The Session >> Discussions >> Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
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Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
In another thread, KS wrote "Sobell mandolins are loud and expensive, but then you wouldn't want to take it to a a session I guess".
How do you feel about taking an expensive instrument to a session? I don't play professionally but I do own a good mandolin which would now be considered expensive because of the rise in reputation of its maker(Mike Vanden). It wasn't that cheap(a few hunded pounds) when I bought it but I know his latest models are priced at over £2000. However, I have always taken it to sessions and festivals because I feel comfortable with the instrument and enjoy to play it much more than my old "cheap" mandolin. My other instruments are more moderately priced but still good quality, although I have cheap versions of some of these too.
Perhaps, I should take extra special care of my instruments but I believe that they are there for playing. Besides, I've caused more damage to them in my own home over the years than I ever have in a pub. Some of you might argue that I shouldn't waste my money on good instruments anyway, if I don't play professionally and I'm not a top notch musician. However, I've always believed that you should buy the best that you can afford-not necessarily the most expensive but something that suits you.
So, if playing in sessions is your main musical experience, it seem a waste to leave your most loved instruments at home, although if you had a cheaper instrument you really enjoyed playing you might just take that one along instead. How do you all feel about this?
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I agree.
I dont have a spare fiddle so I dont have the problem. My fiddle is probably worth about £1500 but more importantly it was my great uncle's so its sort of a family heirloom. I think I'd still use it though even if I had a spare. Not doing so would be practicing on your good instrument and performing on your second one.
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
My Crabb anglo concertina is worth a few bob so I'm either playing it, or it's in the box with the lid shut, or if I'm 'out the back' it comes with me.
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I used to take a cheap fiddle to sessions because of the risk of knocks, spilt drinks etc but a) i hated the sound, b) I hated the thought that some people could be judging my playing by that sound and c) if everyone did the same, the noise of a large group of musicians all playing cheap instruments could seriously put punters off being interested in the music!
So I now take a gorgeous instrument but take care to put it away or leave it with somebody responsible if I'm not holding on to it myself.
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I paid £27 off ebay for my mandolin,so I dont mind taking it anywhere . . wouldn't mind that much if it got a few more dings either.
However . . and Iv'e said this before in this forum,but I think my instrument sounds just as good as mando's I've tried costing 100's of pounds, so I would really miss it if some prick nicked it. And there's always the option of taking out some insurance? I also know somebody local who is a dab hand at repairing any broken instrument at a fair price . . Eddie Utlely's his name from Rotherham.
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I agree with everything that's been said. Good instruments are for playing, not for gathering dust at home or in a museum. The tone of a good instrument is meant to be heard by other people, quite apart from the fact that a good-toned instrument is often easier to play and is inspirational both for the player and other musicians.
As long as instruments are looked after in sessions and put in their cases when not being used I don't see a problem. In the years I've been going to sessions the only damage to instruments I've noticed is the occasional flute or whistle that rolls off the table.
A friend of mine always uses his 1685 fiddle for busy orchestral playing, and the professional leader of the two orchestras I play in uses a rather more recent 1700 Italian instrument. These instruments get an enormous amount of playing and thrive on it.
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
My wooden boehm flute was quite expensive. But that's what I'm happy with. To obviate what Trevor observed wrt it rolling off the table, I've bought a flute stand, for about £12 or £15, I can't even remember, but I'd recomend them. Often tables at sessions are filthy with spilt beer and fag ash.
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I would. But since my banjo wasn't terribly expensive (about CDN$600)it's not really an issue. I'd really miss it if it went wandering, though, so I try to take good care of it.
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
do you take your viola to sessions, michael?I'm just off to the weekly fiddle lesson, and my teacher has requested a viola session instead,so am bringing along spare viola, who knows there may be another enthusiast by 7.10pm!
anyway ,yes I take the best instrument I have along cos I feel comfortable playing it, and just take care of it.
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
One of the fiddle players who comes down to our session owns a violin shop. I'd always seem him come down with a different fiddle each week. One day I was looking at his website, saw some of the fiddles he'd brought down. He didn't bring his real expensive ones. But these were all older handmade instruments averaging $8-10,000 retail at his shop! Wow, no wonder he rarely set one down.
