Re: [microsound] good instruments vs good music

[Joshua Schrei <josh@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I would say that there ARE specific models of
> instruments that are universally maligned for bad sound, shoddy construction
> or other obvious problems.

yeah, but sometimes instruments that are despised at the time for their bad
sounds become cult classics later on-- especially now that 'bad' sounds have
achieved a certain popularity-- hence artists using tinny sounding casio
beats. the early casio tones were cheap imitations of acoustic sounds and no
'serious' musician took them seriously, but since then they've gone on to
develop their own meaning/nostalgia/acceptance and are pretty widely used.

also, I suppose defining what a 'good' instrument is is a whole different
story with acoustic instruments than with keyboards/synthesizers/electronic
instruments. in other words, with acoustic instruments there's more of a
parameter as to what makes the sound 'good' or not... the richness and depth
of the tone, warmth based on the type of wood used...  forgive my lack of
technical speak... but you want a guitar or cello to sound 'guitar-like' or
'cello-like' whereas with electronic instruments it could be 'good' simply
if it sounds weird, or fucked up, or like a laser beam, or a squawking frog.

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