allowing open discussion about drum makers

[vinnieL]

I find it interesting how many in this forum openly sing the praises of some drums and will not allow others to voice or share their negative experience with a particular manufacturer. This forum should allow people to share their experience regardless of who is making the drum. I recently spoke to gentleman who has a set of drums from a certain manufacturer and he had multiple complaints which are very similar to what several others have experienced from the same maker. The issues are not minor some of the issues threaten the integrity of the shell and hardware. I have spoken to others with similar issues with that company's drums. Why certain makers get praised on this board when there are serious issues I don't know. I feel the members of this board would be better served if they could openly discuss their issues so that others may make informed choices before they go through the expense that quite a few people have gone through. But instead what we get is "well lets give it time. It takes time for the maker to sort out the issues until one day his product is truly at it's best" Well guess what guys when someone lays out 3,000 or more for a set there is no excuse for shoddy work. The customer who laid out a large sum of money doesn't give a damn about what happens 10 years from now. The customer deserves quality product that is at least well constructed, sound is subjective what one likes others may not but at the very least we all want quality construction. We are not talking chump change people this is hard earned money that I'm sure everyone here works their ass off for! We need to stop making excuses for some manufacturers large or small. At the end of the day these people have a business and they are not your friends! Don't fall into the super cool dude nice guy BS in the end he just wants your money. Sure lets say there is a love for the art and music but the business is there for money. We should stop making excuses and stop sheltering manufacturers as long as there is honesty it is not malicious to state facts.

[pcastag]

Huh? The only truly negative problems I've heard about any maker on this forum were about Timba drums and how they kept separating. Other than that I don't really recall any super negative comments about any boutique drums made here.
PC

[RitmoBoricua]

Sure lets say there is a love for the art and music but the business is there for money. We should stop making excuses and stop sheltering manufacturers as long as there is honesty it is not malicious to state facts.

You got a point there Vinnie. Perhaps we all will be better served with a bit less of sugar coating and band wagon.
Constructive criticism is a good thing.

[yambu321]

TO ALL,

I SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. AS LONG AS IT'S ALL FACTUAL, AND KEPT CLEAN.
ALSO IMPORTANT, IS THAT WE MUST NOT BECOME TOO OVERLY INDULGENT ON MAKING A POINT OR STATEMENT. IF WE CAN ALL KEEP IT REAL AND HEALTHY, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO US ALL, AND IT WOULD HELP KEEP THE BUSINESSES HONEST.

GOOD ONE VINNIE,
CHARLIE.

[Tonio]

Well based on the value ($3K) you mention , I'd say that narrows it down to 1 maker of a set of congas. Or are you using a round figure?

Let the show begin-we need the emoticon of eating popcorn

I thought most of us were honest and try to be non biased. Did I miss something? I do agree that members here
at ye congaplace should be allowed full disclosure to their opinion, as long as they are civil about it. When I say opinion, well it is a opinion. Only facts that can be disclosed is based on a comparison of others "products". There has to be a point of of a persons acceptability, but how could you catagorize that? each individual has a different experience, and custom made drums is far from mass produced (cookie cutter) QC passable/fail decisions.

"well lets give it time. It takes time for the maker to sort out the issues until one day his product is truly at it's best"

To me the above states its not perfect, or perhaps less than acceptable as far a quality is concerned. Wether that refers to craftsmanship or the sound can be misleading or misunderstood.

So, what up?? Just looking for clarity in judgment of a highly subjective matter

T

[ABAKUA]

If kept FACTUAL, HONEST, and free of DEFAMATION, INSULTS and based on first hand information, then fine.

The problem is in the past, there have been problems based on misinformation and lies. Accompanied by insults and general idiocy, this is what is not allowed. This is what happened with a former member (now banned and deleted) who went on and on about bad mouthing a certain manufacturer and their product, saying he owned one etc when in fact he never did, the item he owned was from another maker/brand. Not the first time something like this had happened either.

Bad mouthing a product without any factual information or experience is simply not on. Neither is stuff 'heard' though the grapevine, or rumours from the internet etc etc...

I think expressing a bad experience or poor workmanship through direct experience serves as a warning to other buyers. ie us.

I know Vinnie had an issue with a certain manufacturers crown which had cracked, whether he chooses to mention who they are is up to him. I understand the issue was sorted in private with the manufacturer.

As long as its done with diplomacy and fact, I dont have an issue with it, this is the board owners instruction to me also.

[umannyt]

The customer deserves quality product that is at least well constructed, sound is subjective what one likes others may not but at the very least we all want quality construction....We should stop making excuses and stop sheltering manufacturers as long as there is honesty it is not malicious to state facts.

I totally agree. We need to "call a spade a spade".