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
This is a problem that I always seem to have. I'm a harp player, and am always trying to decide what instrument to take. I have my normal full size 3srting harp and then a cheaper 26 string harp. Until now I've only ever taken the small harp to sessions, partly because of its size, but also cos if beer gets spilt on it, or it gets knoxked, its no major loss. The only thing is though that it sounds really bad, and is so quiet it can't be heard. My big harp though sounds amazing, and can be heard. But, if I brought it and it got damaged or whatver I'd be devasted as I'm studying music, and am constantly gigging and teachin, and need to use it every day. Having said that, I am going to start taking it soon as I've just ordered a new one, thats even better. Still have to wait another 2months for it though!
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
We were at a session a while ago with a really good Bluegrass banjo player. After a while, the conversation turned, as they so often do, to banjos and their relative merits. This guy's 5-string was particularly nice, and had a great sound. He was telling us its history and so on, and at some point somebody asked him what it was worth.
He said, "Well, I paid US$65,000 for it, but it's worth more than that now." That was a bit of a conversation stopper, but we did get a few more tunes in after the shock faded a bit.
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I only have a cheep fiddle - and I'd love to have an instrument worthy of the dilemma being discussed.
Anyway recently at a session, not only did someone's flute come close to wearing a pint (the pint's drinker was using the glass as a percussion instrument) but someone started throwing mashed up banana (don't ask) and I came very close to it going in the sound hole - I had to fish it out with a key before it got all the way in. I'd have been considerably more upset had my fiddle been more expensive.
There's definitely a lot of unexpected risk in the average pub.
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
Zina,
Jimmy would love Hughes to serve mashed Bananna sandwiches.....
as opposed to dem auld cheap cheezy spread wans he always gets.......
Hmmmmffff... never pleased is he???
(BY the way Jimmy, you are 4 days late back to the house!!... and de mammy ain't gonna cook you more "Mammy dinners" ya screwed up !! so it's back to cheezy spread sandwiches for you boy!!)
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I have a double viola violin case, so yes I always have it out with me. But I only get it out maybe one in three. It depends on the quality of the other fiddlers at the session. If there is more that two or three good strong players, then the viola really sings. But any less and the thing tends to dominate
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
Yes, except my most expensive box is also my heaviest! It's interesting that geneally if I'm being paid to play it I don't have to carry it very far (or maybe it's just that by the time I've humped a big PA in, I don't notice one large accordion case...), but usually if I'm going to play for fun I'm facing a long walk or a lot of stairs.
In principle I would happily take an expensive instrument to a session, though.
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
LOL, Fel -- you mean, there's pipe sets where the reed IS working well? It's been sooooo long since I've played with a piper where the reed IS working that I've forgotten... ;) (Hey, these boots were made for walkin'....!)
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
Zina-My pipe set had a l"aying on of hands" by Benedict Koehler and they sound great and feel like a new instrument. Yes, there are times that the reed works... I think its because the Red Sox won
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
Hey, Fel, guess who I met out in Marin County? Ted Anderson! He's promised a new staple and some reed for Dirk! Who knows, maybe Dirk'll finally have a good reed for out here again...
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
How great it is to see so many positives about playing your 'good' instruments!
I play my best flute (s) wherever I go; I am lucky in having a Wallis ( Euston Road, London ) 'D' c.1840, a Key-Rudall 'F' c.1857/8, a Boosey & Co 'Eb' c.1890, besides others.
I also have a piccolo or two, my favourite being a London make 'D', c. 1850/1 which is absolutely beautiful, effortless to play, and so bright and true in all its range, another 'D' and an 'Eb"
I have been offered considerable sums for any of these instruments, but could not part with them because they are part of me.
My best and favourite is an un-named flute, boxwood, approx. 250 years old, and everyone who's heard or played it knows it as Uncle Michael's flute. He was from Galway and was a world champion piper. When he and Aunty Peggyy heard me playing in my early days ( on a modern Boehm flute ) they just looked at each other and said "Brian best have the flute!" Even Matt Molloy has played it and said "Don't ever part with it!"
So I am very fortunate to have some lovely instruments, and I take them everywhere with me - Paul, Kenny, Trevor J and many visitors here know that, and you know what? If someone asks "Can I have a go?" Of course you can!
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
you should always treat your instruments with respect, so i dont see a problem with bringing it to a pub. if you cant watch out for it in a pub then you cant watch out for it in a house. the only place i dont bring my good flute is marching band; i'm not gonna march on the flute with it / let it be rained on!
my parentes tried to get me to get a cheap flute for band at school, but i refuse. my parents wont let me take the concertina to school. its a mid grade, like 6 or 700 dollars (i dont know, they never were very specific). which is stupid. i carry my flute teacher's piccolo with me every day and its a low serial original seaman, its worth more than my flute. granted, my flute isnt hand made like the piccolo, but its head joint is and its solid silver. i carry like $5,000 worth of instruments with me every day, and sometimes a $500 worht of electronics. but they dont question that! people are more likely to steal shiny, pretty things (the piccolo case could go in your pocket) or electronics, rather than an instrument they've never seen before.
