[AddictedToSax]

So you thought terrific meant the same as terrible? Interesting.

I was one of the first to criticize Kirill’s comments about another mouthpiece maker’s workmanship but can’t we let it go? Obviously Steve Neff wasn’t aware of that thread. How about we read the review if we’re interested and leave it at that.

Side note: I don’t believe Kirill’s statements were from a lack of English skills and I love his sound on sax. I’ll leave it that.

Note: I edited the typos.

 

[Guto]

It gets worse in French, where the word "terrible" can mean either terrific (more of a slang meaning, but of common usage) or awful ( the dictionary meaning = terrible). It's both the context and the voice intonation that tells you the actual meaning.

 

[saxmsy]

English is difficult for non-native speakers. I remember talking with the members of the Italian Saxophone Quartet after their performance and said, “Your performance was terrific!“ Their smiles disappeared and they asked, “What was wrong with it?” It took some explaining that I didn’t mean to say their performance was terrifying but wonderful and enjoyable. English is even more difficult when writing informally, which is common in social media platforms. When misunderstanding easily arise among native speakers in forums, I can’t image the difficulty non-native speakers have when attempting to parse the subtle meanings in words and phrases.

Another example is how to use words like "bad" and "shxx", it can mean either good or bad depending how you use it.

 

[saxmsy]

I think that Steve's review on KP's pieces and KP's behavior (speak bad about other well know refacer) are totally two different things here. Apparently Steve is not aware of that incident and let's not mix these two together. (Just side note: I think that it is too nice to use "English is not the first language" as an explanation for that post. English is not first language for many folks here, but politeness and well respect for others is a global language for all the cultures regardless where one is from. Honestly, if that post was made by some other random user, I believe that there will be high chance that that account was to be banned after that.). As for KP's pieces, I am sure that they could be very good, but I personally won't buy anything from him unless he apologizes publicly for that diss.

 

[Nefertiti]

I think that Steve's review on KP's pieces and KP's behavior (speak bad about other well know refacer) are totally two different things here. Apparently Steve is not aware of that incident and let's not mix these two together. (Just side note: I think that it is too nice to use "English is not the first language" as an explanation for that post. English is not first language for many folks here, but politeness and well respect for others is a global language for all the cultures regardless where one is from. Honestly, if that post was made by some other random user, I believe that there will be high chance that that account was to be banned after that.). As for KP's pieces, I am sure that they could be very good, but I personally won't buy anything from him unless he apologizes publicly for that diss.

I guess I don't know the history here, what went down and what words were exchanged with whom. I have three more of his mouthpieces I am working on a review for. If SOTW doesn't want me posting about those reviews here that is fine. I'm just not sure who is in charge of that and who would make that decision. I am totally fine with not posting them here if it keeps the peace. I truly did not know the situation.

 

[lukasali]

I guess I don't know the history here, what went down and what words were exchanged with whom. I have three more of his mouthpieces I am working on a review for. If SOTW doesn't want me posting about those reviews here that is fine. I'm just not sure who is in charge of that and who would make that decision. I am totally fine with not posting them here if it keeps the peace. I truly did not know the situation.

I really hope you do post them here - whether someone offended others in the past, or overstepped forum rules of whatever, shouldn't in my mind mean that a third party can't even post reviews of their work. That feels very "big brother" to me.

And yes, I read the thread in which KP criticized Ed Pillinger. It was blunt, and in poor taste to connect his criticism of EP to promotion of his own work, but I think it was blown way out of proportion. If he really thought the work EP did was bad, he should absolutely be free to express that opinion. It would be great if he was more diplomatic but hurting feelings through direct criticism of work should not result in getting banned and blacklisted.

 

[John_Dikeman]

I agree you should post these reviews here. The only case in which I would think you might not want to post a mouthpiece review would be if the guy was consistently scamming people and even then I'd almost suggest just putting a disclaimer. I'm still curious how certain mouthpieces played even if their maker went off the rails at some point and disappeared with peoples money (a few makers come to mind....).
Just being an ******* isn't grounds for a boycott in my opinion, though individuals can certainly chose not to buy from him for that reason. I also hope this reaction doesn't in any way, conscious or not, bias your opinion about the other pieces.

 

[whaler]

Have you ever met a mouthpiece maker/refacer who wasn’t a little off?
I’ve met Bob Dukoff, Wolfie and Guardala and they were all what you may call eccentric. A lot of people who get focused on one thing like they did, and we can, can seem odd.
It’s either that or the dust they’re sniffing working on mouthpieces.
‘The Krill guy just comes off as an irritating know-it-all.
‘I guess there’s a niche for someone who copies a player too closely but I’m not sure where it would be.

 

[Dr G]

Have you ever met a mouthpiece maker/refacer who wasn’t a little off?

