Well, Alan... you've certainly managed to create a lot of fodder for discussion with this one!
While I probably would have say in this last post you said almost nothing that I could agree with, it was still thought-provoking and, hopefully, you won't take offense if I outline my specific areas of disagreement:
alanhyatt said:
A Steinway will not make a better player out of a piano player, and nor will a Paul Reed Smith guitar make a better player out of a guitarist who owns a Washburn guitar.
Would you also say that playing in an ensemble with better musicians would not make a particular musician a better player? I don't think any professional musician would agree. Most would tell you they are pushed to rise to the occasion, in the same way that an athlete raises the level of his game when playing with better team-mates. (Ever heard someone remark that "Michael Jordan made his teammates better?" It's not hyperbole.) Playing on a superior instrument has the same effect as playing with inspiring accompanists - it can bring out a performance that you might never have otherwise achieved. Also, putting on my jazz performer hat for a moment (although it may be true with most other styles as well) when I am improvising, the sonic feedback of the instrument (and the room acoustics) play a pivotal role in what direction the music will sponataneously take. Add into all that the fact that a superior instrument is often physically easier to play, or easier to get a great tone... more energy can be devoted to the creative process.
While this may not be exactly what you meant by "making a musician better", at any reasonably high level of playing, that is exactly what happens - you DO become better than you otherwise could have been! While the difference may be subtle to non-musicians, most other musicians would notice.
alanhyatt said:
However on a recorded track with a good engineer, the results will not be much different once the tracks are mixed and mastered. Remember, there are very few on these BBS's that make money at what they do. They all have day jobs!!! Including me!
I do make money off of both playing and recording, but I don't see what that has to do with it. No question that a great engineers can make a very high level of recording with practically any crap you might give them. But that's not to say that they couldn't make a much better one with their choice of gear, and do it with a lot less effort. To say that a great engineer can make a Kawai sound like a Steinway, at least to most people, is like saying a great engineer can make my bedroom sound like Carnegie hall. It may be true, but it misses the point that the performer in my bedroom is probably not going to be getting the same kind of acoustical enhancement and feedback during the performance that will inspire a better performance to begin with. And I guess that is where our major disagreement comes: if the performer is not inspired during the performance, all the engineereing mastery in the world is not going to matter. And while you might disagree that sound of a mic or a compressor can inspire a performer, my experience clearly has been otherwise. I've had vocalists put on the headphones for a sound check and say: "Holy Shit! This is how I sound in my dreams! Quick - roll tape!" On the other hand, if a vocalist thinks they are sounding mediocre, there's no way they are going to get the same performance inspiration.
alanhyatt said:
Sure there are those who can tell the difference and you may be one of them, but they make their living at it, or were blessed with perfect pitch or have a gift with the ears they got when they were born. If you are a concert pianist, then you make your living at it. If you don't, then you’re not that good... All due respect.
I think this last part is what gives away the fact that, while you may be many wonderful things, a musician is not one of them. Perfect pitch is completely irrelevent to this issue. Most of the greatest musicians (and engineers) in the world don't have perfect pitch. It's kind of like people who have photographic memories - it's an interesting trait that has some usefulness, but is no guarantee of any larger remarkable talent, briliance, or creativity. But perfect pitch in any case is of no help in evaluating anything else except pitch - it can't help with telling one microphone from another, or in identifying a Bechstein versus a Kimball. Think of it as analagous to someone who can tell you the exact temperature of the air as soon as they walk outside - it makes for an interesting party trick and may even be useful for something - but it doesn't make them master meteorologists, nor is it even a compelling advantage in meterorology school.
As for concert pianists, most of the very talented musicians who are pianists are, in fact, not concert pianists. Some of the greatest musical minds choose instead to be conductors, composers, teachers, choir directors, accompanists, arrangers, orchestrators, and occasionally engineers. Some brilliant musicians may not even be working professionally in the field at all, but does that somehow disqualify their brilliance? To be a concert pianist requires a certain personality (aside from talent) and is a choice of a lifestyle that is not for everyone. Plus some people are multitalented, and may chose to exploit (for money) one of their other talents. Dr. Albert Schweitzer, for instance, was a renowned violinist, if you recall.
To say then (due respect or not...), that everyone who is not a concert pianist is by definition less talented or discerning than those who are would be an unfortunate conclusion. And to imply that only concert pianists can identify, appreciate, or be inspired by a great instrument in a great room would be even more unfortunate.
But, it's cool, Alan. If I were to talk about microphone manufacturing, I'm sure i would quickly expose myself as someone who clearly had no real life experience as a manufacturer. We all can't be all things, and we all have different talents. I think in your own way you will probably end up making a far greater contribution to the world of music than most "real" musicians, and I have the greatest respect for your endeavors. Hopefully you aren't upset that I'm trying to represent the "musician's" perspective in this discussion.
Only kidding...