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I take my best friend and most beautiful hand made zouk to the sessions every week! I'd also like to sshare that I've noticed my playing has improved considerably since the short time I've been on this site. These discussions have made me much more informed and aware and better able to read what's going on around me at the session.
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I swear by the guitar maker Ed Foley in Andover NJ, been playing 40 years, never found anything better. I have a really beautiful Foley, Brazillian rosewood, inlaid everywhere, a real work of art as well as an amazing tone (would have taken it without the inlay, but it was there). I play it home or use for recording.....then....I bought a real banged up super plain, no inlay Foley someone brought back on a trade up. It sounds as good as the other one. It's 12 years old, full of dings. It was cheaper than any good Martin too. Someone hit it with a banjo head a few weeks back, and was relieved when I said..."oh, another ding, that's what this one is for".
Nothing like playing an easy to play great sounding instrument though. Get a good used instrument of the same type if possible if you will spend half the time at the session worrying to death about the great one? Playing should be relaxing, not full of anxiety.
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
That's what I do. My $500 fiddle, which actually is a great fiddle, is my session instrument. My handmade 1924 fiddle is for home and house session use.
Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
In another thread, KS wrote "Sobell mandolins are loud and expensive, but then you wouldn't want to take it to a a session I guess".
How do you feel about taking an expensive instrument to a session? I don't play professionally but I do own a good mandolin which would now be considered expensive because of the rise in reputation of its maker(Mike Vanden). It wasn't that cheap(a few hunded pounds) when I bought it but I know his latest models are priced at over £2000. However, I have always taken it to sessions and festivals because I feel comfortable with the instrument and enjoy to play it much more than my old "cheap" mandolin. My other instruments are more moderately priced but still good quality, although I have cheap versions of some of these too.
Some of you might argue that I shouldn't waste my money on good instruments anyway, if I don't play professionally and I'm not a top notch musician. However, I've always believed that you should buy the best that you can afford-not necessarily the most expensive but something that suits you.
Perhaps, I should take extra special care of my instruments but I believe that they are there for playing. Besides, I've caused more damage to them in my own home over the years than I ever have in a pub.
So, if playing in sessions is your main musical experience, it seem a waste to leave your most loved instruments at home, although if you had a cheaper instrument you really enjoyed playing you might just take that one along instead. How do you all feel about this?
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by Johannes J
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I agree.
I dont have a spare fiddle so I dont have the problem. My fiddle is probably worth about £1500 but more importantly it was my great uncle's so its sort of a family heirloom. I think I'd still use it though even if I had a spare. Not doing so would be practicing on your good instrument and performing on your second one.
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by jerryb
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
The only place I won't take my expensive flute is the beach. Never again.
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by Q
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
Life's too short to leave your best instrument at home - if you have the courage to buy it then muster up the the courage to play it
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by Cuso
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
My Crabb anglo concertina is worth a few bob so I'm either playing it, or it's in the box with the lid shut, or if I'm 'out the back' it comes with me.
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by Pete Stephenson.
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I used to take a cheap fiddle to sessions because of the risk of knocks, spilt drinks etc but a) i hated the sound, b) I hated the thought that some people could be judging my playing by that sound and c) if everyone did the same, the noise of a large group of musicians all playing cheap instruments could seriously put punters off being interested in the music!
So I now take a gorgeous instrument but take care to put it away or leave it with somebody responsible if I'm not holding on to it myself.
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by Tarrantella
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I paid £27 off ebay for my mandolin,so I dont mind taking it anywhere . . wouldn't mind that much if it got a few more dings either.
However . . and Iv'e said this before in this forum,but I think my instrument sounds just as good as mando's I've tried costing 100's of pounds, so I would really miss it if some prick nicked it. And there's always the option of taking out some insurance? I also know somebody local who is a dab hand at repairing any broken instrument at a fair price . . Eddie Utlely's his name from Rotherham.
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by Justintime
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I agree with everything that's been said. Good instruments are for playing, not for gathering dust at home or in a museum. The tone of a good instrument is meant to be heard by other people, quite apart from the fact that a good-toned instrument is often easier to play and is inspirational both for the player and other musicians.
As long as instruments are looked after in sessions and put in their cases when not being used I don't see a problem. In the years I've been going to sessions the only damage to instruments I've noticed is the occasional flute or whistle that rolls off the table.
