[TPIN] Monette (if you are anti Monette person delete now)

[trombe1 at mac.com]

On Sat, 1 Dec 2007 Warren Lopicka wrote:

> ...now (for what its worth) read a review of Monettes from a  
> comeback player which strictly plays in community bands.  I had the  
> opportunity to visit Thompson music in NE.  A friend, much more  
> gifted, and I gave the following horns a test this past Friday.  I  
> was a bit of a cynic based on everything I've read and heard about  
> Monettes...

================

Thanks, Warren for the nice recap of your visit to Mike Thompson's  
shop and your impressions of the Monette trumpets you tried. Although  
it's too bad that you felt you had to preface your post with a  
warning for those who might not want to read what you had to offer.

I'm not sure why many players who don't use Monette instruments seem  
to be so focused on the price of the horns. No one should purchase  
any product or service if they feel it is overpriced. On the other  
hand, a prudent buyer should always try to shop, research, and tryout  
products before purchasing to be sure that they are comfortable that  
they find a product that gives them what they are looking for at a  
price they are willing to pay.

I, for one, am delighted that there are so many different trumpets  
available on the market. We are fortunate to have so many instruments  
with such varying playing characteristics and prices. There hasn't  
been such a wealth of options at any other point in my musical  
lifetime. I believe that this is a good thing.

Your experience with learning that the instruments sounding different  
out in the room than they do to the player blowing them is not  
uncommon. I've found it to be true not only with Monettes, but also  
with many other brands.  Players who are more concerned about how the  
instrument sounds or feels behind the mouthpiece when they are  
playing it than they are about how it sound out in the hall where the  
audience hears it may not prefer one or another brand or model of  
trumpet. If one feels that the 'behind the mouthpiece' sensations or  
sound may lead them to play in a way that they can't do their best,  
or would exhaust themselves trying, then they certainly should choose  
an instrument that feels and sounds good to them. But this is no  
reason to disparage the instrument or those who may come to a  
different conclusion. I think Mike Vax is right on target when he  
says, 'to each his own.'

It was interesting reading your impressions of the trumpets you  
tried. Thanks for your post.

	Frank Hanson