legrec -> RE: Gerundino played by Ricardo? (Jan. 14 2007 14:36:38)
|
I really agree with your thoughts Anders... Yes, under the "condes are good/condes are bad" binary, there is a HUGE problematic, and you've clearly pointed it. I would call this the "ecological issue". It's not only biological ecology, but also "economical ecology" (and you can apply this to politics, information, whatever). There is a real ecology of producers/sellers and customers. And it's hard not to see that things are getting as worse here as in biological ecology : on one hand there are already "obese" makers/producers/sellers (condes, for exemple ; humans in the biological ecology). They're getting and "consuming" almost all the ressources available ("everyone" is buying condes ; humans are over-feeding with natural ressources). And on the other hand (yes, I know, it's "binar", but still valid on the whole) there are "endangered species" - I'm sorry Anders, you're part of the endandered species. But I'm sure you already knows that. [:D] They are living on what remains out of big business (like animals are living on the few we left). That is to say really not much nowadays, in all domains. And it's not a "global plot" thing. It's economical facts and statistics. Concentration of economic power had reach an unbelievable level (revenues inequalities are matching the 17th centuries datas in "modern" USA. Go figure how this is possible), but no politic seems to have the guts and "room for manoeuvre" to do the littlest thing about that, so I guess it's now a "citizen" (better saying "consumer") issue. The problem is that even this "last chance" is wasted : most consumers have a "sheep" or "lemmings" behaviour. If it's available and famous, then let's buy it ! So I guess we really have a problem here, Houston. And it's beyond the simple "conde are good/bad" debate (that is like when you're hesitating to take this or that mobile phone company. False choice, wrong debate). Guitar business is not a very good exemple, because it's still one of the most balanced market out there. But the whole point seems still to be valid : Normally, in an ecology, there is room for everyone, for Condes and for Anders, for Micros$ft and for Linux, for wallmart and for the small grocery, etc. BUT, this is true at the condition that there is a general balance between everyone. And, let's realize that the balance is really threatened, in biological, economical and even in guitars ecology. So, as we're just begining to understand it for nature (50 years after the researchs stating this clearly), we have a responsability, things to do, and things to avoid in this whole mess. I know that lots of people don't give a **** to that, or even are not thinking it's a real problem. In another domain, but still connected, i've just have to think that I earn 7€/ hour to be an university teacher/researcher and that a lovely french businessman called François Pinault earns 13000€/ hour. Yes, it's not a typo mistake. I've just seen an interview with him. The man worked hard all morning (not much harder than me, as I could saw). Said some clever things to his work mates (not much clever than what I'm saying, as I could hear). And then, said "ok, it's time for a little entertainment after all this hard work" and he went to golf for the afternoon. I couldn't believe that this cool chap was still earning 13000€/hour to play golf. 8 times my MONTHLY salary per HOUR, to play golf when he's tired. And I've made 10 years of study to get there. And I'm trying to make students more confident in themselves and society, more clever and wise, etc. And making researchs that could perhaps, one day, help some people to be better. But for sure all this must be **** compared to what this great guy is making for humanity. One could always say that "he deserves it" and that I deserve the ressources I'm getting. And that we can't do something to rebalance things, it will stop economic growth and the will to work hard. It's pure ****. This man would still "work hard" for only 500€/hour. And if he would quit for this amount, I'll kick him in the ****. And any rational and objective study would conclude that is not fair or balanced, or even "normal". Is this guy making 1857 times my work per hour ? Does this man is "worth" 1857 workers ? ha-ha-ha Don't get me wrong, I'm not jealous. I would feel totally ashamed and dishonored, as a human being, to accaparate so much ressources given the fact that we are sharing these ressources and I already feel that what I'm earning is far enought to make me happy, given that hapiness does not resides only in money. My point is that I'm totally frightened by the lack of balance of the whole system. It's clearly dangerous. When a system is unbalanced to this point, fear for your ass. There must be rich and poors. But not so much poors for so few richs (and so unbelievably richs), if it's the case, the system will break. Same with guitars. There must be Condes and Ramirez. And Anders and Donadey. But not so much condes and ramirez. Because it could kill Ander's and Donadey's. Lots of good small builders have to stop at one time