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Thursday, December 11, 2003
Guest Equipment Geek Rant: Jim Finlayson
Joe:
You may remember, we had some email conversation a while back about 'bones. Specifically some of the "deeper" thoughts and reasons behind your personal choice of the 2B Jiggs vs a Shires that I believe you had originally intended to get.
You may remember, we had some email conversation a while back about 'bones. Specifically some of the "deeper" thoughts and reasons behind your personal choice of the 2B Jiggs vs a Shires that I believe you had originally intended to get.
I did end up with a Shires jazz horn after visiting the factory and
spending time with Steve Shires and Dale Cruse (it is specifically a
"1YM7.75, NLW" or soldered rim, yellow brass, standard
7.75" bell with a nickel LW slide, .500 bore). As it happens,
Sam Burtis dropped in that day so I had some conversation with him also.
Now I fully realize that Steve and Dale are in the 'biz to sell horns,
but it was a fascinating experience to see the shop and try a bunch of
different configurations. I had spent a fair amount of time
researching things, pondering what I really wanted and trying to
understand the nuances to the sounds that different horns would produce,
and the applications that I would use a horn like that for. I made
an appointment and Steve had some things ready.
Prior to that, to really try to understand things better, I designed an "experiment" based on your experience of using a auditorium with some friends to help choose your Jiggs that you have described. I enlisted my oldest daughter (senior in HS trombonist) and wife (experienced flutist and classical guitarist), had them stand away from me at a distance, backs turned, and played four different horns that are were in the house (1977 2B, 1946 2B deluxe, 4B-F SS 100th anniversary and Bach TB300) and write down the differences in sound/tone.
To my surprise, it took a very short time for the girls to describe the difference and be able to pinpoint the different horns accurately. My wife was especially adept at this and was able to describe the tone, color and projection such that I could understand the difference much better from "behind the bell". There was more difference than I would have expected between the 2B's, the 1946 having a cleaner, more compact core to the tone than the 1977. I then had my daughter play and I listened and found how difficult this is, at first, but then could hear the differences. I was much better able to understand what you were describing about projection, blend, and tone "compactness" and "core". I'll never listen to a brass instrument quite the same way again I think!!
So, that drove my decision to make the switch to a Shires, because I decided I wanted the "more modern" sound and extra "bandwidth" that it provides over the 2B. I play big band lead (with some part swapping) and a majority of the solo work in the section and could find myself in nearly any other local band as a sub and therefore wanted a more versatile instrument. I have recently done some sub work in an "authentic swing band" where the 1946 2B was perfect, but also did a rock and roll thing (horn section) where the Shires had that blend with the other horns to back up the electric stuff and vocals.
Now, what is the Shires experience after living with it for awhile?? Very hard to describe, but in a good (very very good) way. The construction/finish and feel are tops, the slide is absolutely perfect (perfect!) and the horn is lighter than a 2B!! It blows much differently than I imagined. It is like suddenly having 300 hp from the 100 hp you are used to. I feel like I'm being dragged around by a racehorse with tremendous potential. The horn seems like it is waiting for me to do something with it. I just can't come up with an appropriate analogy but I suddenly can't wait for the next opportunity to play it, I want to improve and grow and expand my skills. This, I didn't expect, simply from a new horn. Anybody out there willing to give advanced lessons to a "40+" amateur but experienced bone player??? Unfortunately, SE Michigan is not a hot spot of trombone in the nation.
I've taken enough of your time, but I do appreciate the input you have given me and your insight that I believe I now understand, even after years of playing. I had accepted that I was as good as I was going to get and enjoy it at that. No longer... I have discovered that I want to improve and grow, not only because of the horn, but because I think I should anyway. The horn is just another doorway, or enabler to do that.
Thanks again Joe, I hope your pneumonia stays away and the flu too. I also hope I run into you sometime and we can talk a bit.
Jim Finlayson
Grand Blanc, MI
Prior to that, to really try to understand things better, I designed an "experiment" based on your experience of using a auditorium with some friends to help choose your Jiggs that you have described. I enlisted my oldest daughter (senior in HS trombonist) and wife (experienced flutist and classical guitarist), had them stand away from me at a distance, backs turned, and played four different horns that are were in the house (1977 2B, 1946 2B deluxe, 4B-F SS 100th anniversary and Bach TB300) and write down the differences in sound/tone.
To my surprise, it took a very short time for the girls to describe the difference and be able to pinpoint the different horns accurately. My wife was especially adept at this and was able to describe the tone, color and projection such that I could understand the difference much better from "behind the bell". There was more difference than I would have expected between the 2B's, the 1946 having a cleaner, more compact core to the tone than the 1977. I then had my daughter play and I listened and found how difficult this is, at first, but then could hear the differences. I was much better able to understand what you were describing about projection, blend, and tone "compactness" and "core". I'll never listen to a brass instrument quite the same way again I think!!
So, that drove my decision to make the switch to a Shires, because I decided I wanted the "more modern" sound and extra "bandwidth" that it provides over the 2B. I play big band lead (with some part swapping) and a majority of the solo work in the section and could find myself in nearly any other local band as a sub and therefore wanted a more versatile instrument. I have recently done some sub work in an "authentic swing band" where the 1946 2B was perfect, but also did a rock and roll thing (horn section) where the Shires had that blend with the other horns to back up the electric stuff and vocals.
Now, what is the Shires experience after living with it for awhile?? Very hard to describe, but in a good (very very good) way. The construction/finish and feel are tops, the slide is absolutely perfect (perfect!) and the horn is lighter than a 2B!! It blows much differently than I imagined. It is like suddenly having 300 hp from the 100 hp you are used to. I feel like I'm being dragged around by a racehorse with tremendous potential. The horn seems like it is waiting for me to do something with it. I just can't come up with an appropriate analogy but I suddenly can't wait for the next opportunity to play it, I want to improve and grow and expand my skills. This, I didn't expect, simply from a new horn. Anybody out there willing to give advanced lessons to a "40+" amateur but experienced bone player??? Unfortunately, SE Michigan is not a hot spot of trombone in the nation.
I've taken enough of your time, but I do appreciate the input you have given me and your insight that I believe I now understand, even after years of playing. I had accepted that I was as good as I was going to get and enjoy it at that. No longer... I have discovered that I want to improve and grow, not only because of the horn, but because I think I should anyway. The horn is just another doorway, or enabler to do that.
Thanks again Joe, I hope your pneumonia stays away and the flu too. I also hope I run into you sometime and we can talk a bit.
Jim Finlayson
Grand Blanc, MI
©2003, Joe Jackson. All rights reserved.