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A "tone is in the hands" story...

kesslari

kesslari

Groovin' with Fusion Cuisine
Staff member
Gold Supporting Member
Dec 21, 2007
15,236
45,142
Santa Cruz Mtns, California
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Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
#1
My wife reminded me. Many years ago I was playing doumbek (Arab goblet drum - lots of fun) in a Middle-Eastern band, as well as in a World Music fusion band. Both were playing at a festival in Santa Barbara, on consecutive days.
We finished our set, first day, and a guy comes out of the audience and says "I want to buy your drum". I tell him there's a store literally 2 blocks away that sells them and he can buy one brand new. He says no, he wants to buy *mine* because he likes how it sounds.
I tell him I really don't want to sell it because I'd have to go buy another one. He's insistent.
I say "It costs $110 brand new just down the street. If I sell you this one I'd charge you $125. It's really not worth the extra, just go buy a new one." He remains insistent and counts out the money.
OK, two blocks for $15 - at that point in my life, a good deal. I took it.
Next day we're performing - finish our set, same guy comes up and says "how much for THAT one?" I ask what the problem was, he says "I took yours home but it doesn't sound as good"...

Sigh... and :D
 
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#2
kesslari said:
My wife reminded me. Many years ago I was playing doumbek (Arab goblet drum - lots of fun) in a Middle-Eastern band, as well as in a World Music fusion band. Both were playing at a festival in Santa Barbara, on consecutive days.
We finished our set, first day, and a guy comes out of the audience and says "I want to buy your drum". I tell him there's a store literally 2 blocks away that sells them and he can buy one brand new. He says no, he wants to buy *mine* because he likes how it sounds.
I tell him I really don't want to sell it because I'd have to go buy another one. He's insistent.
I say "It costs $110 brand new just down the street. If I sell you this one I'd charge you $125. It's really not worth the extra, just go buy a new one." He remains insistent and counts out the money.
OK, two blocks for $15 - at that point in my life, a good deal. I took it.
Next day we're performing - finish our set, same guy comes up and says "how much for THAT one?" I ask what the problem was, he says "I took yours home but it doesn't sound as good"...

Sigh... and :D
Click to expand...
Hey, I got a Rogue for that guy - tone for days!
 
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#5
kesslari said:
My wife reminded me. Many years ago I was playing doumbek (Arab goblet drum - lots of fun) in a Middle-Eastern band, as well as in a World Music fusion band. Both were playing at a festival in Santa Barbara, on consecutive days.
We finished our set, first day, and a guy comes out of the audience and says "I want to buy your drum". I tell him there's a store literally 2 blocks away that sells them and he can buy one brand new. He says no, he wants to buy *mine* because he likes how it sounds.
I tell him I really don't want to sell it because I'd have to go buy another one. He's insistent.
I say "It costs $110 brand new just down the street. If I sell you this one I'd charge you $125. It's really not worth the extra, just go buy a new one." He remains insistent and counts out the money.
OK, two blocks for $15 - at that point in my life, a good deal. I took it.
Next day we're performing - finish our set, same guy comes up and says "how much for THAT one?" I ask what the problem was, he says "I took yours home but it doesn't sound as good"...

Sigh... and :D
Click to expand...

What a great Thread!!

As a hand-drummer, I love this!

As an avid multi-instrumentalist, I'd like to say it has never happened to me (being "that guy") but I know I have bought a few instruments over the years specifically because someone's use of the same instrument. And yes, it didn't sound the same way for me! LOL (I am looking at you, Tabla drums.)

Some instruments are more prone to this than others, of course. The tone of hand drums, stringed instruments, wind instruments, and many other classes of instruments are highly dependent on the technique and abilities/insights of the player. Pianos, synths, and some other types of instruments are much more "plug and play" so they often do sound the same in the hands of a master or the hands of a beginner, at least in terms of simple playing.

But nonetheless, fine players can still make pianos and other plug and play sound very different. Great technique and insight can transcend the "limitations" of the instrument. (I use to hate it when I would complain about a crappy piano and then have the teacher sit down and make it sound like a new Steinway B).

What we bring to a instrument really changes the sound. It isn't just technique either. It can really rest on your brain, your confidence, and your ability to quiet the mind and find/exploit the essence of an instrument.
 
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#6
Indiedog said:
But nonetheless, fine players can still make pianos and other plug and play sound very different. Great technique and insight can transcend the "limitations" of the instrument. (I use to hate it when I would complain about a crappy piano and then have the teacher sit down and make it sound like a new Steinway B).
Click to expand...
Someone once said of Thelonious Monk (one of my all time favorite musicians) that "he could make a new Steinway sound like a barroom spinet". (or something similar) :D
 
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#7
kesslari said:
I say "It costs $110 brand new just down the street. If I sell you this one I'd charge you $125. It's really not worth the extra, just go buy a new one." He remains insistent and counts out the money.
OK, two blocks for $15 - at that point in my life, a good deal. I took it.
Click to expand...

You should have charged him at least $150.

My first music teacher was an old school jazz guitar player who would have something like that happen about once a year at a 3 day a week lounge gig he had back in the 80's. Charged them $750 for a $500 guitar, if not more. The funny thing is a couple of them brought it back a few days later, saying something was wrong because it didn't sound the same when they hamfisted cowboy chords on it through a solid state practice amp in their basement. So he'd plug it into his Twin Reverb, play a couple of songs and give it back to them. Somehow it sounded just as good as it always did.
 
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#11
kesslari said:
My wife reminded me. Many years ago I was playing doumbek (Arab goblet drum - lots of fun) in a Middle-Eastern band, as well as in a World Music fusion band. Both were playing at a festival in Santa Barbara, on consecutive days.
We finished our set, first day, and a guy comes out of the audience and says "I want to buy your drum". I tell him there's a store literally 2 blocks away that sells them and he can buy one brand new. He says no, he wants to buy *mine* because he likes how it sounds.
I tell him I really don't want to sell it because I'd have to go buy another one. He's insistent.
I say "It costs $110 brand new just down the street. If I sell you this one I'd charge you $125. It's really not worth the extra, just go buy a new one." He remains insistent and counts out the money.
OK, two blocks for $15 - at that point in my life, a good deal. I took it.
Next day we're performing - finish our set, same guy comes up and says "how much for THAT one?" I ask what the problem was, he says "I took yours home but it doesn't sound as good"...

Sigh... and :D
Click to expand...
Yup, nobody plays "mine" like I play "mine." If I play yours, it always seems to sound like "mine"
 
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