I can only conclude that the US and global economy -- and euphonium-playing musicians across the globe -- must be doing very well indeed in order to support yet one more entry into the high-priced euphonium marketplace. As part of this, I have to reflect that there are a lot more people than I thought roaming the plains with wads of cash in their pockets and thirsting for yet one more expensive choice to be made available to them.
Really ... I'm pretty surprised by this development (particularly in the presence of an event like Kanstul fading from the brass instrument scene, and the unbroken litany of complaints about how difficult it is to make a living as a musician -- not to mention as a euph player), and wonder what the market research was that encouraged this move by Shires. Unless, of course, this is another "made in China" product (in one or another sense of "made"), as with some Shires and Rath trombones -- which would seem to put them into a category similar to the new "hand-made" Wessex instruments along with some others.
Gary Merrill
Wessex EEb Bass tuba (DW 3XL or 2XL)
Mack Brass Compensating Euph (DE N106, Euph J, J9 euph)
Amati Oval Euph (DE 104, Euph J, J6 euph)
1924 Buescher 3-valve Eb tuba (with std US receiver), Kelly 25
Schiller American Heritage 7B clone bass trombone (DE LB K/K10/112/14 Lexan, Brass Ark MV50R)
1947 Olds "Standard" trombone (Olds #3)