[Harp-L] Replacement reed plates vs replacing reeds



Dave gave a nice analysis of why it might be a little too complicated
for companies to sell individual reeds versus selling reedplates. The 
combinations of various reeds into sets can involve lots of logistics work.

However, IMHO, the problem for the companies is NOT the many 
combinations of reeds that are possible. It seems obvious to me that
the manufacturers must have some organized system of cataloging
and storing the various sets of reeds used for each type of harmonica. 
It also seems reasonable that these reed sets are organized in such a 
way as to make the manufacturing process more cost-effective. I doubt 
very much that a worker has to go retrieve a set of individual reeds from
a plethora of stocking bins for each reedplate of each harmonica as it goes 
through the production process. (I have no personal knowledge of the 
actual manufacturing process, so I could be totally wrong.)

The problem is one of economy of scale and the quantity of human labor
involved. The price of producing an individual reed is miniscule. However, 
there is NO economy of scale for retrieving an individual reed, wrapping it, 
invoicing it, and shipping it to a customer. The business and labor costs 
relative to the actual cost of the individual reed are enormous. As far as I 
know, no one has devised an automated system for delivering individual 
reeds to a customer at a fraction of the cost of an entire reedplate (AND there 
is, for all practical [business] purposes, NO DEMAND. In all probability, the cost 
would have to be as much or more to handle an individual reed by hand as it 
would for an automated process delivering reedplates.

I'm pretty sure that reed sets can be purchased (albeit only by authorized
dealers, repair services and customIZers [NOT customers]) IFF a sufficient 
quantity of reeds are ordered to make it cost-effective for the company. I
also think that some dealers, repair technicians, etc. will make small quantities
of individual reeds available IFF it is worth it to them for various reasons.

I suspect that for most people, replacing a reedplate is about as far as they
want to get into exploring the innards of their harps. That doesn't mean they
won't retune and regap, but most won't even try that. I'm the only one in my
harmonica club with harp toolkits. And yes, I'm crazy enough to replace reeds. 
I have the Lee Oskar toolkit, the Seydel toolkit and the Bill Romel reed 
replacement tool.

Just idle speculation on my part, but I'd be interested in thoughts about it.

Regards,
Crazy Bob

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