Jon, Spot on. Quality assurance procedures developed over years of industial experience should ensure the product of a mass production facility conforms to its` proven specification. Any establishment where this is not the case, in our very selective world, must either refine its` processes or go by the board. Also it results in good products at affordable prices; witness the proliferation of industries de-camping to the far east where everyday products including musical instruments can now be obtained and, in general, are of "merchantable quality" because the companies take their destinies seriously.