Hidden Benefit?

jhatpro · Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 7:16 am Post subject: Hidden Benefit?

Is there anything to be learned from trying to make a beautiful sound from a less than perfect horn, one that's stuffy with poor compression, for example. Or is the effort just more work with no real benefit?
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

kehaulani · Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 8:17 am Post subject:

I personally don't see the point. If you finally overcome its impediments, when you go to another horn in good, normal condition, you will be overcompensating for some ideocracies and under playing others.
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"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

Brassnose · Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 8:36 am Post subject:

I cannot speak for pros but for me as an amateur I have found that sticking to an „equipment package“, i.e., a mouthpiece and a trumpet and then to practice and perform with said setup holds great benefit. Over time I will know the quirks and the easy sides of my setup(s) and can concentrate much more on the music.

As I result I really only play the Schmidt and the Bach. The flugel comes out a few bars in big band or commercial gigs and the cornet is my outdoors/rain/Christmas carols instrument and comes out in late November when the orchestra gets ready to rehearse for the public singing event in the stadium on Dec 22.

The C is new to me in its current form and I have just started to set up a brass trio, but before any performances I will need to seriously practice in C.

I generally find that equipment changes prevent (my) practice from really being efficient.
_________________
2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier

jhatpro · Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 8:39 am Post subject:

I'm always exploring the counter-intuitive approach to things. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. I think this time it doesn't.

Guess I'll be making some lamps.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

kehaulani · Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 9:04 am Post subject:

Goby · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Jun 2017 Posts: 652

You will gain more from making your most beautiful sound on your best instrument. A good instrument will be able to convey nuance and fine details that a wall hanger simply will not be able to. The goal of practicing should be to become efficient and effortless, and if compensating for the defects of the instrument enter the equation, you will be holding yourself back.

Richard III · Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 9:21 am Post subject: Re: Hidden Benefit?

Billy B · Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2023 4:33 pm Post subject:

No
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Bill Bergren

Yamahaguy · Heavyweight Member Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 3992

Vin DiBona · Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2023 7:38 am Post subject:

A truly bad horn is a truly bad horn.
You will gain nothing by fighting with it.
R. Tomasek

Bethmike · Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2023 9:37 am Post subject:

Hope this is not off topic, because I think I understand the underlying thought behind your question.

I stick with my mouthpiece, but I switch between 3 really exceptional horns that each play a bit differently, see my signature. The differences require some adjustment on my part, and it makes me very conscious of how I am playing. I only do this at home while practicing, I would never do this during performance preparation (I usually perform on my 190ML43).

I like it, it keeps me in the Conscious - Competent quadrant.

Mike
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Bach190ML43
Kanstul 1001
Bach NY7
Yamaha 631 Flugel

cheiden · Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2023 12:53 pm Post subject:

I do think there's a benefit from trying to play well on any horn or mouthpiece. But I don't think I'd ever specifically spend regular practice time on a lesser setup believing it would make be better, faster, stronger.
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"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

stuartissimo · Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2023 11:21 pm Post subject:

In some situations it might. My flugelhorn has some definite intonation quirks. The easy way out would be getting a different flugel, however I've decided to step up to the challenge to find a way to make it work. The process of learning how to play it has (and still does) helped me become much more aware of my own intonation, intervals, bending notes into tune and blending in a section. So in a way, a less-than-perfect-horn helped me become a better player.
_________________
1975 Olds Recording trumpet
1997 Getzen 700SP trumpet
1955 Olds Super cornet
1939 Buescher 280 flugelhorn
AR Resonance mouthpieces