Good Bye, Schilke 45B, You Will Be Missed

[Symarip]

I just got an email from my music vendor. My new mouthpiece has arrived. For those interested (none of you), www.loudmouthpieces.com has invented a new type of mouthpiece made out of pure stainless steel. Two weeks ago, some kid opening for me let me try his and I was instantly sold. I had to have one. It was pretty phenomenal in tone, range, and volume.

So what makes it so badass in a mancannon? Glad you asked. The theory is, mouthpieces are made out of two metals - a core and a finish. The result is two resonating tones which creates resistance and decreases your sound output. By making the piece out of a uniform metal, the resistance to the player is decreased and volume and range are increased without depreciating sound quality. BADASS. Plus, stainless steel doesn't pit or chip.

The end result is a better made mouthpiece allowing the player to play higher, lower, and with greater stamina with no extra effort. FUCK YEAH!!!1

Good bye, Schilke 45B. You served me well.

[jobycom]

1. Fascinating, but does the Statue of Liberty know you've got her torch?

[Symarip]

2. No, Maaaaaaaaaaan

It's a really big bong bowl.

420

[jobycom]

3. Ah... Splanes a lot. nt

[Shell Beau]

14. I was going to say and you can smoke pot out of it too!

[mainegreen]

4. Until they fit five razor blades and a moisturizing strip on it, who cares?

Now if it shaved you while you played, then THAT would be badass.

[jobycom]

5. Give S some credit.

He can shave a note closer than any five bladed moisterizing weapon/razor out there! I'm guessing...

[Symarip]

6. I'll take the compliment

I do alright, really. I'm not the greatest but I ain't half bad, either. I just like to play.

[jobycom]

7. Anyone who can write an ode to a mouthpiece has got to have something.

:toast:

And liking to play beats soulless technical proficiency any day, in my book. Well, not any day. I mean, if you really suck and someone else is really technically proficient... well, you know what I mean.

[Symarip]

8. It's just another form of expression

And considering I'm half way illiterate, I need every outlet I can get.

[jobycom]

9. Mine's writing.

Always envied musical talent, though. My daughter has it. I'm just a listener.

[Symarip]

10. What does she play?

Just curious.

[jobycom]

12. Sings.

Tried to teach her piano, and she showed some promise, but didn't stick with it. She's in choir, and she's taken voice lessons, and she's just figuring out what she can do and why she wants to do it. Fifteen. She doesn't have her own style yet, but she's got a good voice and is starting to get decent with it. The couple of times she's performed solo, though, she's been so uptight she didn't sound her best. She's at the age where she wants to be a rock star but doesn't know how. Fortunately, she connects with one of her teachers, who is in a band and knows the scene, so she's at least getting an idea of what she could do aside from just stepping onto a stage and becoming Janis Joplin.

No idea if it will go anywhere with her. She gives up things too easily, but singing is the one thing she's really tried to do most of her life. Any way it goes, she at least gets the joy of doing it, even if it is ultimately just a private hobby. And who knows what will happen?

I'm terrified of encouraging. That usually kills her interest. Instead, we talk about music a lot in general terms. We can drive around for hours analyzing whatever comes on the radio. Last weekend we ranged from Janis Joplin to 80s pop to Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. I used to show her what to listen for, but she's passed me already. Not that that was hard--never had much musical background, in any technical sense.

:) You can tell I like talking about my kid, eh?

[Symarip]

15. That's so good to hear

Speaking about music and kids. In last years, those of us old(er) and still gigging have noticed a decline in young musicians out there. Kids just don't play music anymore. Yes, sure they're out there (they're always out there) but it's just not as hustling as it used to be. Personally, I blame the cuts in funding for public schools and venues switching from live music to karaoke machines. God I hate karaoke (minus those who can actually sing).

[mainegreen]

11. Actually, I did find it interesting.

Just felt a little silly.

[jobycom]

13. I know. My first comment was smart-ass, too.

But I responded because it interested me. I assumed you, too?

[rrneck]

16. SS has been around a long time

Wonder why it took them so long to employ this application?

[Symarip]

17. Funny. I asked the same question when I called the distributor

The biggest factor is, musicians don't like change. The pro's like their gear to work and to stay consistent. Plus, there have been a ton of fads that come and go in music (keytar, anyone?) which cements in our brains the last two sentences.