| Matt,
Your review is indicative of someone who plays a modern Bach trumpet. Not only are you used to playing your own particular horn, you are also playing a trumpet with its own idiosyncrasies, to which you are accustomed to. You have undoubtedly adjusted in correcting any or all the problems that your trumpet inherently possesses. All trumpets have idiosyncrasies and imperfections.
Many accomplished players have played the ZeuS G and interestingly many of your comments are contrary to what others have documented. I believe if you had the opportunity to play the ZeuS G for a longer period, lets say several days and then picked up your Bach, you would find yourself disappointed with your Bach. This is precisely why most ZeuS G owners are former Bach owners.
Picking up the ZeuS for a short time will not give you an accurate assessment of the capabilities of the horn. You should also play your Bach with both a regular and a round large bore slide and compare the difference before you make any comment, positive or negative.
You can imagine that after about 4 years of selling the ZeuS G, I had many accomplished players scrutinize this trumpet for its playing characteristics. Overwhelmingly, every one of them has commented that for one thing, it has superior intonation to a Bach or at least to the Bachs they have played. Again, the lengthy period of you playing a Bach may have altered your playing to make your own horn sound its best, this is natural.
In terms of fit and finish, you were looking at a ZeuS G with a brushed finish. I imagine that you are not used to playing or closely looking at a trumpet with this type of a finish. I suggest that you familiarize yourself more with this type of finish. I can understand how someone not familiar with this type of a finish may make these assumptions in the first few minutes of looking at the instrument up close.
The two other criticisms you mention, one about the size of the 3rd slide ring and the fact that both ends of the tuning slide are cut evenly, clearly indicate being very accustomed to one trumpet, that of your own. I can certainly tell you that nobody else had trouble inserting their fingers into the ring, nor did they have trouble removing or installing the slide.
The “instant mashed potato” part you included in your review adds a great comic effect. To be serious however, why is it that every time my Alabama dealer calls me he is chewing on something? I even have a hard time understanding him sometimes. He blames it on his cell phone and his southern accent but I can hear him munching away. I will have to sit him down and have some strong words with him about this. You may be right and I apologize on his behalf. He should know better and stay off the munchies, his girlfriend has already commented about his gut and he is only in his twenties. Keep an eye on him for me, will you?
I would be really honored for you to be either a ZeuS G or Olympus player.
I feel ZeuS would certainly give you an edge and highlight the uniqueness and individuality of your playing. I am sure that given more time you would have a very different view of the ZeuS G, after all, about 80% off all ZeuS players are former long time Bach players.
I am happy you would recommend the ZeuS G to your students however it is very rare that a student buys a ZeuS G. Most ZeuS Gs are sold to serious and experienced adult players, who are long past their college marching days I'm afraid. The Olympus, new as it is, has been mainly purchased by professionals. For your students I would recommend the ZeuS ZTR 750. A good teacher must also be a great politician, you noticed that.
I do admire your brand loyalty for Bach. Most companies would do anything to acquire that kind of a following. I am sure you have been playing Bach a long time and no other brand, regardless of how good or better it may be, in your view will ever quite match it. This is unfortunate, there is a lot of great stuff out there which you could explore. I think as these forums indicate many mature players really want more unique and more exclusive brands. One thing I am happy about is the great variety of wonderful horns played by players on these forums.
In time, as a future schoolteacher, I really hope you will be a renegade among teachers and give your students the choice in what they play. Instead of telling them what to buy or to play what you play, teach them how to choose an instrument on their own for themselves. That will surely be of value to them in the future. Be careful it’s not easy being a renegade but its ultimately much more satisfying.
If you are an accomplished and experienced player, then I am sure you realize that it is not fair, first and foremost, to yourself to make a critique of a horn after only a short time playing it. Doing it that way you will most certainly get an inaccurate evaluation of any horn. This is unfair to the horn and to you. Please don’t give your Bach to anyone and expect an accurate review of it in such a short time. That would not be fair to the fine Bach that I am sure you play.
Alex |