Plastic Instruments

[smyoung]

Transparent sound?

Klaus

As I understand it, the articulations are pretty clear

[Tulanetubaboy]

If they made a plastic tuba that didn't cost too much I would totally buy it just for fun!

Well, if you could find someone to bankroll Brian (goodgigs), you could have one. Wouldn't be dirt cheap but would cost "less" and be pretty tough. If Brian would post a link to him playing his creation, you could hear that a plastic tuba works pretty good![/qu

What about a sousaphone?

[SousaSaver]

To make a plastic Tuba "work" it would need to do a couple of things:

#1 - play well - above any other feature that would need to play well or it is dead in the water.

#2 - be cheaper than a metal alternative - In my opinion, the ultimate market for this horn is public schools. Light weight, durable and a good player. So to make to provide incentive, it would have to be cheaper. If there is success with the horn early in it's life, then the price can go up later as demand rises.

#3 - be MORE attractive and durable than fiberglass - This one isn't difficult, but to be not written off as a novelty, the horn is going to have to look superb.

These are just my opinions. Brian, what do you think?

[The Big Ben]

What about a sousaphone?

I talked with Brian about this, mainly about a plastic jumbo. It would probably be quicker to be taken seriously by school bands, and a better alternative to fiberglass. Although there is more larger molds needed for the outer branches and the bell. Then again, you could make any size instrument with a plastic...

And school marching bands would get a kick out of having clear souzies in the school colors! Would be an interesting novelty, for sure!

Would be an interesting experiment to make 20 plastic souzy bodies (which used existing valve clusters), give them to a school marching band and let them just go at it for a couple of years and see what happens.

[SousaSaver]

Would be an interesting experiment to make 20 plastic souzy bodies (which used existing valve clusters), give them to a school marching band and let them just go at it for a couple of years and see what happens.

If someone could generate the bodies, Jupiter parts can be had for relatively cheap.

Brian, aren't you itching to put together a prototype? Isn't this driving you crazy by now?

[SousaSaver]

If you have a valve set, someone might be able to track down valves...

Do you have pics of the rough work of your plastic valves?

[pjv]

The best way to get around the eye issue is a blindfold test, with gloves if necessary. I do this every couple of years with my mpc's=dump the whole lot and play everyone I got. I also record it.

So next time you want a horn (or mpc) tested by a colleague, don't tell them what they're testing and blindfold them (or make them promise not to peek!).

-Pat