Re: [Harp-L] Hohner in the Local Marketplace

[fjm <bad_hat@xxxxxxxx>]

Garry writes:

> or the underlying strength of their brand and distribution channels.

In response to what I wrote, see below but this time quoted in context.



> That Hohner could make such a dreadful product for as long as they did speaks to the underlying perfection of their design.

> Players quit the Marine Band in droves from the late 80's on and yet as the problems were corrected most of us came back.


Hohner's execution was poor. Many players were driven away.  When the 
production problems were corrected I like many players returned to the 
brand.  Not because of the strength of the brand and the distribution 
channels.  I went back to playing harmonicas based on the Marine Band 
platform because I bought a Filisko and Joe counselled me to try his 
harmonica with the hand made plates.  Now for the particular key I was 
buying Joe had not reed plates that he felt satisfied with so I eneded 
up scrounging an old set off of a Special 20.  Apparently they were fine 
because Joe used them.  Keep in mind that at that time I was playing 
almost all Lee Oskars, SBS's and Auto Valves being the exceptions.  I 
wanted a Lee Oskar plate on a Filisko comb.  Joe talked me out of it.  I 
figured if I'm going to spend all that money, $85 at the time, I was 
going to listen to the guy making the harmonica.  I figure it's like 
going out to the Sonoran Hot Dog stand and then unordering everything, 
what's the point?  Get it how they make it.  How I know the quality got 
better is people like Joe Stopped saying they couldn't find good plates 
to work with.   At the time I bought that Filisko I was a Martin Dealer 
and I could buy any harmonica I wanted at very favourable pricing.  In 
fact I got into that whole deal because I was having a hard time getting 
the Lee Oskars in the keys I wanted.  I'm no Hohner fanboy (fanboi?)but 
I sure do like how they configure their hand made reed plates.  So Garry 
might be right that Hohner got away with murder because they were Hohner 
but in the long run the marketplace will adjust and even a behemoth 
won't stay in business if they keep making a bad product.  fjm