Are We Too Wrapped Up In Equipment? - Page 2

Bugler997 · 09-16-2005, 08:24 PM

One of my band directors always said that there will always be sacrifices, different equipment will always have good points and bad points, or something like that. I disagree with this. I think it is quite possible for one trumpet to be absolutely better than another one, in every single way.

Someone else -hell, maybe it was me- said "The perfect trumpet won't hold you back." I agree with this, meaning that if it isn't holding you back, buying a new one is absolutely pointless. Also, this can apply to different things: The perfect cables won't make your speakers sound worse, &c..

richtom · 09-16-2005, 08:49 PM

I'm with Wilmer.

brian moon · 09-16-2005, 11:51 PM

Sure is hard keeping all these horns clean.

B15M · 09-17-2005, 09:09 AM

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

Think of a fire man using a garden hose. What if he could use a fire hose. The town went out and spent a lot of money on that new hose only to find out that the water needed more pressure and only dribbled out.

The town then went to the water company and got more water.

The point is that without that hose they couldn't have used more water.

You might not notice the benefit of a better trumpet in the short term but it will allow you to grow into it.

Before the new trumpet the trumpet was the weakest link, with the new trumpet you are the weakest link. But I have found that it is human nature to rise to what we need to do. Therefore, you are a better player with the better trumpet.

Jimi Michiel · 09-17-2005, 11:55 AM

I think we're lucky to be able to be equipment geeks. I like the fact that, for the most part, I can get my paws on all but the most expensive trumpets (thats what those credit card offers I get every week are for

)
On the other hand, unless your Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, etc, your average Johnny String Player isn't going to have access to high quality violins, cellos, etc.
Just my 2/100s.
-Jimi

bandman · 09-17-2005, 12:54 PM

No

It's all about what works for you.

When you get to a certain level of proficiency it is all about what works best for you as a player. There is no "best horn" for everyone, maybe not even a best horn for you because different horns have different qualities you are looking for as a player.

In a pic I was looking for intonation #1 and I found it in my Schilke. In a Flugelhorn I was looking for that dark dark trombony sound, and I found it in my Kanstul. In a C I was looking for a responsive horn with a rich sound that played in tune in all registers and I found it in my Harrelson modified Bach. In my Bb I was looking for a nice horn that would work in all areas of playing, and I think I have found it in my Bach Strad.

I'm still looking for that perfect Bb to play in Church when you want that dark beautiful sound that is equally good on solo work and when playing with the choir. I think that horn may be the Eclipse LC but I have not got the funds to buy it and find out.

Am I wrapped up in my equipment? Yes, only because I want what works perfect for me in every setting.

bandman · 09-17-2005, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tpter1

One of my other passions, photography, is very equipment laden, and many of the same issues (equipment-heads; gadget freaks;I MUST have that new Nikon because it has 41 custom settings, etc) come about. (Especially now with auto-everything digital cameras that do most of your thinking for you). The image is not a result of the equipment; it is the eye and imagination of the photographer that is responsible for the image. The functions, bells and whistles just make capturing that image more efficient and aid in the technique of recording that moment in time. But a full-featured pro level SLR is wasted on someone who knows nothing about exposure, flash, metering light levels, or when or how to use the features on the camera. Fumbling around with knobs and buttons will cost that once in a lifetime shot of your kid riding the dog or your bunny with a pancake on his head. However, someone shooting for National Geographic NEEDS all those funtions if his/her photos are going to have the right exposure, be built tough enough to endure what they do, and allow for the creative flexibility to control the lighting and color to make a photo reach out to its intended audience.

I like to make a similar comparison to one of my passions -- GOLF.

Little simpler than the way you said it -- what works for the pro does not work for me. I play with Calloway X-12 irons that were designed for the weekend hacker as a very forgiving club. There are other more accurate clubs, but my skills are not proficient enough to handle those clubs.

I have said I'll buy a new set of clubs when my handicap is in single digits (at one time I was 13 which is pretty good). I often think about the students I teach who want to change from the Yamaha they bought in 5th grade to a Bach Strad or a Yamaha Xeno. When some of them change I often notice the level of playingactually goes down. They are usually the students that I told not to get a new horn. The same thing would happen to me if I was to play on the exact same clubs as Tiger Woods.

tpter1 · 09-17-2005, 01:48 PM

It's not only trumpet players, either.

My wife is a clarinettist. Reeds, reed holders, reed trimmers, ligatures, barrels, swabs, neckstraps, caps, mouthieces, a billion differentt kids of cork grease...much the same! We are not alone...

BigBadWolf · 09-17-2005, 04:32 PM

I will openly admit to being a gadget/equipment geek. I like to have everything and try everything out. 9 times out of 10 the thing turns out to be useless, I can at least have solace in the fact that I did give it a fair shake. The way I look at it is, anything that can potentially make playing easier is worth a try. If it works great, if not, c'est la vie. Plus, I like having a bunch of stuff.

