Hear the Difference Between Plastic and Brass Instruments | Plastic vs Brass | pBone Music

[@chapstic593]

theres a thing called resonance. metal instruments not only project but they resonate with the acoustics of the room. plastic instruments are acoustically dead quiter and harder to play. they are awesome instruments to train on as they are like wearing waited belts when you run.

[@grasonicus]

It's called resonance frequency--the frequency at which material things resonate (vibrate) with the least input of energy. Everything has it, even buildings and bridges. When it comes to the production of sound, one wants the resonance frequency to be outside the audible sound frequency range to not interfere with the sound produced.

[@jacobpugpoirier3350]

Hi slightly smarter version of me.

[@alexguadalupe9682]

The only time I have ever used a plastic trumpet was homecoming in high school because we all wanted to match with blue trumpets

[@holliswilliams8426]

The actual ''sound'' is the same though, as it only depends on the geometry of the instrument.

[@colinmurphrey6448]

I can’t tell a difference because of the mic quality.

[@yodada2858]

My thoughts exactly

[@veronicasobcenco8697]

because of the quality of players, maybe?

[@colinmurphrey6448]

Veronica Sobcenco it’s a mix of both. The player is playing too loud for the microphone to not peak. (Or at least that’s why in a nutshell).

[@brentonthroopdrums]

Or lack thereof

[@willstrauch3608]

Keep in mind they’re trying to make it sounds good and as close to metal as possible so people will by their gear

[@georgeroberts442]

Every trumpet is going to sound exactly like that so long as you blast away on it as loudly as you can. I didn't hear the tone quality of either instrument, just the overblown screech from the lips on the mouthpiece.

[@cameron-w]

Even though he played too loud and dumped too much air into the horn, the brass trumpet still resonated more

[@trombonified9455]

its the recording quality, as a brass player i can guarantee you the trumpet player at least is a very good player

[@brandonburum8279]

@@trombonified9455 - Agreed. (Out-of-practice trombonist here.) I’ll throw OP a bone and say that this tone isn’t appropriate for every lick. But, the player is definitely in control. It was a choice, not a strained effort through bad technique.

[@ginabean9434]

... and the micing. Might be good for carnival marching bands where the sound matter less than the volume and I've always worried to bump my horn on some drunk meat.

[@nupfe]

Good point. I wasn't aware of this at the first moment. My first thought: "Oh, the soundquality is not good > to loud". But that is obviously the reason you dont hear a differents. Anyway, I think the plastic instruments are great for some reasons. 1. It is an affortable way to find out, if trumpet is your instrument or not ... a good start. 2. I know from a professional trumpeter (Joo Kraus), when he is going on vacation, he travells with his plastic trumpet, because he has to practice even on vacation to maintain his skills. He says: to maintain your skills this trumpet does its job. In this case it is risky to carry your presious brass trumpet.

[@teddydunn3513]

It would help if the recording weren't clipped as hell. They both sound exactly the same, probably because when a recording is clipped it has a sharper waveform which corresponds to an increase in the presence of higher harmonics. Even the slightest clipping can kill the most obvious timbral differences.

[@brobro9743]

Im sure this is on purpose

[@bentos117]

plastic sounds better, tbh

[@finnplays0]

they do not sound even close to the same😂

[@teddydunn3513]

@@finnplays0 The trumpets are both super clipped, so the recordings sound basically the same. With a good recording, the differences might have been reasonably noticeable. For the trombones, there were more inconsistencies with the recording process than there was with the timbre of the instruments.

[@finnplays0]

@@teddydunn3513 I mean I was listening on a phone speaker and could tell the difference in Timbre between the two trumpets, and the difference in between the trombones was Stark

[@unpeople]

I have a pBone (red), and I wouldn't discourage anyone from buying one, but no one should get a plastic trombone thinking that it will sound as good as a brass instrument. There is no subtlety on a pBone, you need to play it loud and pump a lot of air through the horn to make the plastic bell resonate. That makes it a decent marching band instrument, though, because marching bands play everything triple forte. It's also a good practice instrument precisely because it forces you to have a strong air flow.

