Nespy

Way to show off your lack of reading comprehension skills. Go back and read it again.

They were Bauerfine valves, which are the best valves on earth....better than Getzen, even.

As Dan said...second rehearsal is this weekend. It will be impossible to tell what we're going to have to work with until we get into the groove and get some more bodies in the door. The people we had at open house all had great attitudes. Here's hoping we'll see more of the same this weekend! :)

I find your experiences interesting. I have always driven Toyotas. My first car was a 1980 Toyota Corolla that I bought used in high school in 1988 with around 40000 miles for $800. I drove that car for almost ten years and it had over 300,000 miles when I gave it away. I never had any major issues with the car. The most devistating issues I had were water pump, radiator, timing belt. With the exception of the timing belt, I always performed the maintenence myself. Parts were never that expensive (don't ever buy your parts from the dealer). My wife bought a Volkwagon Passat in 2001 when she graduated college and in the three years we owned the car we never had ANY issues. However, due to it's suggested requirement of using only premium fuel and the fact that it was about to come out from under warranty, we sold it and bought....more Toyotas. The parts for Toyotas are not expensive and they have very good fuel economy, which is why we drive them. We now drive a 1999 Corolla and a 2002 Camry. I perform all the preventative maintenence and it is not expensive to own them or maintain them. just my .02

Something you might want to consider is the Kanstul Mariachi. It is a clone of the old 38B Conn Constellation. It is a small bore, but because of the wide tubing wrap has a more open feel than the bore would indicate (but not wide open huge). It can be ordered from Kanstul without the Mariachi engraving and the stupid two tone finish. I would suggest that you try one from a shop that has a trial period and if you like it, place an order through the factory.

I believe it's a matter of labor costs vs. import tax costs. It's the same reason why Yamaha moved final assembly plants to the US to begin with. It just took a while for the labor expertise, labor price difference and competition to make enough sense to move back.

You're absolutely right. However, I am going to go WAY out on a limb and guess that perhaps they spent less than buying entire new horn lines. Maybe? Ya think?

Actually, Yamaha started manufacturing here because of US import taxes. It ended up being a fantastic move for them because of their partnership with Schilke in the 60s which improved their quality and design immensely.

Unless you're 90 years old, you take that back right now!!!

This is all true. However, how many senior folks out there aren't responsible enough to take care of an instrument? Yamaha and Dynasty throw in free drums to get the business. They offer financing on a product that most corps sell after a year....so they always owe something to the company. Whereas, if a corps figured out a way to mangage their finances and make a purchase of quality equipment and took care of it, they have no annual cost of horns.....they have to allocate funds for upkeep and maintenance, which is less money. It's funny that the Star of Indiana was able to survive their entire 10 years on the field off of one set of bugles. They realized the fiscal responsibility of buying one set and having them refurbished when needed, rather than buying new. It's a shame that it makes more sense to some corps to be perpetually in debt to the manufacturers.

Kanstul Bugles are STILL cheaper than Yamaha trumpets.

Pressure the corps you support to buy American....like Kanstul....like BUGLES.

Contact: Terry Lewis/Yamaha Corporation of America (714) 522-9011 (tlewis@yamaha.com) Release Date: February 7, 2007 YAMAHA TO CLOSE TWO U.S. MANUFACTURING FACILITIES BUENA PARK, Calif. — Yamaha Corporation of America today announced it will close two facilities and consolidate its musical instrument manufacturing operations in Asia. The closures are part of a long-term plan to enhance Yamaha’s competitive position in an increasingly aggressive global musical products market. The facilities, Yamaha Music Manufacturing, Inc. (YMM) in Thomaston, Georgia, and Yamaha Musical Products, Inc. (YMP) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, will cease operations March 30 and April 27, 2007, respectively. These factories currently manufacture Yamaha’s renowned line of acoustic pianos, professional audio speakers and woodwind, brasswind and percussion musical instruments. Mr. Yoshihiro Doi, president, Yamaha Corporation of America made the announcement to all employees and to those directly affected, with sadness and regret. “We have worked long and hard together here in the U.S. to manufacture the world’s finest musical instruments. I am proud of our people and their achievements, and I deeply appreciate their commitment and loyalty to Yamaha,” said Doi. “I am equally grateful for the support of the local communities in which these plants have thrived for a combined sixty years of commitment here in the United States.” “We must take this action in light of market realities and new, fierce international competition,” he added. The closings will affect approximately 380 employees in the two locations. The company will provide the employees with a comprehensive separation package. Yamaha will move its manufacturing operations to existing company-owned overseas facilities but remains committed to marketing and to continuing its traditional high level of service support to its products in the United States. Also, as part of this restructuring, Yamaha Exporting, Inc. (YEI) will be integrated into an exporting department of Yamaha’s Operations Division, effective April 1, and the Band & Orchestral Custom Shop and parts will be relocated to Yamaha Corporation of America headquarters in Buena Park, California. YMP and YMM finished goods and warranty services will be relocated to other locations to be disclosed at a later date. Mr. Doi says the musical products industry, especially in traditional instruments such as pianos, wind and percussion instruments, has become increasingly challenging due to the emergence of new, aggressive global competition, notably from manufacturers based in China. Additionally, many established competitors based in the U.S. have already shifted large portions or, in some cases, their entire production to sources outside the U.S. The closures, he said, are being made with extreme reluctance, but are necessary to ensure Yamaha’s and its retailers’ competitiveness and continued growth in the musical products marketplace. -END-

Pressure the corps you support to buy American....like Kanstul...like BUGLES.