because they can't make it, in money terms strictly. And instead of making wonderful instruments with their specificity, they go and make finishs for condes. Pure waste for everybody, because of an unbalanced system and mostly because the "sheepy" behaviors of customers. And in the end even condes and ramirez or burguet would "die", because they are becoming obese, and are forgetting the real point of guitar making (could be selling strings or yogourght as long as it's profitable). Buying condes, buying at wallmark, buying a hummer, a jacket for 30$, a bottle of wine for 3$, Micros$oft programs, Hollywood movie$ and Britney Spear$. Hey, what the point ? I'm free, no ? I don't hurt anybody and I WANT the "best deal" ! For sure you can't see who's your hurting, what you're breaking, and the future crap you're favorizing. It's potential and indirect harm. Not so obvious. Hey, we're into the 21th century. Things have gone a little more complicated than in the bronze age. So, I'm sorry if it looks i've gone off track, but here is the link : When conde is selling twenty guitars, Anders is selling one. Michel Donadey is barely making a living with his art, and his guitars are killing all the condes I've played. Nonsense. & Sheepness. Because there is a bunch of Conde available, because of the hype, because of quality also, most will buy a conde. "Power of imposition", the most important thing in modern economy. It does not really matter in the end if you're really that good and if your prices are fair and even less if you respect workers and environment. The key is the "power of imposition". Be everywhere, hold every brain, give guitars for free to pro players and you're sure to win the lottery. Wallmart strategy. The breeding of sheeps "by force" instead of the gentle gathering of clients because you're good, your prices are fair and you have a social and environmental politic, in a truly competitive market. So, when you buying a Conde, you're helping a little to unbalance even more the system. I'm not saying you're responsible for the whole disaster, you're just "sheeping" a little in the dangerous path (please excuse my words, all conde buyers). Like when someone buy a hummer and says "hey, it's nothing, just a little pollution - I'm not responsible, just a little drop in the ocean. And I really wanted BAD this hummer, Arnold Swartznegger has one, and it's a great machine". And people would tell me : you missed the thing, big companies have financial troubles, they have many workers, advertising to do, etc. We must support them also, they're in competition, lots of jobs will disapear, etc. Funny - it's the same argument mine owners told to miners back in the old days : "If I raise your salary just by one pence, I will have to close the mine. I simply can't. It's pure economics. It's undiscutable". And the guy was coming home in his castle, laughting with wife and friends how much these poor miners are credule and stoopid, spilling Chateau-Margaux all over the handmade tablecloth and planing to buy another rolls-royce for the wife because one is not enought when you're high. Don't forget flamenco had always be on the side of the miners... So if I want to be flamenco-coherent, I will never buy a conde. It's a bit rought, but I feel it's right. And if in ten years, Eliasson's guitars are replacing condes on the market, in terms of industrial scale, I'll flame down Anders, no worries. But I know it won't happens. Not because he's guitars are not as good, but because it's not him, not his mind, and not the reason why he's here on earth (selling guitars like pure marchandises and choosing to have an industrial scale). So, in the end, I can find a better guitar, for the same price or even lower with ease of payment, from a small builder. And it will be a unique guitar. And I will learn a lot in the process, meet a good man, and see my baby growing. Priceless. And last, but not least, I will help a little to rebalance the ecology of guitar makers. When ethic and moral meets rationality and pleasure, the only question remaining for me is how could so much people still buy condes or ramirez ? I some domains, endangered "working species" are not any more "endangered". They simply have disapeared. And a big friendly trust have replaced them. You now have the choice between the blue and the orange product from this firm. They called them under two different names, to give you a "feel of choice". Great. Choose the right color and don't think at anything else. Ecology is just a stupid idea brought by post-communist and ****ing useless and annoying intellectuals. There is no danger. Believe me. Buy an orange Conde. (Not the blue one, it has been made by the non-original conde factory. But you have the choice, powerful consumer that you are). [:D] (I know a lot of you here have bought Ander's guitars. So you could be proud chaps, you're helping the whole ecology of flamenco guitars and preserve guitardiversity) Feel ashame of such a long and political post. I'm sorry I just can't help myself. Perhaps a picture will help forgiving :
Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px
|
|
|
|