[@j_santiagoperez2006]

Forteississimo

[@justanickname479]

@@j_santiagoperez2006 nah blastissimo

[@Spaceboy2theMoon]

i'm not honestly sure if i'd want to whip that thing out in front of a crowd lol

[@axolotlwolof1412]

That is straight up wrong. Have you even heard of a ballad in marching band? Theres a ton of dynamics. Not just blasting stuff. Theres actual music.

[@ChillyBillyBurnFire1]

Man’s just said marching bands only play triple forte lol

[@theminifigmaker4380]

The brass instruments give a ring and more beautiful tone the plastic ones don’t have that so the notes seem flat. To clarify flat as in it doesn’t have much depth not as in b flat

[@rudyrodriguez7892]

Agreed you can tell the difference on the trombones. The sounds doesn’t vibrate as good as it does on a metal brass instrument

[@ShabazzTBL]

Rudy Rodriguez I agree with it for the trombone but not so much for the trumpet.

[@marije179]

B flat not natural

[@ericolens3]

Flat as in "shallow" lack of depth and richness.... got it

[@davidbucher4095]

Try to play it softly and see how it responds. How it sounds to the listener is not necessarily an indication of how easy/hard it is to play. As someone else said, it may be like running with weights.

[@porkypine4529]

There was less of a difference in trumpets, but there was a very clear difference on the trombones for me anyway

[@user-ou5ov9hs5e]

Yes. I think that's because the trumpet was very loud

[@Ladeenian]

The plastic trombone lacked bass (lower frequency harmonics) in its sound. So it sounded slightly harsher than the brass trombone, whereas the brass one had more warmth.

[@Love2runbarrels]

The trombone (coming from a trombone player) honestly was not good at all lol, plus brass just looks nicer then a green trombone

[@rileydavis3597]

On the trombone part, why is it just in the left ear if you’re wearing headphones?

[@rileydavis3597]

The second time with the plastic*

[@rexjolles]

I knew a guy with a p bone and I called it the pboner

[@fideliusconcrete4871]

Thank you so much for this direct comparison. I remember Don Cherry playing similar things on stage. We thought at that time that it was funny and interesting. But I'm afraid brass simply sounds warmer and smoother, in my opinion better.

[@mahonrymauigoa8049]

Because the brass trumpet is made of well, brass- it doesn’t absorb much sound as the pTrumpet, and has more vibrations going on in the tubing. Whereas the pTrumpet does absorb an exceptional amount of the vibrations and sound giving it a mellower tone compared to traditional brass. Considering this they are both still amazing material to use and definitely have there ups and down.

[@LouisFrayser]

This gives the impression that plastic sounds like clipped brass. I think that may be partially true but since I own a plastic flugelhorn I believe plastic is not a bad at this demo makes it out to be.

[@jean-pierredevent970]

I have a theory that the material is less important for certain instruments with little feedback, so where one plays most on the air column itself , characterized by a mellow, dark tone. Plastic (but also cheap) instruments sound most pleasant with a rather deep ( not necessarily big) mouthpiece. .But of course for marching in the streets, one requires a lot of brilliance and ring and so, a plastic instrument could underperform there, I fear.

[@PurpulPancakes]

i like how they both patiently wait their turn :)

[@planet_b1ue]

It's pretty good from what I heard. The plastic is just not a deep and dark. It's lighter and snappier, a little airy.

[@philipmalaby8172]

Trumpet sounded the same to me. The brass trombone was noticeably deeper and more resonant.

[@martineyles]

The 1st and 2nd valve combination is sharp on the plastic trumpet. Can the 1st valve slide be extended while playing? How about the 3rd valve slide?

[@pinkllamagang9461]

What did the trombone guy play

[@aquawoelfly]

Brass gives a better reverb. Especially on the trombone. The trumpet was closer in soundbut still distinctly different

[@Fahrenheit4051]

What was the song played on the trombone?

[@holdeenyo8914]

it's not just the sound, it's the resonance, and the feel of playing. The sound might not be bad, but from my experience they are just much more difficult and less enjoyable to play

[@moltenhydrogen2218]

its like a guitar reviewer showcasing the pickup selector with the distortion on

[@holliswilliams8426]

yep exactly

[@kn-qz7by]

I wonder if pInstruments is going to come out with an updated version of its cornet and maybe a plastic flugelhorn?