A friend of mine always uses his 1685 fiddle for busy orchestral playing, and the professional leader of the two orchestras I play in uses a rather more recent 1700 Italian instrument. These instruments get an enormous amount of playing and thrive on it.
Trevor
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by lazyhound
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
My wooden boehm flute was quite expensive. But that's what I'm happy with. To obviate what Trevor observed wrt it rolling off the table, I've bought a flute stand, for about £12 or £15, I can't even remember, but I'd recomend them. Often tables at sessions are filthy with spilt beer and fag ash.
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
er, I didn't answer the question, did I? The answer is "yes".
Trevor
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by lazyhound
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
Yes, of course. The sound of my viola with a few other fiddles makes it all worth while
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by llig leahcim
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I would. But since my banjo wasn't terribly expensive (about CDN$600)it's not really an issue. I'd really miss it if it went wandering, though, so I try to take good care of it.
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by grego
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
do you take your viola to sessions, michael?I'm just off to the weekly fiddle lesson, and my teacher has requested a viola session instead,so am bringing along spare viola, who knows there may be another enthusiast by 7.10pm!
anyway ,yes I take the best instrument I have along cos I feel comfortable playing it, and just take care of it.
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by gummidge
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
One of the fiddle players who comes down to our session owns a violin shop. I'd always seem him come down with a different fiddle each week. One day I was looking at his website, saw some of the fiddles he'd brought down. He didn't bring his real expensive ones. But these were all older handmade instruments averaging $8-10,000 retail at his shop! Wow, no wonder he rarely set one down.
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by meemtp
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
This is a problem that I always seem to have. I'm a harp player, and am always trying to decide what instrument to take. I have my normal full size 3srting harp and then a cheaper 26 string harp. Until now I've only ever taken the small harp to sessions, partly because of its size, but also cos if beer gets spilt on it, or it gets knoxked, its no major loss. The only thing is though that it sounds really bad, and is so quiet it can't be heard. My big harp though sounds amazing, and can be heard. But, if I brought it and it got damaged or whatver I'd be devasted as I'm studying music, and am constantly gigging and teachin, and need to use it every day. Having said that, I am going to start taking it soon as I've just ordered a new one, thats even better. Still have to wait another 2months for it though!
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by RacH
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
We were at a session a while ago with a really good Bluegrass banjo player. After a while, the conversation turned, as they so often do, to banjos and their relative merits. This guy's 5-string was particularly nice, and had a great sound. He was telling us its history and so on, and at some point somebody asked him what it was worth.
He said, "Well, I paid US$65,000 for it, but it's worth more than that now." That was a bit of a conversation stopper, but we did get a few more tunes in after the shock faded a bit.
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by Gzeg
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
Good god, the only thing I've ever paid more than that on were my houses. Now there's someone who really CARES about what he plays on...
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I only have a cheep fiddle - and I'd love to have an instrument worthy of the dilemma being discussed.
Anyway recently at a session, not only did someone's flute come close to wearing a pint (the pint's drinker was using the glass as a percussion instrument) but someone started throwing mashed up banana (don't ask) and I came very close to it going in the sound hole - I had to fish it out with a key before it got all the way in. I'd have been considerably more upset had my fiddle been more expensive.
There's definitely a lot of unexpected risk in the average pub.
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by drizzt
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
LOL -- mashed banana? That's a new one on me...
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
Zina,
Jimmy would love Hughes to serve mashed Bananna sandwiches.....
as opposed to dem auld cheap cheezy spread wans he always gets.......
Hmmmmffff... never pleased is he???
(BY the way Jimmy, you are 4 days late back to the house!!... and de mammy ain't gonna cook you more "Mammy dinners" ya screwed up !! so it's back to cheezy spread sandwiches for you boy!!)
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by Eoino
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I have a double viola violin case, so yes I always have it out with me. But I only get it out maybe one in three. It depends on the quality of the other fiddlers at the session. If there is more that two or three good strong players, then the viola really sings. But any less and the thing tends to dominate
# Posted on November 15th 2004 by llig leahcim
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
Yes, except my most expensive box is also my heaviest! It's interesting that geneally if I'm being paid to play it I don't have to carry it very far (or maybe it's just that by the time I've humped a big PA in, I don't notice one large accordion case...), but usually if I'm going to play for fun I'm facing a long walk or a lot of stairs.
In principle I would happily take an expensive instrument to a session, though.
