[Harp-L] Suzuki Firebreath

[Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Winslow wrote:

"Yes, individual reeds can be replaced. Contact Os Leguizamo at Suzuki
for details - see my harp-l previous post for contact details (I see
this thread is being cross-posted to harptalk as well)."

I doubt it's very easy for the individual, though.  There has been  
discussion of this with other Suzukis, but maybe they have changed  
the way the reeds are welded in this case.  I've always felt that  
welded reeds make sense for the manufacturer, and probably are fine  
for most people, but if you don't want to replace reed-plates  
entirely for a single reed, maybe not the best for high-end stuff.   
Still, for the overwhelming majority of buyers, it's not an issue-- 
and maybe it has been changes to make replacement easier.

"I feel that this matter should have been addressed AFTER CONTACTING THE
MANUFACTURER FOR INFORMATION instead of being trumpeted publically with
no apparent contact to the manufacturer. Hardly fair to them, now, is
it? "

?  So, now we are obliged to contact the manufacturer or any product  
before reporting or reviewing it after usage?  Richard wrote in his  
initial review that he would keep the list informed as time went on.   
He mentioned reed longevity then.  This is a follow up to that  
initial post.  Moreover, for many reed longevity is a major point in  
what harmonica one buys.  Obviously, a sample of one is not  
representative, but that's not the point.  Richard gave an initially  
good review and then a follow up when a problem developed.  To object  
only to the negative experience and not the positive is a wonderful  
example of hypocrisy.

As for fair--it's perfectly fair to publicize or criticize a product  
after purchase.  Suzuki sells these, therefore any buyer has the  
absolute right to comment about the product.  Now, if it is a defect  
in the particular item not found in most or if there is a factual  
error, then Suzuki has every right to point these out and even cry  
foul in the later instance.  But, if everything is above board then  
what Richard did is not only fair but should be applauded--he  
reviewed something, said he'd follow up and he has.  A rare  
occurrence on-line.

This is a discussion group.  A forum.  It is here to discuss the  
harmonica in many forms.  If everything is handled behind closed  
doors and hushed up for politeness or just to keep people's feelings  
from being hurt, it would loose all value pretty quickly.  In terms  
of items for sale, if only the glowingly positive is posted and when  
a negative does come up it's actively suppressed, then it's more than  
useless: it's misleading.

"My experience with Suzuki is that they are extremely conscientious
and helpful to the user community."

I'm sure they are.  That said, this has absolutely nothing to do with  
what Richard wrote except that it gives him an option for getting his  
harmonica repaired.  Suzuki is one of my favorite companies at the  
moment, as they are doing some truly innovative stuff and keep trying  
new things.  But when you manufacture a product, you have to expect  
reviews.  You hope they are as good as Richard's initial post was,  
and hope that follow-ups and progress reports continue in that way.   
What's not fair is to cry foul if they don't (noting that Suzuki  
hasn't done that--Winslow did).  Automobile magazines often do long  
term tests.  If something goes wrong, they take it to get fixed, but  
they also report on it.  Sometimes they report before getting it  
fixed, sometimes after.  Either way is above board--what's not above  
board on their part would be not mentioning problems.  If the  
manufacturer wishes to respond to a claim, they can, but that doesn't  
mean the claim shouldn't have been made or the perceived problem  
reported--far from it.

Richard shouldn't be held to the same standard (he's doing this  
reporting out of the goodness of his heart), but he has been meeting  
that standard quite well in this instance.

Thank you Richard for your initial (very positive) review and your  
follow ups.  While a sample of one isn't representative, it's a  
beginning of the process of getting information out there about the  
new Suzuki--over time whether this is an abberation(sp) or a pattern  
will emerge from the many similar postings.  That's one of the  
benefits of being a discussion group, IMO--a multiple perspective,  
long-term view can emerge.





 ()()    JR "Bulldogge" Ross
()  ()   & Snuffy, too:)
`----'