Everyone gets stuck

Everyone gets stuck. Players, makers, teachers, retailers, repair techs, everyone. It sometimes happens when you realize there is actually a lot more to know than you thought. Progress is messy and it's never smooth. There are fits and starts and jerks and yanks. Sometimes all I can do is stand at my bench and stare at the thing I've tried and failed to do a hundred times.

This is inevitable, and actions in these moments are really what defines character. Some people give up and pivot to something else. They do the easy parts and then convince themselves (and others) that the hard parts don't matter and are a waste of time.

I was taught differently.  I've chosen many times over the years to stand at my bench and bang my head against it repeatedly until I solve the problem or idea in front of me. It is frustrating, I understand why so many people have avoided the more difficult horn building techniques. But I always solve it. Sometimes it makes me late on a delivery by a week, sometimes a month. Sometimes, I get so close but I run out of time and I have to put it away and solve it later. The technique for making valve knuckles was one of those. Many have asked me if it was worth it. It took me three weeks to refine the technique and I only improved the knuckle 5 percent or so over what I was buying for a few dollars.

But, I do the same thing for everything. So that five percent on the knuckle compounds with five percent on the mouth pipe cap with five percent on the bell wire, with five percent on the upper f branch entry radius, with five percent etc. etc. Pretty soon, you start to see something really special. I've been doing that for over decade and I've learned things about the horn I never knew needed to be learned. And when I get stuck, I know that not giving up until I solve it means that the players who trust me with building their horns get even more value. There are plenty of other places to go when you want horns faster or cheaper. But there isn't anyone devoted to building a perfect horn more than I. Even though I definitely get stuck.