Equipment Options

My curmudgeonly self declares that there have become too many equipment options and too much emphasis on equipment as a solution, while not enough emphasis on practice and contemplation.

I remember a story that I read online a few years ago—hey, it’s on the internet, so it must be true, right??? During a masterclass with the great Canadian trombonist/conductor/musician Alain Trudel, an attendee asked a question about mouthpieces. I was not there; I cannot find the quoted answer, but it was along the lines of:

“Get a 6.5AL, practice a lot and when you wear the plating off the mouthpiece from practice, only then will you be in a position to judge if you need a different mouthpiece.”

Although I likely don’t have the exact details of the exchange, the point is clear. It is practice that makes someone great, not what equipment they play. I am old enough to have seen a huge growth in instrument and mouthpieces choices. I am only referring to the American market, as this is what I am most familiar with.

In the early 1990s, I remember hearing about the Edwards Instrument Company building a new line of trombones and thinking, “Why would anyone enter the trombone manufacturing business?” Bach and Conn dominated the classical market and King, Bach and Conn were the most popular jazz horns. There were also the odd Holton and Olds instruments used here and there…I am probably leaving out others. Sorry.

Now add:

Courtois
Edwards
Getzen
Greenhoe
Kanstul
M&W
Rath
Schilke
S.E. Shires
Yamaha

On the mouthpiece front: Bach, Giardinelli, Schilke, Wick were the most common, with some outliers as well.

Now add:

Elliott
Faxx
Greg Black
Hammond
Griego
Monette
Stork
Warburton

Most of the newer makers charge incredibly high prices for their mouthpieces and instruments. That has led the old school makers to boost their prices, darn it anyway!

Why? 

Because people will pay. Because many people equate a higher price tag with higher quality.

“I must have the ‘best’ in order to be competitive.”

The ‘best’ comes with a substantial price tag.

Also, being smaller means less volume, which necessitates higher pricing.

Are the instruments and mouthpieces any better today? There is likely better consistency.

Are the players better? Not really. There may be a higher number of good players, but the top quality is no better than it was 35-40 years ago.

Yes, there are more good players…but there are also millions more people than 35-40 years ago, so I would expect there to be more of “good” everything. There is more “not-so-good” of everything as well.

I think I have written it before but if I could go back 45 years, knowing what I know now, I’d buy a stock, closed wrap Bach 42B and a stock Bach 5G and practice more. I‘d also have saved tens of thousands of dollars. Yup. Not an exaggeration. Ugh. All the experimentation for the sake of improvement seemed like a good idea at the time.

As an aside, regarding Bach trombones, I have also observed a curious and amusing trend. “New York” is the Holy Grail. “Mt. Vernon” is next in line, followed by “Corporation.” I can assure you, dear reader, that there are great, good and sub-standard specimens in each of the previous eras of production. It is also possible to find a gem that was assembled last week. Don’t fall for the “older is better” trap. Older is older. Because they are older, there are fewer specimens. They are not necessarily better, just older and more rare. We frequently want what we cannot have. If we can’t get it, it must be good, right????

So, this blog is merely a suggestion to consider minimizing the emphasis on equipment and adopting the belief that practice is the ultimate determiner of success and achievement. Find an instrument that produces the sound in your head (the most important aspect…CONCEPT) the easiest and then practice, without wondering if there is something “better.”

A closing thought along those lines:

Who would sound better on your horn and your mouthpiece, Joe Alessi (or Toby Oft, or Nitzan Haroz, or David Finlayson, or Jim Markey or Matt Vaughn….) or you? 

If you can admit that one of those world class players would sound better on your axe than you, then it is not about equipment. It is about knowledge, study, hard work, and accomplishment. 

Don’t try to solve a playing difficulty with equipment.

Practice.

Good luck in your quest.