[@1997AlexB]

Should have called the trumpet pPet or pUmpet

[@frenchtoast1759]

Alex B I could you not, before even seeing this comment I though that exact thing! Lol

[@evanlee1617]

They should call girls humpet

[@superboring]

notice how the slide doesnt line up with the audio in the trombone clip?

[@genaroflores835]

What’s the price difference like?

[@athenaduffaut4576]

I actually had a pbone almost two years ago and now i have a real one but i will say there is a pretty big difference on my opinion

[@jeffstarrunner1]

I guess the plastic mutes different frequencies as a general rule, but also there will be differences between different metal ones as well. idk if i can define exactly the difference is, more compressed ig.

[@lilyw5300]

I play trombone and once when my trombone was getting fixed I had to play a plastic one, and I'm ngl I liked it better. It did sound worse, but it was so much easier to play because it is lighter, you don't have to oil it, and the slide is always smooth

[@elijahbair9514]

Do you guys make one for the saxaphone

[@bobmarlowe3390]

I had a pBone for a while until one of the plastic tabs to hold the water key broke. It was okay to play, but I just couldn't get used to the feeling of the slide. I guess I've been spoiled by my Urbie Green model Martin horn. It's just as light as a pBone, but the slide is so much easier.

[@thoubias]

Sounds like the plastic dampens the brighter frequencies a bit.

[@brycewahlquist4704]

It also helps to use a metal mouthpiece even on a plastic instrument. It gives you better sound.

[@tsakeboya]

The way he smiles reminds me of mattoniz

[@JWCinPDX]

The trumpets are similar, but the bones are way different. Too much slide noise in the plastic version.

[@isaacrichter1101]

I have a pbone and you are right. The slide is stiff and hard to move. It's the main reason why I don't play it much. The sound isn't as good as a true brass instrument, but it's pretty decent.

[@abalasterjones9169]

What song was that on the trumpet?

[@kentpetersen9885]

when he played bond it brought me back t one of my marching band seasons

[@wisteriafrog]

This is why I will not settle for a plastic bassoon. Even if they are about 2000 dollars cheaper (at least). I'm currently using a school fox Renard bassoon (which is wooden) but I'm going to collage in less than two years so I'll need my own bassoon. Well.... looks like I'll need to save up a lot of money. 😂

[@giuliodreosto]

I work with pBone and pTrumpet in elementary schools. I still have to understand the purpose of the pTrumpet because they really have huge problems with the valves, they are very inaccurate and cost as much as a normal student trumpet. As for the pBone, there is only one saving grace: the weight. Otherwise, I don't think it's really worth buying (for playing around, it's perfectly fine). In both instruments, I find there is great confusion about the accuracy of the notes. A professional or a student transitioning from a brass trumpet or trombone doesn't have much trouble, but a child starting with these instruments, in my opinion, gets very confused. In first position, I can easily play a D between the B flat and the F, to mention a note... but you could almost play the scale without moving the slide or the valves. I don't know if anyone else has noticed these issues... I have requested that the pTrumpets be banned in the elementary schools where I teach, and would only keep them for very young children in third grade who might damage a normal trumpet... but only in that case do I justify the pTrumpet.

[@terryobrien9846]

The irony that the plastic one is more brassy. I own one. They have a big, brassy sound.

[@ultimatdanklin1473]

They are most definetely not. I own both a brass and plastic trombone and the difference in tone quality is unbelievable. Brass is so much richer

[@holliswilliams8426]

@@ultimatdanklin1473 Tone only depends on the geometry of the instrument, not the material. A plastic trumpet which was made properly could actually sound ''brassier'' than a brass trombone. It's just basic physics of boundary value problems, look into it if you don't believe me. The physics says the material wouldn't make any difference.

[@ultimatdanklin1473]

@Hollis Williams Brass reverberates differently than plastic, and so it has a different ring. A "brassy" ring. Plastic simply does not ring the same. Take a look at bells for an example. A wooden xylophone sounds muted in comparison to a metal vibraphone. As a trombone player who owns both a brass trombone and a plastic trombone, the sound quality and feel of the plastic bone is simply much worse. It is quieter and rings less.

