tatakata

In the mid - late 90s it seemed liked Monette horns kept getting bigger and bigger and the literature made it sound like the older more "conventional" weight horns were inferior. As we got into the 00s it appears that the horns are going back to a more "conventional" weight. The return of the classic Monette horns. I even see some of them in silver plate. That was a big no no back in the early Monette days. Horns were not plated!

Did Monette determine that bigger is not better? Did the market just demand the smaller horns?

Siegtrmpt

Dave has a business to run, employees to pay and overhead expenses to meet so I'm sure he's interested in making trumpets that players want to buy. Some people like heavy horns and some like lighter horns or big mouthpieces or smaller mouthpieces or anything in between. Meeting the needs of customers is what business is all about.

rowuk

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.

tatakata

You both make interesting points guys!

uatrmpt

Maybe I'm just too much of a pessimist, but to me it just appears to be a money making move. The heavy trumpet fad and peaked business probably started to slow. The Prana models -- same thing (As are Yamaha Chicago and NY, Bach Chicago, etc. etc. etc.).

Yes, we get better horns and more choices; BUT, it all comes down to the bottom line.

B15M

That was a nice comment. I guess all Dave is trying to do is take as much money from each player as he can. I would have paid more for my trumpet if he asked for it so I guess he isn't asking for all he can get.

For me, I went with a little heavier horn because it has the sound I like and a lot of security. Hitting notes is easier.
At ITG I tried some Prana (smaller) instruments and was very surprised at the sound from the lighter trumpet and the same feeling of security. When I went up high it opened up nicely.

Just because Dave invented something new doesn't mean the old stuff is bad or he was ripping us off. It just means that he invented something new.

I agree with you that it all comes down to the bottom line. The bottom line is: I play better on Monette trumpets and I look forward to the future when Dave invents another trumpet line and I can play even better.

tatakata

I'm sure he wants to make money and a great product. But I think Monette hit a point of diminishing return with the weight. How big can you make a trumpet before it sounds like something else. Also there has been a "big horn" backlash. I think it peaked in the mid - late 90s and now we are back to "conventional" weight trumpets.

rowuk

How can any of you determine that there are LESS heavy trumpets being sold? Dave does not publish any statistics and there are many more companies making heavier horns than EVER before. Why assume that your frame of comprehension is definitive without any proof?
Dave has expanded his line of instruments, it does not mean anything except exactly that.
I would venture to say that the market for extreme horns has NOT changed, but what Dave has learned has become available to many more players and styles of playing than ever before!

B15M

Monette Instruments

Monette Instruments

If you look at these two links you will see what Dave was advertising a couple of years ago and today.

I think there are heavy horns on both but, now there are more (qty)lighter trumpets. Dave has figured out a way to make the lighter trumpets play the way he wants so now you have a bigger choice.

If you play a Prana trumpet then you have something to talk about.
To just talk about it is another thing.

TrentAustin

Joe and Robin are onto something here.

I have a 993 and it is by far the single easiest horn I have ever played. Yesterday I was slurring from pedal D to double D on a B2. It's freaky efficient and the sound is beyond belief. Check out my recent post with all my sound clips from the horn.

I played a gig a few weeks ago with another player in town with a MF Prana. He said he couldn't believe the versatility in the horn. I just sort of shrugged my shoulders and said it couldn't be anything like my 993. It shocked me! How could a lightweight horn (I'd say the weight of my LA yammie) play like my 993 and then some. Any sound color you want to get you could do on the horn. I still liked the 993 better (since I've already paid for it ;) but the MF would be the horn I bought if I ordered a new one from the shop.


There have ALWAYS been trends in trumpet design. Look at the Connstellation (ultra heavy)and then a few years later conn puts out the 60B (extremely light). I think Dave now makes a horn in any weight for a particular clients playing style. The lighter Pranas get a LOT of the sound colors the heavier horns get, and the Prana versions of the heavier horns are another universe entirely.

I'd imagine if the Monette was $2500 or 4,000 (blackburns are now over $4K and no one blinks an eye about that) a lot of the "monette doubters" wouldn't be saying much at all.
-T