Posted by Mike Forbes on April 12, 2001 at 20:08:28:
In Reply to: plastic bell protectors - on or off? posted by Fred on April 12, 2001 at 00:09:33:
My Rudy Meinl came with one and I used it for about a year. Then I did a "sound-test" with my teacher at the time, John Stevens. He said (blindfolded) that he couldn't necessarily hear a difference in the sound, but said that I somehow "played differently" with it off. Now I'm in no way advocating unprotected sex, but there is something about taking the ring off for concerts and leaving it on for rehearsals...I don't know, perhaps it's the sexy-ness of it :) !
Really, I think it has more to do with the fact that bell does indeed vibrate just a tiny bit more with it off, and though that may not be perceptible to an audience member's ears, the player can indeed feel a slight difference. And when you feel the horn alive in your hands and lap something perhaps slightly more musical just might occur.
Or, I'm trippin'
Mike