[@anshak5162]

My band teacher tells me these plastic trumpets are toys 💀

[@c.musicais-josafasiqueira8708]

The sound of plastic is plus soft, smooth.

[@scottwilliams846]

The plastic trumpet sounds... muted. Like someone put a mute in but it doesn't affect the volume very much.

[@runthenumbers9698]

If you're out marching in the cold, plastic all the way. Unless you're a soloist, nobody's going to notice the tone difference, and you don't have to worry about your instrument freezing and seizing in the cold or freezing out of tune. It's also lighter, so especially with trombone, you have so much more control, you can make turns with the instrument on your lips and barely bother your embouchure. There's benefits to plastic... not in the sound, but in the practicality of the instrument.

[@KirbyCurbwhy]

The brass feels richer but the plastic feels more straightforward, I don't think that either is inferior, just different.

[@kingice7373]

The low-key sound da same

[@manuelgonzales6483]

I think you have to hear them side by side live. Recorded media just doesn't cut it...😮

[@HiNinqi]

Honestly liked the ptrumpet more. That was really cool! The brass trombone has more body tho, and I liked that one more. Could making the phone bigger get it closer to the brass doing?

[@templeassassint8180]

The brass sounds purer

[@beaulol]

Pov: you're my fluglehorn self watching this

[@cmeGordy]

The plastic ones sound slightly flatter too me and not nearly as crisp and the brass sounded louder too me at least.

[@Snookbone]

"Bond, your brief is to make this brass trumpet sound as plastic as possible"

[@keithshockley3443]

Anybody know the particular songs he is playing? The one over the James Bond tune.

[@kenjackben]

To me the plastic sounds muted in tone and not as loud as the brass a microphone amplification attachment can solve the problem

[@Seeds-Of-The-Wayside]

Sounds better than my plastic cymbals.

[@savysmarty8621]

I guess it doesn’t ring for as long since the plastic absorbs more of the sound rather then vibrate it

[@ernestwakefield7414]

Massive difference on the trombone!

[@lovermuzak]

The brass sounds better than the plastic, but the pTrumpet had a good sound. The pBone sounded muffled like it was played with a mute.

[@king_plaxsoul]

The plastic trumpet had a dead muffled tone to it when I heard it

[@langtangwang]

everything is hecka sharp

[@arramos6802]

The difference of the 2 , it vibrates more the sound on the brass I think

[@irism9965]

The plastic ones fall flat especially with lower notes not only in pitch itself but the texture as well

[@tomasitto299]

But where is plastic tuba? :D

[@drkryovak3026]

Twins the rich ones on the left and the broke ones on the right. I like that tune you played on trombone, by the way happy pTrumpet owner and trying to be a happy player of it too

[@Enter27]

I am so happy that the thumbnail is a trombone, as thats the instrument thay i personally play.

[@ChaosX923]

They both sound good?... in different ways I guess?

[@daboys_entertainment_5234]

I play bass trombone for my hs and we have plastic bones and i just cant with them

[@dyinginsideandoutside6154]

the sound difference was alot more noticeable for trombone, even with terrible mic quality. trumpet was kinda hard to tell unless u listen closely

[@mistermangoman69]

The trombones both sounded fine but the trumpets sounded like electric guitars most the time

[@girlfootballer6270]

Does anyone realise that the start of the james bond theme on the ptrumpet didn't sound the same on a brass trumpet

[@martinvannostrand8488]

Why does it sound like these horns are going through a goddamn big muff?

[@maxlibertor]

blanking out on the name of this piece- what is it again

[@asston712]

Well I am bad at trombone so it's not like buying a brass one will make that big of a difference.

[@enemystandu296]

0:10 trumpet 0:34 ptrumpet 1:02 bone (this is the real name? [ sorry , i'm a brazilian ]) 1:13 pbone

[@samudrummer27]

It's a Trombone.

[@theprehistoricplayer3553]

The Trombone thing just flies off if you touch it. I’ve seen it happen.

[@brooklynrae1080]

Enemy Standu trombone

[@SlippPlays]

Just so you guys know, the plastic is more of a sharper sound than the brass.

