TrumpetMaster - View Single Post

trickg · 05-18-2004, 01:50 AM

Mystique? Peer pressure? "Standard"?

In my opinion, there is really no such thing as "Standard" anymore. Take something as simple as tooth paste or deoderant. There are about a zillion varieties to choose from. I have to stand in front of the display sometimes for 5 minutes to find what I'm looking for among the multitude of brands, flavors and types. Same goes for horns. Even the "Standard" Bach really isn't standard these days. Sure, the Silver ML 37 is still probably the most popular model these days, but among my crowd, I see just as many ML 43s, 72s and LB 25s as the 37s.

As far as what is considered a "Standard" pro level horn, again, there are great horns being made by a multitude of companies such as Yamaha, Conn, Kanstul, etc, that are every bit as good as the fabled Bach Strad, maybe even better.

As for peer pressure, that might be something that I would worry about if I was in High School or something, but now, I really don't even care what my horn looks like or what brand it is, just so long as it plays well.

As for the "mystique" aspect of a trumpet, again, my biggest concerns are

1.) Does it play well
2.) will it enable me to get the job done without working my butt off?

When you get right down to it, in my opinion, there really are only a few things to consider about a trumpet for playing characteristics:

1.) Blow
2.) resonance
3.) response
4.) Timbre
5.) Inotonation (not necessarily in this order)

You can mysitique it all you want, but if it doesn't perform well in all of those areas, I don't care who made it or how much it costs, I don't want it.

I recently had some minor modifications done to my Bach Strad. This had nothing to do with any mystique or peer pressure. It was all about getting my horn to perform for the situations where it is most getting played.

I suppose this is why in the last 18 years I've done the bulk of my playing on just two horns - and if I knew 7 years ago what I know now about brass repair, I might still be playing the the one that I got rid of for the one I'm currently using, but alas, at the time I was under the impression that my old Strad was worn out.

05-18-2004, 01:50 AM	#15 (permalink)
trickg Forte User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Glen Burnie, Maryland Posts: 2,054	Mystique? Peer pressure? "Standard"? In my opinion, there is really no such thing as "Standard" anymore. Take something as simple as tooth paste or deoderant. There are about a zillion varieties to choose from. I have to stand in front of the display sometimes for 5 minutes to find what I'm looking for among the multitude of brands, flavors and types. Same goes for horns. Even the "Standard" Bach really isn't standard these days. Sure, the Silver ML 37 is still probably the most popular model these days, but among my crowd, I see just as many ML 43s, 72s and LB 25s as the 37s. As far as what is considered a "Standard" pro level horn, again, there are great horns being made by a multitude of companies such as Yamaha, Conn, Kanstul, etc, that are every bit as good as the fabled Bach Strad, maybe even better. As for peer pressure, that might be something that I would worry about if I was in High School or something, but now, I really don't even care what my horn looks like or what brand it is, just so long as it plays well. As for the "mystique" aspect of a trumpet, again, my biggest concerns are 1.) Does it play well 2.) will it enable me to get the job done without working my butt off? When you get right down to it, in my opinion, there really are only a few things to consider about a trumpet for playing characteristics: 1.) Blow 2.) resonance 3.) response 4.) Timbre 5.) Inotonation (not necessarily in this order) You can mysitique it all you want, but if it doesn't perform well in all of those areas, I don't care who made it or how much it costs, I don't want it. I recently had some minor modifications done to my Bach Strad. This had nothing to do with any mystique or peer pressure. It was all about getting my horn to perform for the situations where it is most getting played. I suppose this is why in the last 18 years I've done the bulk of my playing on just two horns - and if I knew 7 years ago what I know now about brass repair, I might still be playing the the one that I got rid of for the one I'm currently using, but alas, at the time I was under the impression that my old Strad was worn out. __________________ Patrick Gleason email me at: trickg1@hotmail.com "What we do in life echoes in eternity" "At my signal, unleash hell." - Maximus Decimus Meridius