[Harp-L] Re: Hohner USA response re: prices, blister packs etc.

[paddy72 <paddy_wells@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I totally agree with Tom, and of course many others, on this point. I
too love Hohner harps, but the company simply HAS to do something
about consistent quality if is to justify imminent price hikes. Being
asked to pay more for an instrument that requires immediate adjustment
for optimum and just plain comfortable playing is a joke. Give that a
representative has responded on the forum, maybe some of this will be
noted. I hope so - I would like to keep playing Hohner harps, but they
should be wary of increased competition if they ignore their
customers' needs.

Ditto the point made about needing multiple diatonic harps -
relatively cheap or not, any serious player needs at least two of
every key and that sort of investment should not be taken lightly by
Hohner.

Here's hoping...

On Jan 26, 3:04 pm, Tom Albanese <reedwrec...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Andy,
>
> I'm glad to hear that you read all the posts and thanks for taking the time
> to respond to the list. I suspect that some of the comments you read, mine
> for sure, were not written merely in response to the imminent price hike.
> My post on this topic was not a single stranded reaction to price but a
> cumulative one resulting from decades of frustration that continue to this
> day with Hohner and their products. For a recent example, after paying the
> asking price for a number of Marine Band Deluxe harmonicas, why must I
> take each one apart to adjust the reedplates so that they are level with the
> comb and then burnish the sharp edges so they don't irritate my mouth? Out
> of the box that harp was like putting parallel butter knives in my
> mouth. Shouldn't that have been something that was addressed by Hohner up
> front? A full set of these harmonicas (not counting low tunings) would
> currently cost in the neighborhood of $600. depending on where they're
> purchased. For that kind of money, is it too much to ask that some design
> consideration be given to the ergonomic aspects of the instruments
> mouthpiece?
>
> That brings me to another point:  A professional diatonic harmonicist needs
> instruments in every key, plus backups. It's a little disingenuous to make a
> statement like "Even with rising prices, the harmonica remains the lowest
> priced professional musical instrument available in the market today."
> That's fine for the hobiest who carries a C harp around in his pocket but
> a full set of diatonics is expensive and apparently about to become more so
> at a time when many people, including musicians, are making less money than
> they were just a few years ago.
>
> In summation I will tell you this: I am a long time customer of Hohner
> harmonicas and have purchased countless MBs and other models over the last
> 35 years. At this stage of my musical life, if I'm going to be asked to pay
> more for my harmonicas I want a product that facilitates my playing rather
> than one that gets in the way of it. One that, perhaps outside of some minor
> reed adjustments, plays like a "Professional Musical Instrument" right out
> of the box (err, blister pack). I hope this helps to further set the record
> straight.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> tom albanese
> Chicago, IL
>
> On Mon, Jan 25, 2010 at 11:21 AM, Andy Garrigue  wrote:
> > On behalf of Hohner USA, I would like to respond to the recent posts on
> > Harp-L about Hohner's prices and blister packs. We have read all the posts,
> > and would like to set the record straight, as there is some inaccuracy in
> > some of the posts, and curiosity about our decisions. We hope the comments
> > below will be helpful to all...
>
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