[Alan Brinton]

My guess is that they buy the whole melodica, which would explain why mine came in the soprano Suziki melodion case. The volume of their sales on Mylodicas, especially on the soprano, is probably too small to justify setting up a special arrangement to order just the insides. I think it’s true that a good woodworker or finish carpenter could do as well if not better. But the workmanship is not bad, and I don’t begrudge them for making some money on their design. So I don’t feel like I’m being ripped off. This design could be improved upon, though. It doesn’t seem to me to be an acoustic design at all; I seriously doubt that the wooden case enhances the sound. That cigar box melodica we’ve seen probably has more acoustical affect, while the wooden case of the Mylodica probably just muffles the sound (he said, not really knowing what’s he’s talking about). What people hear and feel is influenced by what they’re seeing while it’s being played, so the wood has its effects. But this is not like the sound box of a violin or guitar. The trick would be to create something that is, but that is neither too bulky nor too fragile. I think it would take a musical instrument craftsman rather than just a woodworker.