Contact: Terry Lewis/Yamaha Corporation of America (714) 522-9011 (tlewis@yamaha.com) Release Date: February 7, 2007 YAMAHA TO CLOSE TWO U.S. MANUFACTURING FACILITIES BUENA PARK, Calif. — Yamaha Corporation of America today announced it will close two facilities and consolidate its musical instrument manufacturing operations in Asia. The closures are part of a long-term plan to enhance Yamaha’s competitive position in an increasingly aggressive global musical products market. The facilities, Yamaha Music Manufacturing, Inc. (YMM) in Thomaston, Georgia, and Yamaha Musical Products, Inc. (YMP) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, will cease operations March 30 and April 27, 2007, respectively. These factories currently manufacture Yamaha’s renowned line of acoustic pianos, professional audio speakers and woodwind, brasswind and percussion musical instruments. Mr. Yoshihiro Doi, president, Yamaha Corporation of America made the announcement to all employees and to those directly affected, with sadness and regret. “We have worked long and hard together here in the U.S. to manufacture the world’s finest musical instruments. I am proud of our people and their achievements, and I deeply appreciate their commitment and loyalty to Yamaha,” said Doi. “I am equally grateful for the support of the local communities in which these plants have thrived for a combined sixty years of commitment here in the United States.” “We must take this action in light of market realities and new, fierce international competition,” he added. The closings will affect approximately 380 employees in the two locations. The company will provide the employees with a comprehensive separation package. Yamaha will move its manufacturing operations to existing company-owned overseas facilities but remains committed to marketing and to continuing its traditional high level of service support to its products in the United States. Also, as part of this restructuring, Yamaha Exporting, Inc. (YEI) will be integrated into an exporting department of Yamaha’s Operations Division, effective April 1, and the Band & Orchestral Custom Shop and parts will be relocated to Yamaha Corporation of America headquarters in Buena Park, California. YMP and YMM finished goods and warranty services will be relocated to other locations to be disclosed at a later date. Mr. Doi says the musical products industry, especially in traditional instruments such as pianos, wind and percussion instruments, has become increasingly challenging due to the emergence of new, aggressive global competition, notably from manufacturers based in China. Additionally, many established competitors based in the U.S. have already shifted large portions or, in some cases, their entire production to sources outside the U.S. The closures, he said, are being made with extreme reluctance, but are necessary to ensure Yamaha’s and its retailers’ competitiveness and continued growth in the musical products marketplace. -END-

Neither have trumpets or tubas or electronics.....what's the difference? DCI is on it's way to merging with BOA as a summer extension of their activities. Real drum corps is dead.

It's no worse than the rest of the marching band crap they're doing, so go ahead and do it. Or should they wait and add them with the woodwinds?

And today you can buy a G soprano for less than a Bb trumpet. Oh well.....

I remember that show and I didn't really think that the "If We Were In Love" quote was all that subtle, especially considering all the other corps that VK jabbed fun at during the show (Cavaliers, BC, SCV that I remember off the top of my head). That year of VK was one of my favorite shows from them....very fun show and great playing! :)

150...it's a step in the right direction. Maybe if they keep increasing the number of musicians they will someday attain the decibel level of when they played bugles!!

The last DCI shows I went to were in 2000, when I was performing at the shows as a member of CorpsVets. I have not bought any DCI materials since then, either. I thought I made it clear in an earlier post that I withdew my support when the changes to Bb began. At that point, my focus changed to DCA....now, unfortunately, that window of opportunity is shriveling as well. I have supported DCA corps that are still in the key of G, however. When DCA becomes what DCI is, I will no longer support it, either. It's no biggie....each of those corps, including the junior corps I marched with, died to me when they switched to Bb. I'm just one former consumer of the product that isn't buying what they're selling. I don't expect my feelings to matter to them. I wish they did, but they have made it plain that DCI does not care about those that feel as I do. What are ya gonna do? Remember the times that were good and find another product to buy...DCA for the time being.

Would DCI being broke not be something to complain about? If it were still an activity I cared about and were being mismanaged again, yes I would be ###### off and complaining. This comes from me being capable of managing something and being ###### off at someone who doesn't ruining something good (you listening NJ?). That's fantastic that the early 2000 DVDs are for sale. Do they sell them with only corps in G playing on them? Becuase otherwise I'll buy a BOA video. I don't have a problem with men dressing in drag and holding beauty contests...but I'll be ###### off if I turn on the Miss America pagent and see it there......it's the same thing.

I'm struggling enough with dealing with having to march "drum corps" and playing a trumpet. I don't appreciate it, but it is the closest thing to me resembling a drum corps and it is somewhere to perform and I know the leadership has their stuff together. If I could work it into my schedule I would drive 7 hours to rehearsals to perform on bugles, but I can't. This is the most of a sacrifice I am willing to make. I can drive one hour and march in a college marching band. The day that DCA goes the rest of the way that DCI has, then college marching band is the only marching activity I would do. DCA will be just as dead to me as DCI is. It really sucks. Drum Corps, as it was when I discovered it and participated in it, was something very special to me. It's something unique and painful to watch that be dismantled and changed into a shadow of what it once was....especially by those charged to protect and manage the activity. I have no beef with anybody performing in DCI today...it's not about them. It's not even about the staffs in general. However, these people that are proposing and introducing elements into Drum and Bugle Corps that make it nothing more than a well funded high school or college band pisses me off.

I didn't want any of the junk that has been introduced to DCI...I thought surely they will never dump the bugles from drum & bugle corps. Then I thought surely they will never use amplification. Surely they will NOT sing on the field with microphones. It's been one dissapointment after another. When DCI went to bugles I thought....well at least there is DCA....surely THEY will never dump the bugles from drum and bugle corps. Past is Prologue....

You're right. DCI didn't change everything at once, either. Bb first....the other crap will follow.