| Well, it's time for an update. Probably the last one.
Took the Studio to Concert band rehearsal instead of my trusty Omega today. Believe me, that was a leap of faith right there. For starters, it doesn't look all that great. Second, I wasn't sure how it'd blend with the rest of the section.
Turns out those fears were kinda stupid, really. Boy I got some strange looks, but nobody really cared what it looked like. As far as the sound blending, I did notice a difference, but if anything, I sounded clearer and closer to tune than did the rest of the section (I confirmed this with a tuner). It handled the repertoire easily, though it was still easy to see that it was designed more for a pop band kinda purpose.
Would I play it regularly in a concert band situation? Yeah, more than likely. Will it replace the Omega? Nope, not the way things are right now. The Omega seems to suit what the Concert band does just a wee bit better (though it will NEVER see another jazz/pep band gig again). My overall verdict of this horn is that it is indeed as great a horn as everyone says. I really wish one of our respectable custom horn makers around here would consider doing a tribute or something to it, as I definitely think that if it played anything like this little gem, it'd be marketable.
__________________
Michael Smith
Hullabaloo: The official band of Texas A&M Basketball
Kanstul 1537/ Schilke 14
LA Olds Studio |