FreshBrewed · 09-17-2005, 06:29 PM

It's much less work to sound good on an Eclipse than on a Bundy. If I can play a horn that slots well, plays in tune with itself and is an even blow, I'm going to do it. I don't want to have to sort those things out on a substandard trumpet when I am trying to figure out other details. That being said, equipment can only take you so far.

That's an awesome avatar Wolf!

09-16-2005, 08:24 PM	#11 (permalink)
Bugler997 Pianissimo User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: VA Posts: 95	One of my band directors always said that there will always be sacrifices, different equipment will always have good points and bad points, or something like that. I disagree with this. I think it is quite possible for one trumpet to be absolutely better than another one, in every single way. Someone else -hell, maybe it was me- said "The perfect trumpet won't hold you back." I agree with this, meaning that if it isn't holding you back, buying a new one is absolutely pointless. Also, this can apply to different things: The perfect cables won't make your speakers sound worse, &c.. __________________ Yamaha Xeno Bb (YTR-8335GS) // Monette B2 Yamaha Xeno C (YTR-8445S) // Monette C2

09-16-2005, 11:51 PM	#13 (permalink)
brian moon Mezzo Piano User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bloomfield Township, Mich Posts: 566	Sure is hard keeping all these horns clean. __________________ Revelation 3:20

09-17-2005, 09:09 AM	#14 (permalink)
B15M Forte User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Monroe Ct. Posts: 1,338	A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Think of a fire man using a garden hose. What if he could use a fire hose. The town went out and spent a lot of money on that new hose only to find out that the water needed more pressure and only dribbled out. The town then went to the water company and got more water. The point is that without that hose they couldn't have used more water. You might not notice the benefit of a better trumpet in the short term but it will allow you to grow into it. Before the new trumpet the trumpet was the weakest link, with the new trumpet you are the weakest link. But I have found that it is human nature to rise to what we need to do. Therefore, you are a better player with the better trumpet. __________________ http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...ndid=238487314 http://webpages.charter.net/joespitzer/

09-17-2005, 11:55 AM	#15 (permalink)
Jimi Michiel Forte User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Fort Worth Posts: 1,776	I think we're lucky to be able to be equipment geeks. I like the fact that, for the most part, I can get my paws on all but the most expensive trumpets (thats what those credit card offers I get every week are for ) On the other hand, unless your Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, etc, your average Johnny String Player isn't going to have access to high quality violins, cellos, etc. Just my 2/100s. -Jimi __________________

09-17-2005, 12:54 PM	#16 (permalink)
bandman Forte User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Lafayette, LA, USA Posts: 1,058	No It's all about what works for you. When you get to a certain level of proficiency it is all about what works best for you as a player. There is no "best horn" for everyone, maybe not even a best horn for you because different horns have different qualities you are looking for as a player. In a pic I was looking for intonation #1 and I found it in my Schilke. In a Flugelhorn I was looking for that dark dark trombony sound, and I found it in my Kanstul. In a C I was looking for a responsive horn with a rich sound that played in tune in all registers and I found it in my Harrelson modified Bach. In my Bb I was looking for a nice horn that would work in all areas of playing, and I think I have found it in my Bach Strad. I'm still looking for that perfect Bb to play in Church when you want that dark beautiful sound that is equally good on solo work and when playing with the choir. I think that horn may be the Eclipse LC but I have not got the funds to buy it and find out. Am I wrapped up in my equipment? Yes, only because I want what works perfect for me in every setting. __________________

09-16-2005, 08:49 PM	#12 (permalink)
richtom Pianissimo User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 87	I'm with Wilmer.

09-17-2005, 01:48 PM	#18 (permalink)
tpter1 Forte User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern New York Posts: 2,309	It's not only trumpet players, either. My wife is a clarinettist. Reeds, reed holders, reed trimmers, ligatures, barrels, swabs, neckstraps, caps, mouthieces, a billion differentt kids of cork grease...much the same! We are not alone... __________________ -Glenn "Roses have thorns; shining waters mud. Clouds and eclipses stain the moon and the sun; and history reeks of the wrongs we have done. After today, after today, consider me gone."- Sting

09-17-2005, 04:32 PM	#19 (permalink)
BigBadWolf Piano User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 312	I will openly admit to being a gadget/equipment geek. I like to have everything and try everything out. 9 times out of 10 the thing turns out to be useless, I can at least have solace in the fact that I did give it a fair shake. The way I look at it is, anything that can potentially make playing easier is worth a try. If it works great, if not, c'est la vie. Plus, I like having a bunch of stuff. __________________ Kevin

09-17-2005, 06:29 PM	#20 (permalink)
FreshBrewed Mezzo Piano User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 519	It's much less work to sound good on an Eclipse than on a Bundy. If I can play a horn that slots well, plays in tune with itself and is an even blow, I'm going to do it. I don't want to have to sort those things out on a substandard trumpet when I am trying to figure out other details. That being said, equipment can only take you so far. That's an awesome avatar Wolf! __________________ Mike Eclipse MHY Bell 1949 Olds Ambassador Listening has nothing to do with moving your mouth!

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