why so relatively expensive?

sandman · Post by **sandman** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 1:48 am

Still waiting to see my new Howard low D.
Also been pondering why it costs more than four times the cost of my other five Generation whistles combined.
Any insight?

GaryKelly · Post by **GaryKelly** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:07 am

It's more than four times the size of a Gen high D?

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:16 am

It will also be of more predictably reliable quality and it will also be a real bargain for a low D. I have a Howard low C which gives me something of that Overton sound I love for a lot less in price; not that I'd mind having another Overton of course.

trisha · Post by **trisha** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:49 am

I was going to sell mine, but didn't. It has some good points for sure.

Trisha

Wanderer · Post by **Wanderer** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 5:07 am

sandman wrote:Still waiting to see my new Howard low D.
Also been pondering why it costs more than four times the cost of my other five Generation whistles combined.
Any insight?

Why buy those expensive Generations? Megs are about half the price.

Henke · Post by **Henke** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 6:49 am

GaryKelly wrote:It's more than four times the size of a Gen high D?

I would think it's about double the size of a high D Gary

GaryKelly · Post by **GaryKelly** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 7:01 am

Not so Henke...

And, since we're talking cylinders, there's ghastly maths involved when calculating how much more metal and plastic there is in a Howard Low D Vs a Gen high D. Well, not so ghastly that the average teenager shouldn't be able to figure it out, but I've never been average and it's been so long since I was a teenager I can't be 'arrised to work it out. It's all about volumes and pies with square Rses.

But it's more than double. Fank gawd Sandman wasn't talking about a conical Shaw low D...

Edited to add: and you can see how cr*p my maths is, since the original post actually reckons (accurately it seems) that the Howard costs 20 times as much as a Gen. Which is okay, considering my Overton cost about 40 Gens and is worth every Genny imo.

IDAwHOa · Post by **IDAwHOa** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 8:22 am

Because.

BillChin · Post by **BillChin** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 8:34 am

The bottom line answer is because people are willing to pay the high price. There is some relationship between price and performance, but it is definitely not a straight line. Musical instruments are discretionary items, not necessities of life. As such price often has little to do with materials, costs or any objective measures of quality. Perception is the key. There are no whistle commercials on TV or in magazines. So a lot of it is word of mouth or if some high profile performers start using a certain product.

We are lucky here on this board, because there are so many opinions, the vast majority offered with no ax to grind.

With luxury items sometimes setting a higher price will increase sales. A higher price often creates a perception of higher quality in markets such as jewelry, perfume, and any number of luxury goods. Whistles may follow the same trend because expensive whistles are luxury items. Sellers tend to set prices to maximize profits. There are few barriers to entry to whistle making so it is a relatively efficient market. New makers must decide on what market niche he/she is aiming at. Some makers look for a full time income, others do it as a hobby in their spare moments. This can be a factor in pricing decisions.
+ Bill

glauber · Post by **glauber** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 8:37 am

sandman wrote:Still waiting to see my new Howard low D.
Also been pondering why it costs more than four times the cost of my other five Generation whistles combined.
Any insight?

Yes. The Generation is mass produced in a factory, and the Howard hand-made by a beloved pipe maker in England.

Wanderer · Post by **Wanderer** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 11:21 am

Henke wrote:
GaryKelly wrote:It's more than four times the size of a Gen high D?
I would think it's about double the size of a high D Gary

Double the length
Double the width
Quadruple the size (volume)

sandman · Post by **sandman** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 9:55 pm

Musical instruments are discretionary items, not necessities of life.

That's a joke, right?

Anyway, I finally put the thing in my mouth last night and my questions were answered. What a joy! I was worried about the size and spacing of the holes but it wasn't a problem at all. And it sounds so ... organic is the best word I can use to describe it. Plus, the bigger air column makes the whistle "alive" in your hands -- you can really feel it resonate.

I'm a very happy camper today! Only 7 more hours of work until I can go home and play it again.

Jens_Hoppe · Post by **Jens_Hoppe** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 1:48 am

Wanderer wrote:
Henke wrote:
GaryKelly wrote:It's more than four times the size of a Gen high D?
I would think it's about double the size of a high D Gary
Double the length
Double the width
Quadruple the size (volume)

Actually, double width <=> quadruple cross section area.

If also double length, it's eight times the volume of a high D.

trisha · Post by **trisha** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 2:50 am

Sigh...the Howard is double the metal length (less a couple of cm), and if you roll a Gen high D neatly around the inside bore, it goes round twice.

Definately four times Whistle-speak. Volume a few times too.

Productive time starts now...

Trisha

Jens_Hoppe · Post by **Jens_Hoppe** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 3:32 am

trisha wrote:and if you roll a Gen high D neatly around the inside bore, it goes round twice.

So, the Howard has double the circumference of a Generation, which of course is equivalent to double the radius, which again is equivalent to four times the area. Definitely eight times the volume!

OK, I'll go to lunch now...

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