Hah. Bingo!

To continue the gedanken, if you have a collection of mouthpieces from a particular maker, then find out that you don’t like the maker for whatever reason, do you dump the mouthpieces?

 

[Grumps]

I truly did not know the situation.

So in your dealing with him, in reviewing his mouthpiece on your site and posting same on SOTW, him ever being on SOTW never came up?

 

[Dr G]

So in your dealing with him, in reviewing his mouthpiece on your site and posting same on SOTW, him ever being on SOTW never came up?

Things that might be said in cross examination:
“And in your email exchanges, did you ever ask the person whether they had ever posted anything that another might deem confrontational or be construed as actions that might case others to think you are a jerk?”.

“Have you ever in your sales career made misstatements about the quality or results of your work or claimed your designs to be totally original without proof or merit?”

”What is your opinion of ligatures and material selection?”

Oh, he is soooooo screwed…

 

[Nefertiti]

Hah. Bingo!

To continue the gedanken, if you have a collection of mouthpieces from a particular maker, then find out that you don’t like the maker for whatever reason, do you dump the mouthpieces?

......or all your Michael Jackson albums.........

 

[NO SAX]

Just wondering if krill is still on this site why isn’t he promoting his own product, but I have to say the review was excellent and I did enjoyed it

 

[Dr G]

Just wondering if krill is still on this site why isn’t he promoting his own product, but I have to say the review was excellent and I did enjoyed it

How would you feel if people are already lined up waiting to pounce?

 

[Dr G]

Steve, I’m disappointed to see this review.

this guy behaved in an appalling way last year, on this site, in totally unfounded criticism of a fellow mouthpiece refacer.

He quite rightly received a hugely negative respone to his self serving comments.

I see that he has not posted here since. Quite rightly, in my opinion.

So, it seems wrong to see his work being touted here, in your review.

I know mouthpiece reviewing is part of your income stream, mainly from receiving free mouthpieces , which you then sell on, but in this case I think it is just a step too far for you to be promoting his work here.

Yes, that’s the one.

he knew exactly what he was doing and saying. There was no language problem !!!
He was well out of order, and seems to have left the forum as a result.

I maintain that his work should not now be promoted here by Steve, and it is this promotion that I am questioning.

I am not trying to revisit the initial crass post by this guy. Thats done !!!

This thread is in effect an advert for his mouthpieces, ( for which Steve will benefit financially) and I feel should not be here.

Really?

 

[Nefertiti]

So in your dealing with him, in reviewing his mouthpiece on your site and posting same on SOTW, him ever being on SOTW never came up?

No, I contacted him last March interested in buying a piece and he said he was already planning on sending me some to check out and maybe review. I got these pieces in April of last year some time. SOTW never came up. All communications were about the mouthpieces, a little bit about the craziness in Russia and some about Berklee. I found him very easy to communicate with.

 

[NO SAX]

How would you feel if people are already lined up waiting to pounce?

That happens here at times even when I first starting posting…..even from you…..but wait, this is no the topic….it’s about the review which was great

 

[AddictedToSax]

I guess I don't know the history here, what went down and what words were exchanged with whom. I have three more of his mouthpieces I am working on a review for. If SOTW doesn't want me posting about those reviews here that is fine. I'm just not sure who is in charge of that and who would make that decision. I am totally fine with not posting them here if it keeps the peace. I truly did not know the situation.

Steve, KP said some nasty things about a competitor and it didn't reflect well on him. It came off as self serving. I didn't like what he said and many members here stood up to him and told him why what he said was objectionable or should I say "problematic" to use a term of the cancel culture. Please don't feel like you need to censor yourself. Do your reviews. We all appreciate your expertise and the effort it takes to test and report on your findings.

 

[Guto]

This thread reminds me of a situation I've got into many years ago with a know-it-all mouthpiece maker, sax teacher, good player from overseas. Really sad to see so many followers that guy continues to lure into his world of greediness and misinformation. He also had a short run at SOTW promoting his stuff, and got burned to ashes here pretty quickly. I guess we do have a good filter. The few mouthpieces he sent me to try out, see if I could help him promote them in the US? All did end up in the trash can

As far as Kirill, I didn't appreciate his attitude here either, but I hold my judgement about his work. Steve's review sounds awesome (as they often do). Krill himself sounds great too. I don't really have an interest in trying his products. As long as he's not scamming anyone, I do wish him success.

So many great musicians, mouthpiece makers, or artists of other crafts had devious personalities. In the end we are left to enjoy the product of their geniuses, while we have the choice to not be part of their personal lives.

 

[Dr G]

That happens here at times even when I first starting posting…..even from you…..but wait, this is no the topic….it’s about the review which was great

If you’re issues with me, please contact me via pm and I will be happy to talk about them.