A familiar story....
Recently, a banjo student of mine asked me an interesting question. He was thinking of modifying his Gibson Earl Scruggs model Mastertone by gold plating and engraving it to look like a Granada model. He asked me what I thought about that and if I could help him with the details. Well....I didn't think it was a good idea.
For the most part I don't think it is a really good idea to substantively change an original instrument from its factory specs....unless it is absoultely warranted. There are exceptions of course but these days there are many things one can do to improve a banjo without modifying it to the extent of devaluing it.
Tone rings, bridges, head tension, tailpieces...on an on....the list is not endless but the possibilities are endless with all the combinations and variables that occur with every additional change.
Actually the fact is that the student wasn't trying to make the banjo sound better but rather make himself sound better. What musician hasn't dreamed of an instrument that miraculously transforms him or her into a much better player? I have done that many times, especially with violins. I cannot tell you how many times I have had expesive violins sent to me by some violins shop, fully expecting that violin to make me sound like some violin hero of mine. Well....it didn't work of course. I still sounded like me playing on a different sounding violin and not much better either...sometimes worse.
My advice to the student was to stay with the instrument that he has and practice more. Simple advice but only simple because I had gone through all the complexity of doing exactly what he was about to do.
Now....the bottom line...so to speak.....
Whenever you are tempted to spend more money on an instrument, give that some serious consideration, but only to the extent that you are looking to improve your instrument because you have advanced beyond IT.....not because you think that it will perform some amazing feat that will turn you into a star.
Tone rings, bridges, head tension, tailpieces...on an on....the list is not endless but the possibilities are endless with all the combinations and variables that occur with every additional change.
Actually the fact is that the student wasn't trying to make the banjo sound better but rather make himself sound better. What musician hasn't dreamed of an instrument that miraculously transforms him or her into a much better player? I have done that many times, especially with violins. I cannot tell you how many times I have had expesive violins sent to me by some violins shop, fully expecting that violin to make me sound like some violin hero of mine. Well....it didn't work of course. I still sounded like me playing on a different sounding violin and not much better either...sometimes worse.
My advice to the student was to stay with the instrument that he has and practice more. Simple advice but only simple because I had gone through all the complexity of doing exactly what he was about to do.
Now....the bottom line...so to speak.....
Whenever you are tempted to spend more money on an instrument, give that some serious consideration, but only to the extent that you are looking to improve your instrument because you have advanced beyond IT.....not because you think that it will perform some amazing feat that will turn you into a star.
So, I shouldn't bother with the Stradivari I have in the attic then?
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