[@aliwajeehuddin955]

the sound projection on the plastic instrument would always be lower, and the quality is overall lower you couldn't even tell the difference because they were blasting away with full force, and the microphone quality was hard to comprehend i wouldnt pull up to a performance or practice with this, but they're good to train on at home

[@wheezy_7867]

I play trumpet they sound very alike

[@journeyfortwo5211]

I don't play the trumpet they sound very alike

[@oggyreidmore]

If the plastic instruments are vastly cheaper than brass, I could possibly see them being used in an under privileged school to teach young kids the fundamentals of the instrument before they move on to brass when funds become available - assuming there is not any difference in how they are played. Otherwise, I see no purpose in using petrochemicals instead of an infinitely recyclable material. (Edit: just checked - they are not much cheaper.)

[@cooldudelel7189]

I feel like a better mic would help.

[@gamingmusicmishaps]

I like te brass one better, especially the trombone. The trumpet sounded very blary so it was hard to tell.

[@pitgroove.37_66]

I honestly like the ptrumpet's sound better than the pbone's sound. The sound that came out of the plastic trumpet was very similar to the sound from the metal trumpet, whereas the sound that came out of the plastic trombone was incredibly dead compared to the metal trombone. I think the difference was that the plastic trombone was being played with the standard plastic mouthpiece, whereas the plastic trumpet was being made on a metal mouthpiece.

[@notme437]

This is because the trumpet player played way too loud, peaking the mic volume...

[@CappeSun]

"Hear the difference (if you can!)" I mean, if you crank the mic gain to death metal and beyond there isn't alot to go by...

[@southproduct7463]

I recognize the reason these exist and even have one myself, but this is misleading marketing and could lead to purchases being made for the wrong reasons. Probably going to recommend other brands based on this alone

[@georgeb.wolffsohn30]

In both cases the plastic instrument lacked the higher partials and was simply less bright, less resonant.

[@holliswilliams8426]

Wouldn't the resonant modes only depend on geometry, which is identical in both cases?

[@frnchtoast895]

the sound that came out of the plastic instruments was sharp (#)

[@jayzsummeryeah]

Will you all ever make a trombone with a F attchent

[@tedrice1026]

I am old, tone deaf, and have no sense of rhythm. However, I did TRY to learn the trumpet in grade school - luckily my parents rented one and could return it. My own daughters did better with their instruments, but only one stuck with it and still plays. The plastic instruments are great for learners until they show they are going to practice and stick with it. As an aside, I always wondered back then why instrument makers did not use modern materials where it wouldn't affect the tone - like teflon coated or nylon valves to prevent sticking!

[@apexjailor9349]

as someone who plays a metal bass bone, and played/still plays with lots of pbones- don’t buy one! It’s nearly impossible to lubricate the slide, let alone well, the tone is awful, and especially at lower dynamics all one can hear is the slide screeching over plastic

[@FishingFrenzy324]

idk but i feel like the brass one sounds more clear

[@prod.mp3861]

James bond in that trumpet

[@RichardASalisbury1]

The plastic is a little bit buzzy.

[@annamartin9840]

the plastic ones are a little sharp

[@wreth8254]

Maybe if the trumpeter wasn't (intentionally) blasting on his horn you'd be able to hear the difference. He sounds terrible on both.

[@turtlely1217]

Brass : 3D Plastic : 2.5D

[@Uptown59]

The brass vs plastic trumpet comparison is one thing,. But they can't be serious about the brass va plastic trombone comparison are they? They should redo this one comparing brass and plastic small and large bore trombones because there is already a big enough of a difference between brass small and large bore trombones.

[@antonioluciovivaldi_4317]

James Bond theme YASSS

[@davincent98]

They only did a trumpet and trombone because Ted has the French horn

[@therealelmoenslaver1236]

if you have a school instrument and yoiu need one you can practice at home without your parents gettin angry get a plastic one my friend did it nd he says its amamzing

[@astroplutonium]

The brass is better but to a beginner it wont make a difference. I also see that the pTrumpets are priced at the same level as a training brass instrument which give it a little point to own one (at least where i live....)

[@ZeldaboyOG]

I could only kind of hear a difference with the trombones.