FS: Sterling Virtuoso Euphonium in Silver - $4400

[davewerden]

Apparently the sale fell through, and the seller is anxious to get this done!

This is a British-made Virtuoso with no trigger. Condition is very good; it's a one-owner horn, and the seller says he used it for only 2 years. Forum readers probably know that the Sterling is my second choice among the pro horns that are made; it has a lovely sound and excellent response. Buy-it-now price is lowered to $4,400, which is a very good price IMHO. Shipping is only $50.

SOLD FOR $4,400 - CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BUYER!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sterling-Virtuoso-Compensating-Euphonium-w-o-Trigger/264421257295


SOLD FOR $5,100 (NOT!)

[davewerden]

Relisted - new link is included above.

[davewerden]

I think the horn has now slid into bargain territory! Good chance to get the special British sound and nice response Sterling has.

[davewerden]

One of our Canadian members may be interested, so I contacted the seller to see if he would ship to Canada. I'll post an update once I hear back.

[davewerden]

The seller indicates that he will ship to Canada, but the buyer will have to pay additional for whatever the cost is for shipping. He also mentions he will not negotiate the price lower than the stated $4,400.

[tokuno]

Dave, what's your feeling on the absence of a trigger? Is that available as an aftermarket kit from Sterling or Custom Music, or do you feel it's unnecessary? Did you find the Sterling build consistent enough to buy sight unseen?

[tbonesullivan]

Looks like a great horn! My Sterling is an earlier model, but the level of original construction is very nice. I think the valve tubing on these is usually all Nickel Silver? Mine is as far as I can tell. Bugle might be different.

[davewerden]

The Sterling's intonation without the trigger is in line with several other top horns. The upper Eb is the worst note for most folks, and I would probably use 13 fingering on it. If you do that, the intonation lines up very well. Here is a comparison of Sterling and Willson 2900:



This chart is without a trigger or alternate fingerings on either horn. You can see the only real peak on Sterling is the Eb.

In my experience the build quality was very consistent. During my 20 years on Sterling I had several horns, some being prototypes of new tweaks/features, and they were all fine. I could have sent any back that I didn't like but never felt the need.