Posted by js on March 28, 2002 at 09:18:59:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Which Sousas for High School Marching? posted by Nitpicking on March 27, 2002 at 23:52:51:
Oh, I agree with all that, but the main point is that a properly restored (and not already overhauled four times, etc.) old sousaphone is going to be better than the same-model new one.
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You know, as far as trumpets go, Bach Stradivarius trumpets haven't changed much at all, particularly since the 1950's. Perhaps Vincent Bach Corp. (sort of the recognized mass manufacturing leader) has come up with some manufacturing shortcuts (one-piece valve casings [not as wear-resistant]) etc., and offers more slight variations on bell taper, mouthpipe taper, thickness of metal, gimmicks/gadgets, etc. (though most all of these variations were offered in the 1940's by Vincent Bach).
I think the trumpet example may not be the best one for innovation and "change" per se. Moreover, most trumpets from most manufacturers today have developed a (not innovative, particularly but) homogenized "Bach"-like appearance and fairly (though there is more variation here) "Bach"-like playing characteristics. One can argue about the different various brands/models of trumpets' playing characteristics and minor gadgetry detailia, but all of the various brands of trumpets are far more similar to each other today than they were fifty (even thirty) years ago (similar to the standard Bach designs of the 1940's), and certainly more so than eighty years ago.