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rowuk · 06-07-2007, 06:38 AM

Tatakata,
Dave has not "gone small". His palette of colors has gotten bigger. Playing lead on a Raja (or even an Ajna2) creates a very big problem for the rest of the section. I also consider these instruments optimal for playing live without microphones.
His heavier horns (starting with the Prana3) still represent his "state of the art" but because of the "non-standard" sound, place heavy requirements on the rest of the section. The smaller horns offer a lot of "Monette" in packages more compatible with conventional sounding horns. That is the reality, you can't always get the entire section to "follow the leader", so the leader takes as much of his advantage as possible to the section!
Only certain models are available in silver plate. Dave does have a keen ear for color and I am sure that those instruments are optimized differently when plated.
There is a fundemental difference in working with Dave. He builds what he knows that YOU need instead of what you THINK that you need.
If it was as easy as picking a bell, leadpipe and valve cluster from a catalog and then soldering that stuff together I guess there would be a lot more high end manufacturers.
Finding truly optimal combinations (instead of just "better than what I had before") requires a lot of experience and communication with performers.
I feel that I know quite a bit about the nuts and bolts of trumpets. I experiment with leadpipes, valve caps, mouthpieces and play many instruments with rotary and piston valves. Dave's instruments still amaze me in terms of resonance, intonation, security, blow and palette of colors.

06-07-2007, 06:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
rowuk Moderator Fortissimo User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 4,640	Re: Why did Monette go back to small Tatakata, Dave has not "gone small". His palette of colors has gotten bigger. Playing lead on a Raja (or even an Ajna2) creates a very big problem for the rest of the section. I also consider these instruments optimal for playing live without microphones. His heavier horns (starting with the Prana3) still represent his "state of the art" but because of the "non-standard" sound, place heavy requirements on the rest of the section. The smaller horns offer a lot of "Monette" in packages more compatible with conventional sounding horns. That is the reality, you can't always get the entire section to "follow the leader", so the leader takes as much of his advantage as possible to the section! Only certain models are available in silver plate. Dave does have a keen ear for color and I am sure that those instruments are optimized differently when plated. There is a fundemental difference in working with Dave. He builds what he knows that YOU need instead of what you THINK that you need. If it was as easy as picking a bell, leadpipe and valve cluster from a catalog and then soldering that stuff together I guess there would be a lot more high end manufacturers. Finding truly optimal combinations (instead of just "better than what I had before") requires a lot of experience and communication with performers. I feel that I know quite a bit about the nuts and bolts of trumpets. I experiment with leadpipes, valve caps, mouthpieces and play many instruments with rotary and piston valves. Dave's instruments still amaze me in terms of resonance, intonation, security, blow and palette of colors. __________________ Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.