# Posted on November 16th 2004 by kris
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
You bring a playable1/2 set to a session so that's $2K and that's without the reed working well
Hey zina glad you're back, missed the boots
# Posted on November 16th 2004 by I_Fel
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
LOL, Fel -- you mean, there's pipe sets where the reed IS working well? It's been sooooo long since I've played with a piper where the reed IS working that I've forgotten... ;) (Hey, these boots were made for walkin'....!)
# Posted on November 16th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
Zina-My pipe set had a l"aying on of hands" by Benedict Koehler and they sound great and feel like a new instrument. Yes, there are times that the reed works... I think its because the Red Sox won
Still- nice to see you're back
# Posted on November 16th 2004 by I_Fel
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
Hey, Fel, guess who I met out in Marin County? Ted Anderson! He's promised a new staple and some reed for Dirk! Who knows, maybe Dirk'll finally have a good reed for out here again...
# Posted on November 16th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
How great it is to see so many positives about playing your 'good' instruments!
I play my best flute (s) wherever I go; I am lucky in having a Wallis ( Euston Road, London ) 'D' c.1840, a Key-Rudall 'F' c.1857/8, a Boosey & Co 'Eb' c.1890, besides others.
I also have a piccolo or two, my favourite being a London make 'D', c. 1850/1 which is absolutely beautiful, effortless to play, and so bright and true in all its range, another 'D' and an 'Eb"
I have been offered considerable sums for any of these instruments, but could not part with them because they are part of me.
My best and favourite is an un-named flute, boxwood, approx. 250 years old, and everyone who's heard or played it knows it as Uncle Michael's flute. He was from Galway and was a world champion piper. When he and Aunty Peggyy heard me playing in my early days ( on a modern Boehm flute ) they just looked at each other and said "Brian best have the flute!" Even Matt Molloy has played it and said "Don't ever part with it!"
So I am very fortunate to have some lovely instruments, and I take them everywhere with me - Paul, Kenny, Trevor J and many visitors here know that, and you know what? If someone asks "Can I have a go?" Of course you can!
It's great to share music,
Love, Brianx
And yes, they go to the session with me!
# Posted on November 16th 2004 by briantheflute
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
Ted Anderson- the REED Miester, the reed man, ... don't let me go down that road- Ted's the character for sure. How'd you chance upon him
# Posted on November 16th 2004 by I_Fel
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
you should always treat your instruments with respect, so i dont see a problem with bringing it to a pub. if you cant watch out for it in a pub then you cant watch out for it in a house. the only place i dont bring my good flute is marching band; i'm not gonna march on the flute with it / let it be rained on!
my parentes tried to get me to get a cheap flute for band at school, but i refuse. my parents wont let me take the concertina to school. its a mid grade, like 6 or 700 dollars (i dont know, they never were very specific). which is stupid. i carry my flute teacher's piccolo with me every day and its a low serial original seaman, its worth more than my flute. granted, my flute isnt hand made like the piccolo, but its head joint is and its solid silver. i carry like $5,000 worth of instruments with me every day, and sometimes a $500 worht of electronics. but they dont question that! people are more likely to steal shiny, pretty things (the piccolo case could go in your pocket) or electronics, rather than an instrument they've never seen before.
# Posted on November 16th 2004 by daiv
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I take my best friend and most beautiful hand made zouk to the sessions every week! I'd also like to sshare that I've noticed my playing has improved considerably since the short time I've been on this site. These discussions have made me much more informed and aware and better able to read what's going on around me at the session.
# Posted on November 17th 2004 by CC
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
I swear by the guitar maker Ed Foley in Andover NJ, been playing 40 years, never found anything better. I have a really beautiful Foley, Brazillian rosewood, inlaid everywhere, a real work of art as well as an amazing tone (would have taken it without the inlay, but it was there). I play it home or use for recording.....then....I bought a real banged up super plain, no inlay Foley someone brought back on a trade up. It sounds as good as the other one. It's 12 years old, full of dings. It was cheaper than any good Martin too. Someone hit it with a banjo head a few weeks back, and was relieved when I said..."oh, another ding, that's what this one is for".
Nothing like playing an easy to play great sounding instrument though. Get a good used instrument of the same type if possible if you will spend half the time at the session worrying to death about the great one? Playing should be relaxing, not full of anxiety.
# Posted on November 18th 2004 by irisnevins
Re: Would you (or do you) take an expensive instrument to a session?
That's what I do. My $500 fiddle, which actually is a great fiddle, is my session instrument. My handmade 1924 fiddle is for home and house session use.
# Posted on November 18th 2004 by meemtp