Bring the example down to our level and the story is the same. A better player can make good music on older gear. Put him on newer gear and he will sound better.
Again at our level do out audiences really know the difference in a brand new or older keyboard. I don't think so so as we've allagreed on if newer stuff makes you happy go for it

Bill then again...
having the newest gear doesn't make a great
entertainer player also..
you always need all the pieces to the puzzle IMO.

I thought this post only related to electronic gear . Why would a new trumpet , sax , accordion or piano sound better than an older trumpet , sax etc no matter who was playing them ? Did I miss something ?

Most horn players would never give up their horns for a new one. Never.
MEL

The sax player from our band in NY will NEVER give up his Selmer Alto which is 50+ years old ...

Stradivarius comes to mind

On guitar, it's a 1952 ES 295. On organ, it's a 60's B-3...Leslies from the early 70's. On upright, it's a 1800's Yugoslavian one given to me by Ray Brown. Still use a 1979 Rhodes
and a 60's Wurlitzer.

I do roughs on a 1993 MS-60. At home, I use a 1994 Clavinova.

LOVE OLD WOOD! Maybe it's an ED fetish (LOL)!


Russ Lay

I have a 2007 Ford Expedition with 211,000 miles.

Hell, Don, I have a wife with more mileage on her than that.

Gary

Willie never goes anywhere without his guitar "TRIGGER"..