How much did that cost ?!?

clagar777 · Post by **clagar777** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 2:11 am

What does everyone think about Monette tuba mouthpieces? Are they worth the price? Anyone use one all the time?...if so, what do you use it on? Im not planning on buying one (happy with the PT-50), but I was just wondering...

WoodSheddin · Post by **WoodSheddin** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 2:16 am

very expensive. no different than any other mouthpiece besides price and marketing

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 8:30 am

An excellent tubist I know has a Monette MP. He got it used at a low price, and likes it. He says, however, that its most important advantage is that when you throw it at a conductor it makes a better statement than throwing a lighter mouthpiece.

A.

WoodSheddin · Post by **WoodSheddin** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 1:22 pm

[quote="banihex]I understand the idea of 'not liking' a mouthpiece, but I don't understand why some people are so against Monette!

As for the price, yes it's expensive. But if this is your profession then it is an investment. For me, it was either a mp or my high school class ring. haha i hate that school, so i obviously took the mp.[/quote]

It is the price which is objectionable. The mouthpiece itself is just like any other mouthpiece out there as far as functionality. You plug it in the horn and buzz into it.

porkchopsisgood · Post by **porkchopsisgood** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 1:35 pm

You're playing the John Williams on a 5/4 CC?

Whoa.

I've played around with it on the CC, but I am so glad I have an F to play it on now....definitely made those two octave arpeggios in the third movement more accessible. But I've always been a firm believer in being able to play everything on either instrument. The F just seems more in character (and that's what Williams wrote it for anyway...).

Good luck and enjoy!!

TheChiefofStaph · Post by **TheChiefofStaph** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 2:35 pm

bloke wrote:It's interesting (as far as trumpets go - the largest single market of most brass instrument/accessory manufacturers) to note what type of folks (as far as they're actual ability and level of success) often acquire sextuple-priced and septuple-priced equipment...

Wynton sure didn't start on one...

Chen · Post by **Chen** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 4:07 pm

TheChiefofStaph wrote:
bloke wrote:It's interesting (as far as trumpets go - the largest single market of most brass instrument/accessory manufacturers) to note what type of folks (as far as they're actual ability and level of success) often acquire sextuple-priced and septuple-priced equipment...
Wynton sure didn't start on one...

But he rather play on one. Dave Monette's stuff are expensive, most beginners don't play on one, heck, most people can't afford one. But that doesn't mean him charging for the time he put into his work aint worth it, ya? Like Sean said, it's a mouthpiece, and if it plays good enough for me, maybe I'll consider buy one. Obviously Dave Monette is doing pretty well with his business and more trumpet players are starting to play his stuff than ever, but it is still not as widespread as Bach, Yamaha, and not as cheap as them, probably wont ever be.

added:
If you are curious, why not find out yourself? Order one from one of the dealers that will allow a return, and play it for a week see for yourself.

Tubadork · Post by **Tubadork** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 9:04 pm

Hey,
I have a 98 (that the Army bought me, ha ha, your tax dollars at work!) and I've been using it on my Indiana Band Instruments (Martin) sousaphone and it seems to get a pretty good sound!
It's funny that the MPC was $350 and I bought the Sousa for $650

Rock on,
Bill

adam0408 · Post by **adam0408** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 5:33 am

tubafreaks7 wrote:Do you remember the post about Kelly plastic mouthpieces? Some of the guys could not tell a difference between a Helleberg and a Kellyberg.I cant either.If I can buy a fifteen dollar Chinese made Bach clone that has the right blend of cup depth,width,rim size and throat size, and it plays well, then I'd buy it. I don't think it matters.It's just another way for someone to make money.

That is an excellent way to look at mouthpiece selection. The mouthpieces I have purchased have been on the pricey side, but only because I REALLY like them. Perception is HUGE. No matter how much you practice, you cannot overcome the element of your mind. However, the best thing that you can do is just buy some combination of horn and mouthpiece that works for you in your situation, wether or not your mind is involved a lot in the choice.

My point: Although the diffrerence between a heavy piece vs. normal may be nothing according to physics, or stainless vs. brass, or whatever vs. monkey butt, it doesnt matter. If you sound better on it than any other piece you have played, you NEED it regardless of what it is making the difference, mind or matter.

