was that they already sound quite good. With better cut embouchures to make the flutes speak well and some small improvement to the toneholes/intonation (its not bad at all), they would be fine. They are not like some of the wooden ones we see that will not speak at all and/or are desperately out on tune. My main criticism was the poor ergonomic design of the keywork. If they sorted those issues out and could still retail in the West for about £180/U$350-ish (which seems highly likely), I think they would completely knock the bottom out of the keyless market. If beginners could get a decently playable 8-key at that sort of money, why would they bother with keyless? Seery, M&E etc. would lose most of their market.jim stone wrote: Jem's point is that they can, without much trouble,
make flutes that sound good (as well as look good).