it's crazy how long I went without replacing this guy. I improvised Mc Guiver style with what was available, an elastic band, and this remarkably did the job for an embarrassingly long time. Occasionally the elastic would break, nearly taking out whoever was in shot. As soon as I replaced the wet risky elastic band with the Thomann water spring I just felt I did the right thing, I upped my game, got myself together and I haven't looked back since. One very happy trumpet player over here.