Thats my opinion.

punk_tuba · Post by **punk_tuba** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 10:25 am

That is an excellent way to look at mouthpiece selection. The mouthpieces I have purchased have been on the pricey side, but only because I REALLY like them. Perception is HUGE. No matter how much you practice, you cannot overcome the element of your mind. However, the best thing that you can do is just buy some combination of horn and mouthpiece that works for you in your situation, wether or not your mind is involved a lot in the choice.

so true............mind is everything
and mind is a terrible thing to waste

Billy M. · Post by **Billy M.** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 10:09 pm

I have been playing on Monettes now for some time, and I have to say I do believe after doing the mouthpiece 'cha-cha' (in other words the search for the perfect mouthpiece [never gonna find it]) these mouthpieces are a new state of the art.

Finding a used one seems to be kinda scarce and I think the reason being that people who buy 'em love 'em. I know I do and couldn't be sold on something else now unless Monette himself had come out with something that would surpass this equipment. They are by far the best mouthpieces I've ever used.

My only disclaimer is that you are not me. Your results may and more than likely will vary. If you are interested, I suggest checking 'em out for yourself. Bring a tape recorder and see what you think.

TheChiefofStaph · Post by **TheChiefofStaph** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 10:31 pm

banihex wrote:I don't think Monette mps are like any other mouthpiece at all. I felt my PT88 was way too taxing in the high register for me. The Monette feels great in all areas for me.

`Adios

Having never played on a Monette, I can't speak to their quality. I can, however, say that your high register would improve on practically ANY mouthpiece over a PT 88 just because it's such a big honkin' mouthpiece.

tubacdk · Post by **tubacdk** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 4:19 pm

I try and let others decide my mpcs for me. I happened to have a Monette 94 sitting on a shelf and asked someone if I could swap that 94 for a 94F. they went for it and I tried out the 94F on my B&S. I had my wife listen to me play the 94F back to back with my old Miraphone C4. She said instantly that the 94F had a more focused and fuller sound, with clearer articulations. I took it to my quintet gig the next day and their response was the same. it was an instant improvement in my product, so I kept it. I've tried the 94 and 98 on my CC tubas and they just don't seem to match my equipment as well as other things (Dillon G3 on my RM-43 and Marc N2 on my rotary MW 2155). But the 94F is thus far the best match for me & my B&S.

-ck

TexTuba · Post by **TexTuba** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 4:50 pm

I wanna touch on what Bill said about the government buying the mouthpiece. I remember my teacher saying that he had a student who was a military musician and had every trombone mouthpiece Schilke made. So my question is how much do you think the government SPENDS on all of their musicians' equipment? Horns, mouthpieces, everything. Anybody got a figure?

Ralph

Tubadork · Post by **Tubadork** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 6:58 pm

So my question is how much do you think the government SPENDS on all of their musicians' equipment? Horns, mouthpieces, everything. Anybody got a figure?

It's different from band to band, from section to section and from person to person.
For Example:
2 1/2 years at Ft. McPherson I got a Curry 126DH and a Mike Finn 3H
1 year in Korea and I got
GW BOra
Williwa
Bayamo
Mantuska
taku
Monette 98
Kelleberg
2 MPC rolls
etc....
go figure. In both bands no tubas were purchased while I was there, but both said that they would be soon and I made recommendations for both (which I'm sure were thrown out the day I left

)
Cool,
Bill "Former Army Bandsman" Pritchard

Chen · Post by **Chen** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 1:09 am

I'd rather he played on a Bach Strad-type instrument. I think he sounds the best on his first album, where he plays the Haydn trumpet concerto on a Schilke Eb. There, his sound is rich and colorful, not too dark and not too bright. But now, I think his sound is just dull and boring (some might call it "dark).

And as for it being so expensive because they are hand-made, the Hand-Made Schilke Symphony Series mouthpieces are considerably less.
$250 for the Monette
$110 for the Schilke[/quote]

I have heard Wynton play a couple of times, and I have to (respectfully) disagree with you. I happen to consider his sound to be "the" trumpet sound.

As for price, for $195 you can buy a standard Monette trumpet mouthpiece, but the new Prana stuff is much more.

TubeNet

How much did that cost ?!?

How much did that cost ?!?

Re: I love it

monette